Today, I have:
1. Studied the anatomical and physiological workings of your swallow mechanism in order to succeed at a continuing education class I'm taking this coming weekend called: Vital Stim. Placing electrodes on your throat and turning that baby on. Sounds lovely, right? I'm sure I'll find out.
2. Watched UK beat the dog doo doo out of Alabama.
3. Ran 5 miles in 45 minutes.
4. Enjoyed an Ale-8 and caught up on blogs that I normally read on a regular basis.
I consider it pretty successful. Last night we met with our friends Rick and Suzi and the night before experienced a Brazilian steakhouse (I have never felt so gluttonous). It's been a good week.
I've had several interviews for jobs, but nothing has worked out thus far. I've been looking for almost 2 months now and truly thought that I would be in a new place of work by now. There has been a lot of discussion in our church/community groups about what "satisfies" you. Is it money? Respect in your career (I'm in this group, partially)? But for me, I struggle with the "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome. This has been discussed and analyzed probably way to much, but it's such a pressing issue that I can't let it go. But the Lord has a way of speaking to us, and this time His Word was clear.
As a new years resolution I wanted to read through the Bible. I have done this once before, but I'm in a completely different place now than I was when I read through it the first time (as I will next year). And as I'm struggling my way through Leviticus and Numbers, so were the Israelites. Moses has lead them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and into the desert. From slavery to freedom. From real meat and wine to - you guessed it - MANNA. After a while, the Israelites start to, complain....which made me feel quite human. The Israelites, who have had the supernatural free them, been provided food, protection, and a purpose are, complaining? Hum. So this idea of never being satisfied is not a new idea. Great.
It's clear that God wants to protect them. He sends manna down that lands on the grass like dew. It is new every morning - but don't gather more than you need. Of course, the greedy and worried Israelites found that out the hard way when they tried to hoard manna and it turned into maggots. Gross. As if providing daily bread and water wasn't enough, God also did this:
"On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled the Israelites encamped...........They obeyed the Lord's order, in accordance with his command through Moses." Numbers 9:15-18
Can't make it any more clear than that, right? I mean, when the cloud stays, you stay; when it moves, you move. God, can I have a cloud above my house? One that allows my heart to truly be content with where I am until you ask our family to move. However, would something so concrete be....almost easy? It wouldn't require faith, trust, mercy, and forgiveness. It would almost leave out the multi-dimensional and multi-faceted characteristics of our God. For pity's sake, the Israelites had this concrete nature of the Lord in their hands, and they STILL weren't satisfied. Oh boy, I'm doomed. Here's what they said:
"The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again, the Israelites started wailing and said, ' If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumber, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" Numbers 11:4-5
HOLY, MANNA! We're tired of eating this crap - give us MEAT! God, if only I had a job that was satisfying, challenging, flexible, close to my house. And speaking of houses, could you finds us a good one that had a pretty good backyard, but close enough to a bus stop where Mike could ride up to Boulder. And I need more friends, my family closer, and to be about 10 lbs lighter. THEN, I'll be satisfied. Right. And by then, the manna will have turned into maggots.
Do you get where I'm going????? So, what's your I'll be satisfied when ____________ ? Ultimately, the joy that comes from our God is the ONLY thing that can satisfy. So, may God reveal those things in your life that you are idolizing and using to make you "happy". And then, may He transform your mind and body to only desire Him. To find true satisfaction and joy in His presence. I'm trying, but I'm also encouraged through this text.
Be encouraged. Chris Tomlin has a song that fits this idea, and I love it.
love wins. love you.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Byrds, the bees, and me?
A warning before reading this blog
1. I do not deem myself as one whose ministry is preaching.
2. My life has been transformed by what I'm about to share.
3. I want to share it with you, but it may be long and I might sound, ack! preachy!
4. Hang in there, it'll be worth it. Thanks to Pastor Brian for sharing it with me in a time when I desperately needed it.
For the past 3 weeks, the pastor at my church has brought us through the first few chapters of Ecclesiastes. If you're like me, the only thing you knew about the book of Ecclesiastes was....well.... nothing. Oh, yes - wait! I do remember something slightly about, "to every thing, turn, turn, turn.. there is a season turn, turn, turn....and a time to every purpose - under heaven". Are you singing yet? The only thing I remember about a book in the Bible is - ta da - a song written in the '60s? I'm sure the Lord LOVES that. I am quite the hippie, now. Don't count me out of much.
We have been using the sermon on Sundays as a guideline to discuss more in-depth questions on Wednesday nights in our community groups. Here are the verses we read on Sunday:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15
I challenge you to not skim over these next paragraphs. Take the time to read, chew, and process the seriousness of what God is trying to tell us. This idea has changed my way of thinking recently, for the good.
The Byrds almost ruined this text. They turned a driving & difficult text into a little ditty associated with Forest Gump and the sweeping pluralism of the 1960s. The times Solomon reminds us of in this text are not about simple seasons in our lives, rather Solomon's point is to follow on from his conclusions in Chapter 2, to describe the providence of God in all the events in our lives. He lists 14 pairs of situation and attributes them to the sovereign purposes of God. He has ordained their times, starting with the time we were and the time we die. This is devastating to our sense of autonomy and it builds on Solomon's confession in Chapter 2, that the enjoyment of our toil as well as our eating and drinking is a gift from God.
We shouldn't think for a minute that Solomon envisions a capricious or arbitrary God. He tells us that God's ways are inscrutable, but they are purposeful ("He makes all things beautiful in its time"). He sovereignty is total, and it guided by a good purpose. His purpose is to be known, obeyed, trusted and loved. This is the great beauty God intends of us. Solomon ends by commending to us that this sovereignty serves as the basis for Christan contentment. Because he is sovereign, because our circumstances are guided by a purposeful good God, joy is made possible. This may seem surprising after 2 chapters of vapor. But this is Solomon's preliminary conclusion. God reign, so enjoy your short and vaporous life.
Okay, there is bad news and good news here. Which do you want to hear first? I'd always go for the bad news (And believe me, the good news is REALLY good. I've got you in suspense, don't I?), so here it is:
Your life is vain. Plain and simple. Society tells us that everything under the sun matters, right? I mean, if you just get that right promotion, marry the right person, buy perfect house, have the perfect child - everything will be okay. If we just drink the right wine (ha! that makes us seem smarter, doesn't it), fill our lives with the pleasures of the world, consider ourselves wise - then surely this will make life seem satisfactory. Surely! We search for things that we think are going to make a name for us in this world. Something that will set us apart from one another. But, the truth is that we live in a cycle. We live, we die. The same things re-occur over, and over, and over again. Nothing is new. And we will die. Every part of our lives that we lived for, gone. Depressing, right?
I had to stop and ask myself this question, " What are you looking at to provide lasting happiness??"
At this point, you should be asking yourself, "Get to the point. I want the good news". That was totally me. I longed for that life application where I could dig myself out of such a self-serving hole I had dug and was absolutely stuck in. *See previous blog where I talked about my funk*
The good news - JOY! What gain does a worker have for his toil? Solomon tells us to find JOY in our toil (AKA those things that we deal with on a daily basis). Eat, Drink, and take JOY in your toil. Celebrate your daily life because in the end it doesn't matter. All that matters is holding onto that rock that you can feel, but can't see because of the vapor in your life. Solomon wants us to see 3 things:
1. Your life has a purpose.
2. Your life cannot be seen from beginning to end. God has put eternity in man's heart that makes us groan for something solid.
3. Nothing can be taken or added from what He wants to do. God's purposes are beautiful and you can't see how the dots connect for a reason...however, know that his purposes are unstoppable and beautiful.
So, whatever vapor you may find yourself in (anxiety, fear, depression, etc.), God is chasing you. It is only in this realization that you can say there is nothing better than to be joyful - to see life through your toil. To look back on it and, laugh, maybe? To be JOYFUL and surpass that circumstantial happiness, understanding to the fullest degree that life is a mere vapor in the wind.
I pray that this message will take ahold of you and change your life. I have been so worried about what is next in our life. If I'm preaching, I'm totally preaching to myself. So, there you have it.
And here are some pictures of what my vaporous life has been like today:
This was the view outside our door for the majority of the day today - what is a woman to do?
Wrigley knew what to do, play outside in the snow!
These pots were filled with orchids that needed to be re potted and replanted. The pots had no holes in them and the plants were in plastic pots that were not at all the right environment. I went to home depot and bought supplies.....
And voila! After cutting the rotted roots and giving the orchid new soil and a new pot with air holes on the sides - hopefully my orchids will send up a new shoot pretty soon so that I can enjoy beautiful bloom this spring! This is the most healthy of the 2.....my other one was pretty sick looking.
Here is the 2nd orchid that was much more sickly. It's growing a new leaf and hopefully it will be happier in this new pot.
So then, my Nook and I spent about 100 pages together reading about a girl with a dragon tattoo, which was quite entertaining!
All in all, my Saturday was quite vaporous and beautiful. I'm no long searching for the next best thing (at least, I'm trying not to), and focusing on my daily life, not focusing on the future in which I'm trying to force that would "make my life better."
I love you, love wins!
1. I do not deem myself as one whose ministry is preaching.
2. My life has been transformed by what I'm about to share.
3. I want to share it with you, but it may be long and I might sound, ack! preachy!
4. Hang in there, it'll be worth it. Thanks to Pastor Brian for sharing it with me in a time when I desperately needed it.
For the past 3 weeks, the pastor at my church has brought us through the first few chapters of Ecclesiastes. If you're like me, the only thing you knew about the book of Ecclesiastes was....well.... nothing. Oh, yes - wait! I do remember something slightly about, "to every thing, turn, turn, turn.. there is a season turn, turn, turn....and a time to every purpose - under heaven". Are you singing yet? The only thing I remember about a book in the Bible is - ta da - a song written in the '60s? I'm sure the Lord LOVES that. I am quite the hippie, now. Don't count me out of much.
We have been using the sermon on Sundays as a guideline to discuss more in-depth questions on Wednesday nights in our community groups. Here are the verses we read on Sunday:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15
A Time for Everything
3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
The God-Given Task
9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. I challenge you to not skim over these next paragraphs. Take the time to read, chew, and process the seriousness of what God is trying to tell us. This idea has changed my way of thinking recently, for the good.
The Byrds almost ruined this text. They turned a driving & difficult text into a little ditty associated with Forest Gump and the sweeping pluralism of the 1960s. The times Solomon reminds us of in this text are not about simple seasons in our lives, rather Solomon's point is to follow on from his conclusions in Chapter 2, to describe the providence of God in all the events in our lives. He lists 14 pairs of situation and attributes them to the sovereign purposes of God. He has ordained their times, starting with the time we were and the time we die. This is devastating to our sense of autonomy and it builds on Solomon's confession in Chapter 2, that the enjoyment of our toil as well as our eating and drinking is a gift from God.
We shouldn't think for a minute that Solomon envisions a capricious or arbitrary God. He tells us that God's ways are inscrutable, but they are purposeful ("He makes all things beautiful in its time"). He sovereignty is total, and it guided by a good purpose. His purpose is to be known, obeyed, trusted and loved. This is the great beauty God intends of us. Solomon ends by commending to us that this sovereignty serves as the basis for Christan contentment. Because he is sovereign, because our circumstances are guided by a purposeful good God, joy is made possible. This may seem surprising after 2 chapters of vapor. But this is Solomon's preliminary conclusion. God reign, so enjoy your short and vaporous life.
Okay, there is bad news and good news here. Which do you want to hear first? I'd always go for the bad news (And believe me, the good news is REALLY good. I've got you in suspense, don't I?), so here it is:
Your life is vain. Plain and simple. Society tells us that everything under the sun matters, right? I mean, if you just get that right promotion, marry the right person, buy perfect house, have the perfect child - everything will be okay. If we just drink the right wine (ha! that makes us seem smarter, doesn't it), fill our lives with the pleasures of the world, consider ourselves wise - then surely this will make life seem satisfactory. Surely! We search for things that we think are going to make a name for us in this world. Something that will set us apart from one another. But, the truth is that we live in a cycle. We live, we die. The same things re-occur over, and over, and over again. Nothing is new. And we will die. Every part of our lives that we lived for, gone. Depressing, right?
I had to stop and ask myself this question, " What are you looking at to provide lasting happiness??"
At this point, you should be asking yourself, "Get to the point. I want the good news". That was totally me. I longed for that life application where I could dig myself out of such a self-serving hole I had dug and was absolutely stuck in. *See previous blog where I talked about my funk*
The good news - JOY! What gain does a worker have for his toil? Solomon tells us to find JOY in our toil (AKA those things that we deal with on a daily basis). Eat, Drink, and take JOY in your toil. Celebrate your daily life because in the end it doesn't matter. All that matters is holding onto that rock that you can feel, but can't see because of the vapor in your life. Solomon wants us to see 3 things:
1. Your life has a purpose.
2. Your life cannot be seen from beginning to end. God has put eternity in man's heart that makes us groan for something solid.
3. Nothing can be taken or added from what He wants to do. God's purposes are beautiful and you can't see how the dots connect for a reason...however, know that his purposes are unstoppable and beautiful.
So, whatever vapor you may find yourself in (anxiety, fear, depression, etc.), God is chasing you. It is only in this realization that you can say there is nothing better than to be joyful - to see life through your toil. To look back on it and, laugh, maybe? To be JOYFUL and surpass that circumstantial happiness, understanding to the fullest degree that life is a mere vapor in the wind.
I pray that this message will take ahold of you and change your life. I have been so worried about what is next in our life. If I'm preaching, I'm totally preaching to myself. So, there you have it.
And here are some pictures of what my vaporous life has been like today:
This was the view outside our door for the majority of the day today - what is a woman to do?
Wrigley knew what to do, play outside in the snow!
These pots were filled with orchids that needed to be re potted and replanted. The pots had no holes in them and the plants were in plastic pots that were not at all the right environment. I went to home depot and bought supplies.....
And voila! After cutting the rotted roots and giving the orchid new soil and a new pot with air holes on the sides - hopefully my orchids will send up a new shoot pretty soon so that I can enjoy beautiful bloom this spring! This is the most healthy of the 2.....my other one was pretty sick looking.
So then, my Nook and I spent about 100 pages together reading about a girl with a dragon tattoo, which was quite entertaining!
All in all, my Saturday was quite vaporous and beautiful. I'm no long searching for the next best thing (at least, I'm trying not to), and focusing on my daily life, not focusing on the future in which I'm trying to force that would "make my life better."
I love you, love wins!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
You're so vain.
Chaco slowly walks toward the couch. She knows that dad isn't home and that mom has out the magical zebra blanket. Of course, this could only mean one thing. A nap. YES! She places both front legs onto the couch, slow and methodical (as if I don't see the 65lb dog crawling up in my lap). She has a troubling time hiking her back legs up to the couch, jumping just isn't an option today. Once she's up, she take the usual position - on the side closest to the back pillows (of course) with her nose stuck directly into my armpit. Her body lengthens as her snout is lodged into my left armpit. Slowly, she digs her head so that her entire skull is plummeted underneath the blanket. She sighs. I sigh. I slowly come to terms with the fact that my nap won't be quite as comfortable as planned - Chaco is snoring. Her breathing patterns become soothing and soon I drift off myself.
Tonight, in church, we sang a hymn that was quite familiar to me. "Rock of Ages", heard of it? As I sang the first verse, my dog - of all THINGS, right? - popped into my mind:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee
Let the water and the blood
From thy wounded side which flowed.
I had a visual of Chaco literally shoving her nose into my armpit and then taking a big sigh. Oh, how we do the same to our Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. I'm tired, Lord. I'm doubting, Lord. I need rest, Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. I'm anxious, Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. My hope is that you do the same. Allow yourself to become so close to the Lord during those valleys that you can hide in his arms (I suggest not thinking about his armpit, could be a little strange). Our lives are but a vapor. A chasing after the wind, so when those doubting times come into your life, realize that the only rock that you need to hold onto is Christ.
I haven't written in quite a long time because my heart has been dealing with stuff (for a lack of a better word) and writing about it just seemed like it would open a wound that needed to heal. So I strayed away. Christmas passed, New Years, and my birthday. Three very important events that one would deem worthy of blogging. I struggled to find the words to express what was in my heart, so I pushed it aside. BUT! Hallelujah! I'm coming out of this funk. A funk of all funks that was brutal and self-serving. Have you ever caught yourself so involved in, well, you, that nothing else matters? I've had to truly pray that the Lord would place serving opportunities into my life so that I had to focus on others. Focusing on your own junk - It's horrible. Time consuming and dreadfully painful. But, the Lord says that our lives are all vanity. Nothing - not pleasures, careers, wine, or even wisdom (and Solomon was a wise man) - will make your life seem satisfactory. Something is always missing. Only God will bring you that joy that surpasses circumstantial happiness. Joy that lasts through hardships and pain. Joy that gives one hope. How incredibly uplifting, and Lord knows we all need some uplifting.
Mike has his bus route planned for in the morning. A new job! An opportunity to build new relationships, develop new skills, change the lives of kiddos. I am so excited for him and for our family. After months of drought, it finally rained! I'm praying this is a job that Mike can see himself working at for a while - may we grow some roots here and surround ourselves in our community. Yay! Good jobs!
My good friend, Abby, came to visit last weekend. We went snowshoeing - here's a quick video of our dogs bounding in the snow.
I could probably go on forever, but, I do have to work tomorrow. I'll cover my work situation in the next blog. This song has been playing in my head over and over; may it provide the same peace for you as it does for me. Until next time, Love Wins!
Tonight, in church, we sang a hymn that was quite familiar to me. "Rock of Ages", heard of it? As I sang the first verse, my dog - of all THINGS, right? - popped into my mind:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee
Let the water and the blood
From thy wounded side which flowed.
I had a visual of Chaco literally shoving her nose into my armpit and then taking a big sigh. Oh, how we do the same to our Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. I'm tired, Lord. I'm doubting, Lord. I need rest, Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. I'm anxious, Lord. Let me hide myself in thee. My hope is that you do the same. Allow yourself to become so close to the Lord during those valleys that you can hide in his arms (I suggest not thinking about his armpit, could be a little strange). Our lives are but a vapor. A chasing after the wind, so when those doubting times come into your life, realize that the only rock that you need to hold onto is Christ.
I haven't written in quite a long time because my heart has been dealing with stuff (for a lack of a better word) and writing about it just seemed like it would open a wound that needed to heal. So I strayed away. Christmas passed, New Years, and my birthday. Three very important events that one would deem worthy of blogging. I struggled to find the words to express what was in my heart, so I pushed it aside. BUT! Hallelujah! I'm coming out of this funk. A funk of all funks that was brutal and self-serving. Have you ever caught yourself so involved in, well, you, that nothing else matters? I've had to truly pray that the Lord would place serving opportunities into my life so that I had to focus on others. Focusing on your own junk - It's horrible. Time consuming and dreadfully painful. But, the Lord says that our lives are all vanity. Nothing - not pleasures, careers, wine, or even wisdom (and Solomon was a wise man) - will make your life seem satisfactory. Something is always missing. Only God will bring you that joy that surpasses circumstantial happiness. Joy that lasts through hardships and pain. Joy that gives one hope. How incredibly uplifting, and Lord knows we all need some uplifting.
Mike has his bus route planned for in the morning. A new job! An opportunity to build new relationships, develop new skills, change the lives of kiddos. I am so excited for him and for our family. After months of drought, it finally rained! I'm praying this is a job that Mike can see himself working at for a while - may we grow some roots here and surround ourselves in our community. Yay! Good jobs!
My good friend, Abby, came to visit last weekend. We went snowshoeing - here's a quick video of our dogs bounding in the snow.
I could probably go on forever, but, I do have to work tomorrow. I'll cover my work situation in the next blog. This song has been playing in my head over and over; may it provide the same peace for you as it does for me. Until next time, Love Wins!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
good times, good times.
I have had a rather exciting week! I actually worked an 8hr day on Monday and to my surprise, worked 8 hrs Tuesday, too. Wednesday I worked 4hrs at Sable and then 4hrs at Bear Creek. Holy Cow! I was on my way to working my first 40hr week since July, probably. Wed night our community group met and ate a lovely dinner together. Thursday, Mike and I went to the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, CO to see Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds do an acoustic performance. It was a small, random venue but pretty intimate and the entire show was amazing.
Friday was rough, as we got home late, but after a short nap I was ready to enjoy some awesome Mexican food at a small restaurant. A coupon for buy one get one free entree made our bill super cheap and the strawberry margarita was delicious. We slept in this morning and after some cleaning, we went to Kohl's to do some Christmas shopping (who doesn't love the deals you get at Kohl's?). We bought a few gifts, then came home to do the rest of our shopping online. We shipped all of our gifts to either Louisville or Winchester that way our car won't be extremely packed in 2 WEEKS when we drive home for Christmas. I heard this new Amos Lee song on the radio this week and immediately fell in love with it. Any anxiety I have had recently about life, this song seems to melt away. I've found a version of it that Amos played at Farm Aid this year:
I am now waiting for our Zuchinni Lasagna to finish baking in the oven, ah! there's the timer now! Yummy. Then we'll probably watch a movie or take it easy for the night. Tomorrow, more doing of nothing, then church. I've been trying to run on a more regualr basis and one of my new year's resolutions is going to be running in a Mini-Marathon. Sounds like fun, right?
The Lord is faithful - I know this - but sometimes when you are in the midst of a valley it's hard to see beyond what's right in front of you. This is how I feel about Mike's job situation. Resume after resume I wonder if this is the one.....then.....nothing. I am so ready for this season of our life to be over and move on. I'm ready to look back on this time and see the Lord's hand throughout the "no's" and closed doors. I'm ready to not drive 45 min to work and be placed in a facility that is more challenging to my clinical skills. I'm ready to move on. But, until then ... I will continue to be patient and live each day as it comes. Love you, love wins!
Friday was rough, as we got home late, but after a short nap I was ready to enjoy some awesome Mexican food at a small restaurant. A coupon for buy one get one free entree made our bill super cheap and the strawberry margarita was delicious. We slept in this morning and after some cleaning, we went to Kohl's to do some Christmas shopping (who doesn't love the deals you get at Kohl's?). We bought a few gifts, then came home to do the rest of our shopping online. We shipped all of our gifts to either Louisville or Winchester that way our car won't be extremely packed in 2 WEEKS when we drive home for Christmas. I heard this new Amos Lee song on the radio this week and immediately fell in love with it. Any anxiety I have had recently about life, this song seems to melt away. I've found a version of it that Amos played at Farm Aid this year:
I am now waiting for our Zuchinni Lasagna to finish baking in the oven, ah! there's the timer now! Yummy. Then we'll probably watch a movie or take it easy for the night. Tomorrow, more doing of nothing, then church. I've been trying to run on a more regualr basis and one of my new year's resolutions is going to be running in a Mini-Marathon. Sounds like fun, right?
The Lord is faithful - I know this - but sometimes when you are in the midst of a valley it's hard to see beyond what's right in front of you. This is how I feel about Mike's job situation. Resume after resume I wonder if this is the one.....then.....nothing. I am so ready for this season of our life to be over and move on. I'm ready to look back on this time and see the Lord's hand throughout the "no's" and closed doors. I'm ready to not drive 45 min to work and be placed in a facility that is more challenging to my clinical skills. I'm ready to move on. But, until then ... I will continue to be patient and live each day as it comes. Love you, love wins!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Where's the snow?
So, by this time last year, Mike and I had to shovel the driveway at least 5 times, this year? Not even 1 inch of snow. How ironic that my Old Kentucky Home has had snow when 5,280 feet in elevation hasn't had a dusting...? I'm confused, but not complaining. I'm sure that by the time the week before Christmas rolls around (right when we are getting ready to leave for KY) there will be a blizzard, it's just our luck.
Last night, Mike and I went to the Parade of Lights with our friends Lee and Tanya in Downtown Denver. The beginning of the night was surprisingly warm - then the cold set in and I was thankful I decided to put on the long johns. Between 2 nights, the parade hosts 400,000 people! It was well worth it...being involved in the community you live in is so important. Knowing your neighbors, loving your neighbors, that sort of thing. Our church views community as vital to the growth and development of the people within the church. Thus, meeting in community groups in homes of people in the community seems only natural.
Rudolph! That means Santa's a'comin!! And somehow, I missed Santa. Oh well, I think y'all know what he looks like.
And this is what Chaco and I do after a long, busy day....nap!
So, nothing too exciting. Mike and I are planning on skiing next weekend, if the snow decides to grace us. Work is the same...I am becoming increasingly restless in my job. Hopefully there will be an end in sight, soon. Keep praying for a job for Mike....it would be a nice Christmas present.
Love you, Love wins!
I leave you with a vaulting performance of a USA vaulter....take the time to watch it, pretty amazing.
Rudolph! That means Santa's a'comin!! And somehow, I missed Santa. Oh well, I think y'all know what he looks like.
And this is what Chaco and I do after a long, busy day....nap!
So, nothing too exciting. Mike and I are planning on skiing next weekend, if the snow decides to grace us. Work is the same...I am becoming increasingly restless in my job. Hopefully there will be an end in sight, soon. Keep praying for a job for Mike....it would be a nice Christmas present.
Love you, Love wins!
I leave you with a vaulting performance of a USA vaulter....take the time to watch it, pretty amazing.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
It's beginning to look a lot like....
Christmas?
Okay, let me be honest here. I'm no Scrooge, but I'm no Santa either. Maybe my inner Christmas Child has never bloomed secondary to limited time in my own home during the holiday season. Let's be honest, apartments aren't really condusive to excessive amounts of decorations. Why fuss with a tree when you're not even in your own home on Christmas Day? Or even the entire week before Christmas. You're right, they're all just excuses. So, ta da! a small, cheap Christmas tree appeared in our humble abode this week. Mike wouldn't let me put it up until the day after Thanksgiving (talk about someone who needs some Christmas cheer) which is fine. She's a little bare - our ornaments are in a box, somewhere, but she's cute! And it's a start! I've also pulled out all of my Willow Tree Nativity scenes and put those up on my hope chest. Ah? Do I feel a little bit of excitement in the air in this Colorado Curry household? Si!
How was your Thanksgiving? We spent our with our friends that we met at Buffalo Wild Wings (crazy world). It was nice to be a part of a family, but I did miss my Sandy Hook family, a lot. I was joking to Mike before we started to eat that I missed the Skaggs clan gathering together in a circle and saying what they were thankful for - then John Paul praying and crying as soon as he started the prayer. It's so classic and I love every moment of it. Anyway, I went to pray for the O'Keefe Family Thanksgiving, and wouldn't ya know it, I started crying. It was all a little emotional, I'm sure they thought I was crazy. Mike said something about it later, and I almost felt more connected to home during that moment of tears.
Our dogs got a little turkey for dinner that night. They liked it.
Christmas is only 4 short weeks away and I am anxiously awaiting what adventures we'll be in for during our trip home. Last year we drove through a blizzard. This year looks like it includes a Christmas Eve with the Currys/Buckles in Henderson, Christmas Morning on S & G Farm, Christmas evening with the Louisville Currys. The day after christmas at the Yankee Swap in Sandy Hook, and the day after that with the BernheiselsSwindlers/Lyles. Makes me tired just THINKING about it. Oh well, we always have a good time and it's possible a bon fire might be in the making as well for New Year's Eve.
I didn't mean to go so long without blogging. Ah, life. Love you, Love Wins!
Okay, let me be honest here. I'm no Scrooge, but I'm no Santa either. Maybe my inner Christmas Child has never bloomed secondary to limited time in my own home during the holiday season. Let's be honest, apartments aren't really condusive to excessive amounts of decorations. Why fuss with a tree when you're not even in your own home on Christmas Day? Or even the entire week before Christmas. You're right, they're all just excuses. So, ta da! a small, cheap Christmas tree appeared in our humble abode this week. Mike wouldn't let me put it up until the day after Thanksgiving (talk about someone who needs some Christmas cheer) which is fine. She's a little bare - our ornaments are in a box, somewhere, but she's cute! And it's a start! I've also pulled out all of my Willow Tree Nativity scenes and put those up on my hope chest. Ah? Do I feel a little bit of excitement in the air in this Colorado Curry household? Si!
How was your Thanksgiving? We spent our with our friends that we met at Buffalo Wild Wings (crazy world). It was nice to be a part of a family, but I did miss my Sandy Hook family, a lot. I was joking to Mike before we started to eat that I missed the Skaggs clan gathering together in a circle and saying what they were thankful for - then John Paul praying and crying as soon as he started the prayer. It's so classic and I love every moment of it. Anyway, I went to pray for the O'Keefe Family Thanksgiving, and wouldn't ya know it, I started crying. It was all a little emotional, I'm sure they thought I was crazy. Mike said something about it later, and I almost felt more connected to home during that moment of tears.
Our dogs got a little turkey for dinner that night. They liked it.
I didn't mean to go so long without blogging. Ah, life. Love you, Love Wins!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Old Man Winter? You're not welcome.
Do you ever dread winter? I mean, truly, within the bottom of your heart, despise winter and all that it brings? This girl does.
But my life right now, this very second, is delicious - let me try to describe to you exactly what I see at this moment in a small side-room of a coffee joint in downtown Leadville, CO called Provin' Grounds:
a blue mug of coffee holding a Bolivian Fair Trade Coffee
several plants ranging in sizes are directly in front of me - from really tall stalks and pointy leaves, to ferns that look almost inviting to lay on (at least run across my face for comfort). some plants are in tiny pots and since my repertoire of plant naming is slim, I am at a loss for their names. one looks like a cactus.
a window that overlooks "Main Street" although here, it's called Harrison St (and not for the president, although he has visited here).
below the window is a really old heater - one made of steel with vertical rectangles that stick up from the ground. very old school, but it looks antique. i'm too lazy to get up from my comfy rolling chair to check out if it is indeed, putting off heat.
beside me is a man, in his 50s enjoying a cup of coffee (in a mug that has Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on it, how serendipitous!). he has a book, reads a little then puts it down. he'll draw his pin out from his shirt and underline something in this mysterious book, ponder, then take a sip. he's up for another refill, wonder what kind of coffee drinker he is? any guesses?
i can barely see outside secondary to the plants that take up the majority of the left side of the window, but i can see a small sign that says "CINEMA" and a small wooden building that, from the sign, says it shows movies. it looks similar to the cinema in Sanibel Island - small, quaint, and blends in delightfully with the town.
but, here's what blows me away about my view right now. beyond the cinema sign, are mountains - and i'm not talking about the Appalachians (although that is home to me). i'm talking about stark, white, jagged edges that pierce the horizon. small flakes of snow float through the sky, although it has to be at least 45 degrees outside, blogging at 10,150ft in elevation will create that kind of atmosphere. i'm sure every peak has a name, the only one i can remember right now is Mt. Massive, no joke. maybe that'll get your mind chewing on how big these babies are. delicious, right?
another couple has sat down where the 50s guy left - and life moves on. that quick.
bikes, dogs, people dressed in layers with boots, big trucks and lots of firewood. i think i've summed up Leadville.
one more thing, and then i'll stop being so random - i just witnessed a bumper sticker that might have summed up Leadville better than my lowly observations : We're here, because we're not all there. I love it! Perfect! My weekend here is complete.
Alas, my friends, Old Man Winter is coming and sooner than later I'm going to have to test out a ridiculous number of hand lotions until I find one that doesn't burn when I put it on my cracked, bleeding hands. Skis will top our trusty Jeep and we'll be Keystone bound; snow shoveling will ensue. The silver lining? Colorado has more than 300 days of sunshine per year - hence my red face after our 6 mile walk yesterday - and that makes me happy. Worth it.
My Bolivian coffee is now cold, and down to the last sip. I feel rejuvinated and thankful for some time alone to reflect on my thoughts, regardless of how random they may seem. Blogging has provided me a creative outlet to do something that has always provided me satisfaction - writing. True satisfaction though, only comes from our Heavenly Father and that is something that I strive for daily. Living my life for Him not them.
Thanks for listening - Love you, love wins!
But my life right now, this very second, is delicious - let me try to describe to you exactly what I see at this moment in a small side-room of a coffee joint in downtown Leadville, CO called Provin' Grounds:
a blue mug of coffee holding a Bolivian Fair Trade Coffee
several plants ranging in sizes are directly in front of me - from really tall stalks and pointy leaves, to ferns that look almost inviting to lay on (at least run across my face for comfort). some plants are in tiny pots and since my repertoire of plant naming is slim, I am at a loss for their names. one looks like a cactus.
a window that overlooks "Main Street" although here, it's called Harrison St (and not for the president, although he has visited here).
below the window is a really old heater - one made of steel with vertical rectangles that stick up from the ground. very old school, but it looks antique. i'm too lazy to get up from my comfy rolling chair to check out if it is indeed, putting off heat.
beside me is a man, in his 50s enjoying a cup of coffee (in a mug that has Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on it, how serendipitous!). he has a book, reads a little then puts it down. he'll draw his pin out from his shirt and underline something in this mysterious book, ponder, then take a sip. he's up for another refill, wonder what kind of coffee drinker he is? any guesses?
i can barely see outside secondary to the plants that take up the majority of the left side of the window, but i can see a small sign that says "CINEMA" and a small wooden building that, from the sign, says it shows movies. it looks similar to the cinema in Sanibel Island - small, quaint, and blends in delightfully with the town.
but, here's what blows me away about my view right now. beyond the cinema sign, are mountains - and i'm not talking about the Appalachians (although that is home to me). i'm talking about stark, white, jagged edges that pierce the horizon. small flakes of snow float through the sky, although it has to be at least 45 degrees outside, blogging at 10,150ft in elevation will create that kind of atmosphere. i'm sure every peak has a name, the only one i can remember right now is Mt. Massive, no joke. maybe that'll get your mind chewing on how big these babies are. delicious, right?
another couple has sat down where the 50s guy left - and life moves on. that quick.
bikes, dogs, people dressed in layers with boots, big trucks and lots of firewood. i think i've summed up Leadville.
one more thing, and then i'll stop being so random - i just witnessed a bumper sticker that might have summed up Leadville better than my lowly observations : We're here, because we're not all there. I love it! Perfect! My weekend here is complete.
Alas, my friends, Old Man Winter is coming and sooner than later I'm going to have to test out a ridiculous number of hand lotions until I find one that doesn't burn when I put it on my cracked, bleeding hands. Skis will top our trusty Jeep and we'll be Keystone bound; snow shoveling will ensue. The silver lining? Colorado has more than 300 days of sunshine per year - hence my red face after our 6 mile walk yesterday - and that makes me happy. Worth it.
My Bolivian coffee is now cold, and down to the last sip. I feel rejuvinated and thankful for some time alone to reflect on my thoughts, regardless of how random they may seem. Blogging has provided me a creative outlet to do something that has always provided me satisfaction - writing. True satisfaction though, only comes from our Heavenly Father and that is something that I strive for daily. Living my life for Him not them.
Thanks for listening - Love you, love wins!
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