Big Day!

It’s a big day, people.

I just made my first contribution to KERA!

Nerdy? Perhaps. But I feel pretty good about it.

My favorite show is Anything You Ever Wanted to Know Fridays at noon where people call in and ask questions and others call in and anwer. It’s brilliant and very entertaining. I wanted to support it and the station as a whole – it is my primary source of news.

I was going to decline the gift, but I liked it too much.

Looking forward to getting this is in the mail!

Support your local public radio!

Stop judging me!

Random Things …

This is a post because I haven’t posted in awhile and don’t have one in the works – but the 4 of you who read this need fodder!

Hence – a random update

• In church on Sunday I noticed my purse Bible smelled like mint chewing gum. All throughout service I kept sniffing it. I was “that girl.” What is it with me and sniffing Bibles?
• I spent Saturday afternoon in a bookstore. I had forgotten how much bookstores feed my soul. (if you’re reading this and you’re on my ultimate team, I was just kidding about the bookstore – I spent Saturday in the hospital. – couldn’t be avoided)
• At a party on Saturday I learned how to do some of the dance for Single Ladies. Ask me and I might do it for you (if you sing the song to my liking.)
• I did a 6-mile run on Sunday and my knees didn’t even hurt afterward. Big win!
• I spent several hours today writing a song that chronicles my 14 year friendship with my best friend. Sarah, if you’re reading this, Happy Birthday and get excited!
• I spent the evening with some girlfriends. We def watched Center Stage 2: Turn it Up. At one point I had a handful of peanut butter m&ms in one hand, a piece of pizza in the other, and was watching that movie. Freaking. Awesome.

Now, here’s some random pictures!

I know it’s sideways. I like it like that.

Ugly sweaters. Hotness!

Happy Snow day!

These are NOT daily affirmations, people

I won’t be writing, “you are a strong, beautiful woman” on the mirror in eye liner.

I won’t be repeating “today is the day for success – in work, romance and life”

I won’t be adopting a mantra to remind myself that “life is what I make of it.”

seriously. seriously?!

To each his own, I suppose. Perhaps there is value in such things.

But where I’m choosing to find my value and my identity is as a sinner, forgiven and loved by a merciful God. To that end I am trying to learn how to preach the gospel to myself every day. I hear this book is helpful (but wouldn’t you know it, it’s temporarily out of stock — but I want instant gratification – now!). I’m also going to use some other books currently on my shelf and – gasp! – maybe even The Bible.

All that to say, I’m not sure exactly what it will look like to preach the gospel to myself every day. But I’m going to figure it out.

My prayer is that this will remind me of that which is of utmost importance – the cross of Christ. My prayer is also that this will serve as a tool to battle the darkness, encourage my soul and equip me more for the work of the gospel.

I’m excited!

Happy Anniversary Sister!

(and brother-in-law!)

I worked this morning. Then I celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day the way it should be celebrated – by falling down on the mountain bike trails.

Day’s Highlights:

• New soap day (and I had to shower twice!)
• Eating the second-best sandwich I’ve ever made
• A great ride
• Soda with Amy after babysitting while I caught her up on every detail of the last 3 weeks that she didn’t already know.

Great day. Here’s to you, Dr. King!

Cheers!

Far Country

I haven’t posted in a week. Sorry about that. It’s been a long week.

I’m working on my eternal perspective…

I’ve been listening to a new album, Andrew Peterson’s The Far Country. The first song, the title track, is one of my favorites.

It’s about Abraham and how he had to leave his home and find a new home and it parallels that to Heaven. I like it because it helps me long for Heaven.

Today on my drive to play ultimate (still suck, but am taking more chances and learning a little), I started thinking about Heaven and how different stages in my life can help me long for Heaven.

I wish when I had left for college, or Kazakhstan or America, that I had thought more about making new homes in places that are not my forever home. I wish I had let those changes create more of a longing for Heaven.

So now I’m trying to work on my eternal perspective as it pertains to my current and future life stages. (God willing) this twenty-something, full-time ministry, live with roommates, transient life stage is temporary. And as often as I look forward to the next life stage, the hope is that it will help me look forward to Heaven.

How great would it look if as often as we look forward to the major things God will do in our lives, we also look forward with greater anticipation to an eternity with our Savior?

… this is not my home.

Training Ground: Good Morning

Of late I’ve been convicted by the Holy Spirit (and Girl Talk) to make my mornings look differently. I’m not naturally a morning person. So while I don’t struggle with running late, I do struggle with making the most of a new day.

To that end I am making changes in my morning routine – actually, additions. The additions being prayer, meditation and study. I often do a morning devotional but it’s quick. I leave most of my study for the evenings. And it works with my schedule and it works with my nature to do it at night, but there are 2 big reasons to switch to the morning.

1. The Proverbs 31 wife wakes while it is still night to provide food for her household. Batman can eat anytime of the day, so that verse wouldn’t necessarily be too motivating. But it would be a nice habit to have as a wife and it would serve my husband better if I already had said habit in place at the onset of marriage.

2. One of my favorite things about the Lord is that His mercies are new every morning (Lam 3:22-23) (another is that He makes all things new – but that’s a whole different post). It’s a sweet thing to wake up to. And after a week like this, where the refining hurts more than usual, there is hope looking forward to the morning. And I want to make better use of that hope each morning. I want to meet my Lord when my heart is most ready.

So the goal is to get up early and love on Jesus each morning, with discipline and joy and fervor. For my Savior, and for my husband.

In the words of Phil Joel,

It’s a Good-Good-Good-Good-Good-Good Morning!

‘Cause You’re a Good-Good-Good-Good-Good-Good God!

Eve’s Curse

While we’re on the subject of Eve …

So recently I was in the office talking with the 2 other women on staff. Half in jest and half seriously I told them that as a single woman with no children, it was a sad thing that I don’t get to partake of Eve’s curse.

Genesis 3:16

To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”

The ladies just rolled their eyes and told me to come talk to them in 4 years after giving birth and fighting with my husband.

But seriously, part of our sanctification is fighting against the curse of sin, in particular, the one that says I will bring forth children in pain and desire to rule over my husband. I kind of want those hardships so that I can learn and grow through them. Of course the Lord can and will sanctify me outside of marriage and parenthood, but I’m just saying …

Can I get a little piece of the curse?

Was this post ridiculous? I’m sorry.

Is that Wrong?

I received a new journaling Bible for Christmas. I was doing some study this evening and noticed I was writing in my new Bible with my Bart Simpson pen. Is that wrong?

Also, I couldn’t stop smelling my Bible every time I turned a page (there’s nothing like that “new Bible” smell). Is that wrong?

Question: Part of my reading plan had me in Genesis 3. Eve adds to the word of God when she answers the serpent that she must not eat the fruit or touch it. God didn’t say anything about touching it. Got it. When she said that, was she lying? I think I’ve been told that she was. However, sin has not entered the world at this point so how could she lie. Was that just her being stupid?

Lightening Up in ‘09

I joined Facebook …

bite me.

How to Get a Girl: Tip 8

Every man for himself.

So you know you “code” that says you won’t scam on the girl your buddy is interested in? The BBH rule?

It is stupid.

If there is a girl you are interested in, it shouldn’t matter if another guy has expressed interest in her, previously dated her or even if she is his little sister. You should go for it.

My brother-in-law stole his now-wife from his then-best friend. Lost a best friend but gained a wife. Definitely traded up.

I know there’s something to be said for loyalty. That’s  mildly attractive – but what’s more attractive? Going for it. Taking chances. Taking initiative.

It might hurt the friendship. So what. Because at the end of the day, who would you rather wrap your arms around – your buddy with questionable hygiene and no game, or the girl you’re both in to?

So go steal that girl … she wants you anyways.