My sister and brother in law moved to Lawrence on Wednesday!
Not gonna lie....it's been...AWESOME.
The past few days have been a little crazy, with helping them unload their truck, unpacking, a holiday Christmas dinner with Michael's labmates, a cookie exchange I hosted for about 15 ladies, and introducing Lyndsay and Michael to EastLake. I'm sure they are feeling like they've been hit by a fire hose, but it will slow down...eventually.
This week we've got a winter storm warning to watch tomorrow night, Christmas Eve Eve (that's Friday night) service with EastLake, and assisting Michael on Christmas Eve during his all day Cinnamon Roll marathon. He's making my mom's recipe to give out to our friends. I guess I'll mainly be helping by taste testing. I do what I can. Then we'll wrap them, drop them off, and go look at lights...a holiday tradition that began with my immediate family, resurrected. Pretty cool.
On Christmas Day, we'll be heading to the airport to pick up my dad and stepmom. They're staying for a couple of days and we're all suuuuuper excited. Vicky has never been to Kansas so we'll go to the plaza, probably the day after Christmas, to do some shopping. Dec. 26th also happens to be my mom's birthday, so I'm really glad my dad, sister, and I will all be together.
Lyndsay and I finalized our Christmas Day dinner menu tonight while watching Harry Potter. We're having:
appetizer: my aunt's recipe for baked brie with a walnut & brown sugar topping, served with crackers and pita chips
dinner: standing rib roast, cheesy potatoes, yeast rolls, broccoli & cheese casserole (a new recipe Lyndsay is trying), winter salad with cranberries, apples, pears, almonds, and a homemade lemon poppyseed dressing (my contribution)
dessert: chocolate chip pie w/homemade whipped cream
Drooling yet? ;)
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
How toddlers convinced my husband church doesn't suck
This is Michael's story. You've probably heard mine before (and if you haven't, you can read it if you go back to August 2010 in this blog.) Today's talk at EastLake was about sharing your story, and I asked him if he would take that step and share his, since he never has before, and he agreed if I would type it. So here we go.
"Hey, remember that time you didn't want to talk to anyone at EastLake?" I laughed as we got into our car this afternoon after church. Michael smiled but didn't say anything. But he remembers. It wasn't that long ago. The reason why I remember so well is because it was the night I was baptized in October 2010. It was an important night for me, and SOMEONE from my family was going to be there to see me do it because it meant so much to me. Since he'd returned from Maryland, he hadn't been all that interested in attending EastLake with me-I usually went alone. But all of my family lives in NC, so I pleaded for him to be there that night.
This is seared into my mind-we walked into Free Methodist, and I was so excited because it was my first worship night, and first real opportunity to introduce him to a lot of my friends. I started going to EastLake over the summer, but Michael had been interning in Maryland, so he'd missed a lot. One of my friends was at the door, and she knew it must have been him because he was with me, so she warmly greeted him by name. He barely spoke to her. I remember thinking, "who are you and what have you done with my husband?" but didn't say anything because I wanted to keep that night special. It WAS a great night, but I couldn't shake that feeling that something was going on with him, because he was completely shut down from even trying to engage with anyone or anything that was happening on stage. He was there physically, but that was it.
"I think part of it had to do with shyness?" Michael says, when I bring that night up. "Bull. I've known you long enough to know that you are NOT shy. Remember how we met? You jumped right in front of me and said, 'Hi, I don't know you!' " We both laugh.
"I guess...I was stressed out. And angry. I didn't feel like I "needed" a church to be a time suck, I had enough to deal with at school," he said.
Enough=an advisor who made Michael feel like nothing he ever did was good enough, like he was stupid, lazy, and incompetent. There's only so many times you can hear that before you just shut down. I'm not going to go into a rant about him, but let me just say this: a good advisor for graduate students can be the difference between whether they love their degree or hate it, or whether they even finish it. I know people who didn't even get a change to complete their degree because of their advisor. Part of the process of graduate school is being extremely busy, yes, but your advisor is someone who mentors you, helps you along the way, and lets you know that you're doing fine despite the feeling like you're in over your head. They're someone who will toss a life vest to you, not let you sink.
Michael was sinking. His coping mechanism for the stress at school was to get angry, because if you get angry enough, you start to close off the feelings that are hurt and just focus on that anger. So between that and dealing with a wife who had just lost her mom and was kind of a wreck, you can see why he didn't want to add another avenue that would potentially ask tough questions and ask for personal growth. That's why he didn't want to let any of my church friends into his life.
God uses so many different ways to reach people, and I love how he got hold of Michael. He used our friends' kids. Because Michael and I share one car, we had to do a juggling act with church. I was volunteering, he wasn't, so it was a lot of back and forth (when I could get him to go). One day he said, "this is dumb. I should just volunteer somewhere so we can be here at the same time." Works for me! He chose to volunteer in kids, because he's always liked them (and he's really a big kid at heart).
Volunteering in the kids wing started as stress relief. It was one hour each week where Michael could get on the floor and play with toddlers and not think of the crap going on with school. He didn't even think of it as helping the church-it was just an outlet to be silly and laugh. He learned Veggie Tales songs, which kid preferred cheerios over animal crackers, and how to change a cloth diaper. More than that, he began to let go of the anger.
But those kids...he loves them so much! It went from an hour of fun to the highlight of his week, to where he looked forward to Sundays because that meant he'd get to see Bella, or Hudson, or Emmett, or Adelayde, or any of the dozens of other babies who have captured his heart. And in volunteering, he started talking to other EastLakers and found out, just like I did, how awesome and refreshingly normal these people are. And that it was okay to need a church family and need God. One day in December of 2010 he slyly showed me his connection card...he checked off the box that he was interested in attending membership class.
In January, he switched advisors. His new advisor listens to Michael and doesn't make him feel like he'll never measure up. In fact, he recently told Michael that the paper he's working on now is stronger than any of the theses that have currently been defended by the department's graduating students (immature moment: suck on that, old advisor!)
Michael's back to the happy, loveable guy I first met in 2004. In fact, I bet many of you who know him are even questioning that he could ever be the way I described earlier in this blog. But he was, and this past year has been an amazing testament to the way God moves in peoples' lives. He led a barbecue restaurant growth group in the spring and filled it by going up to guys after sermons and saying, "Hi! Do you like food? Like barbecue? You should join my group!" He decided to get baptized, spur of the moment, in July at South Park. He still volunteers in kids, still loves it, and still thinks it's not that big of a deal-he's just happy to have time to play. For someone who values science and all things analytical, it amazes me how much he retains from Matt's talks and how his faith has grown.
He won't ever ramble on like I do, but Michael gets it. And I'm so glad I get to share life with him and be a part of the family we've made at EastLake-together.
"Hey, remember that time you didn't want to talk to anyone at EastLake?" I laughed as we got into our car this afternoon after church. Michael smiled but didn't say anything. But he remembers. It wasn't that long ago. The reason why I remember so well is because it was the night I was baptized in October 2010. It was an important night for me, and SOMEONE from my family was going to be there to see me do it because it meant so much to me. Since he'd returned from Maryland, he hadn't been all that interested in attending EastLake with me-I usually went alone. But all of my family lives in NC, so I pleaded for him to be there that night.
This is seared into my mind-we walked into Free Methodist, and I was so excited because it was my first worship night, and first real opportunity to introduce him to a lot of my friends. I started going to EastLake over the summer, but Michael had been interning in Maryland, so he'd missed a lot. One of my friends was at the door, and she knew it must have been him because he was with me, so she warmly greeted him by name. He barely spoke to her. I remember thinking, "who are you and what have you done with my husband?" but didn't say anything because I wanted to keep that night special. It WAS a great night, but I couldn't shake that feeling that something was going on with him, because he was completely shut down from even trying to engage with anyone or anything that was happening on stage. He was there physically, but that was it.
"I think part of it had to do with shyness?" Michael says, when I bring that night up. "Bull. I've known you long enough to know that you are NOT shy. Remember how we met? You jumped right in front of me and said, 'Hi, I don't know you!' " We both laugh.
"I guess...I was stressed out. And angry. I didn't feel like I "needed" a church to be a time suck, I had enough to deal with at school," he said.
Enough=an advisor who made Michael feel like nothing he ever did was good enough, like he was stupid, lazy, and incompetent. There's only so many times you can hear that before you just shut down. I'm not going to go into a rant about him, but let me just say this: a good advisor for graduate students can be the difference between whether they love their degree or hate it, or whether they even finish it. I know people who didn't even get a change to complete their degree because of their advisor. Part of the process of graduate school is being extremely busy, yes, but your advisor is someone who mentors you, helps you along the way, and lets you know that you're doing fine despite the feeling like you're in over your head. They're someone who will toss a life vest to you, not let you sink.
Michael was sinking. His coping mechanism for the stress at school was to get angry, because if you get angry enough, you start to close off the feelings that are hurt and just focus on that anger. So between that and dealing with a wife who had just lost her mom and was kind of a wreck, you can see why he didn't want to add another avenue that would potentially ask tough questions and ask for personal growth. That's why he didn't want to let any of my church friends into his life.
God uses so many different ways to reach people, and I love how he got hold of Michael. He used our friends' kids. Because Michael and I share one car, we had to do a juggling act with church. I was volunteering, he wasn't, so it was a lot of back and forth (when I could get him to go). One day he said, "this is dumb. I should just volunteer somewhere so we can be here at the same time." Works for me! He chose to volunteer in kids, because he's always liked them (and he's really a big kid at heart).
Volunteering in the kids wing started as stress relief. It was one hour each week where Michael could get on the floor and play with toddlers and not think of the crap going on with school. He didn't even think of it as helping the church-it was just an outlet to be silly and laugh. He learned Veggie Tales songs, which kid preferred cheerios over animal crackers, and how to change a cloth diaper. More than that, he began to let go of the anger.
But those kids...he loves them so much! It went from an hour of fun to the highlight of his week, to where he looked forward to Sundays because that meant he'd get to see Bella, or Hudson, or Emmett, or Adelayde, or any of the dozens of other babies who have captured his heart. And in volunteering, he started talking to other EastLakers and found out, just like I did, how awesome and refreshingly normal these people are. And that it was okay to need a church family and need God. One day in December of 2010 he slyly showed me his connection card...he checked off the box that he was interested in attending membership class.
In January, he switched advisors. His new advisor listens to Michael and doesn't make him feel like he'll never measure up. In fact, he recently told Michael that the paper he's working on now is stronger than any of the theses that have currently been defended by the department's graduating students (immature moment: suck on that, old advisor!)
Michael's back to the happy, loveable guy I first met in 2004. In fact, I bet many of you who know him are even questioning that he could ever be the way I described earlier in this blog. But he was, and this past year has been an amazing testament to the way God moves in peoples' lives. He led a barbecue restaurant growth group in the spring and filled it by going up to guys after sermons and saying, "Hi! Do you like food? Like barbecue? You should join my group!" He decided to get baptized, spur of the moment, in July at South Park. He still volunteers in kids, still loves it, and still thinks it's not that big of a deal-he's just happy to have time to play. For someone who values science and all things analytical, it amazes me how much he retains from Matt's talks and how his faith has grown.
He won't ever ramble on like I do, but Michael gets it. And I'm so glad I get to share life with him and be a part of the family we've made at EastLake-together.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Held
There are two opinions about Christian radio: people who love it, and people who roll their eyes. The second category is not exclusive to non-Christians. You just have to be in a certain kind of mood to listen to Christian radio. My friend Anna is a rare exception that listens to it 24/7, but if you know Anna, that probably doesn't surprise you (and I mean that in a good way, Anna!) Positive and encouraging describe her perfectly and it's fitting that she listens to a station whose motto is the same.
Anyway. Most of the time I fit into the second category. I do listen to it on Sunday mornings before I go in to lead prayer meetings, because it helps me connect with God. I have about 15 minutes in the car and it's good background music while I'm having some private prayer time (I've stopped doing my makeup in the car, just fyi for those who park next to me to try to catch me).
Today was a Christian radio day, for reasons I won't really get into here because it would be gossiping, and I'm not going to do that. When my heart is hurting, I turn to the one who will comfort me, and sometimes that message gets through to me in songs. So I was on the way to Target to pick up a couple of random things, and a song comes on the radio that I'd never heard before. As I listened to the lyrics, I could feel my eyes prickle. You can probably guess what ended up happening. Yep...I definitely cried in the Target parking lot listening to this song. I had to park further away so I could be alone and not be the 'weirdo in the parking lot who was crying'. Well I guess I'm outing myself by typing this, but I'm okay with that.
Here's the thing: when I first began have an actual relationship with God, something I struggled with very much was the 'why do bad things happen to good people' question. But believing in Jesus doesn't mean your path from here on out is paved in gold and all your struggles are over. It's a when, not an if, bad things will happen, and none of us can hide from that. Unfortunately. And if you're lucky enough that you've had a pretty blessed life, thank God for that every single day. Something I've had the fortune (yes, fortune) to really learn and understand over the past year is that God never wastes a hurt. Learning how to exist and be me without my mom was really awful at first. Sometimes it still is. But those times are when God is closest, holding me and comforting me. He weeps when we weep. And He's doing that to you, too, if you're in a dark spot.
The song that made me think of all this is called "Held" by Natalie Grant. The lyrics are pretty blunt about how cruel life can be. Just in my little corner of life in Lawrence, KS, I know so many good people who are going through tough times. A friend of mine is in the process of finding out if her precious 7 month old son will ever speak due to vocal cord abnormalities. Another friend lost everything she owned in a fire last winter and is now learning how to be a single mom. A church family lost their 5 year old daughter to cancer this spring. Another friend recently suffered a miscarriage. If anyone has a right to question why bad things happen, it's them. But even in darkness, these women all know that God is right there beside them, and He's got plans for their healing that will take them places they couldn't even imagine in the thick of their pain.
Sometimes people will say things like "I can't imagine what it would be like to lose my mom at a young age" to me, and the thing they don't say but are thinking is, "I couldn't do it, and I'm so sorry you have to." Until it happened to me I'm sure I felt the same way. But this song does a pretty good job of explaining how I healed. When something awful happens, and you're the one left to pick up the pieces, you can either let bitterness grow in your heart until you no longer feel anything, or you can believe that when everything else is falling apart, God is still fulfilling his promise of bringing peace to the weary, holding you up when you're unable to stand. That's what it means to be held.
Anyway. Most of the time I fit into the second category. I do listen to it on Sunday mornings before I go in to lead prayer meetings, because it helps me connect with God. I have about 15 minutes in the car and it's good background music while I'm having some private prayer time (I've stopped doing my makeup in the car, just fyi for those who park next to me to try to catch me).
Today was a Christian radio day, for reasons I won't really get into here because it would be gossiping, and I'm not going to do that. When my heart is hurting, I turn to the one who will comfort me, and sometimes that message gets through to me in songs. So I was on the way to Target to pick up a couple of random things, and a song comes on the radio that I'd never heard before. As I listened to the lyrics, I could feel my eyes prickle. You can probably guess what ended up happening. Yep...I definitely cried in the Target parking lot listening to this song. I had to park further away so I could be alone and not be the 'weirdo in the parking lot who was crying'. Well I guess I'm outing myself by typing this, but I'm okay with that.
Here's the thing: when I first began have an actual relationship with God, something I struggled with very much was the 'why do bad things happen to good people' question. But believing in Jesus doesn't mean your path from here on out is paved in gold and all your struggles are over. It's a when, not an if, bad things will happen, and none of us can hide from that. Unfortunately. And if you're lucky enough that you've had a pretty blessed life, thank God for that every single day. Something I've had the fortune (yes, fortune) to really learn and understand over the past year is that God never wastes a hurt. Learning how to exist and be me without my mom was really awful at first. Sometimes it still is. But those times are when God is closest, holding me and comforting me. He weeps when we weep. And He's doing that to you, too, if you're in a dark spot.
The song that made me think of all this is called "Held" by Natalie Grant. The lyrics are pretty blunt about how cruel life can be. Just in my little corner of life in Lawrence, KS, I know so many good people who are going through tough times. A friend of mine is in the process of finding out if her precious 7 month old son will ever speak due to vocal cord abnormalities. Another friend lost everything she owned in a fire last winter and is now learning how to be a single mom. A church family lost their 5 year old daughter to cancer this spring. Another friend recently suffered a miscarriage. If anyone has a right to question why bad things happen, it's them. But even in darkness, these women all know that God is right there beside them, and He's got plans for their healing that will take them places they couldn't even imagine in the thick of their pain.
Sometimes people will say things like "I can't imagine what it would be like to lose my mom at a young age" to me, and the thing they don't say but are thinking is, "I couldn't do it, and I'm so sorry you have to." Until it happened to me I'm sure I felt the same way. But this song does a pretty good job of explaining how I healed. When something awful happens, and you're the one left to pick up the pieces, you can either let bitterness grow in your heart until you no longer feel anything, or you can believe that when everything else is falling apart, God is still fulfilling his promise of bringing peace to the weary, holding you up when you're unable to stand. That's what it means to be held.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The time my husband got baptized without telling me beforehand...
So, this happened on Friday night. EastLake had its quarterly worship night, a time where we have communion, play awesome songs, people get baptized. It's a wonderful night of fellowship and shakes things up from the normal Sunday routine, and it's always been a night full of hope and spirit as we celebrate what God has done in our lives and continues to do through our church. This past Friday we switched things up and had our worship night at South Park on Mass St. It was supposed to be our traditional set up, with a stage, screens with lyrics, lights, electric guitars, the works. Rain put a kink in that plan, but I love that everyone just went with the flow and adapted to plan B. That was an acoustic set with the band up on the gazebo, and we all moved our chairs, blankets, and food over to get a better view.
It. was. awesome. It felt like an intimate, unplugged jam session. I feel like everyone who was there felt like it was supposed to be like this-I didn't hear anyone complaining about the abrupt change in plans. The rain never got past a sprinkling until much later at night, and it ended up giving us some relief from the heat. So about halfway through the set, my friend Tisha and I got up to help prepare for the baptism part of the program. I was standing near the changing tent in case anyone decided on the spur of the moment to get baptized-we have extra tshirts, shorts, and towels just in case. I just didn't think it would be my own husband who walked toward me once the people who'd scheduled their baptisms in advance were done!! I'm pretty sure I stood there with my jaw on the ground as he told me he was going up to the gazebo. My buddy Tiff had to tell me to move closer to the center so I could see him better. Honestly, it was such a beautiful moment that I really can't do it justice to try to describe it, but be assured I was a mess. I had hoped at some point Michael would take that step, but every time we talked about it, he didn't want to do it. It had to be right for him, not for me. And Friday was that night. Even if I didn't know it, he did.
*I feel like I owe a little bit of an explanation for any of Michael's family members who may read this. Yes, Michael was baptized when he was a baby. However, as meaningful as it was, it wasn't a conscious decision on his part. We believe that baptism isn't what saves you, but rather, it's a public symbol of an inner commitment to a belief in Jesus. Also, every baptism in the Bible was done by immersion, and even Jesus himself "got out of the water", so we align ourselves with our church in the belief that baptism should be done by immersion and after being of age to consciously decide to follow Christ. So that's why Michael decided to get baptized through immersion on Friday.
Sidenote: Can I just tell you all how much I love this picture? You can't fake joy like that. The guy behind Michael is our pastor, Matt, who we've gotten to know much better over the past year. He's baptized both of us and it's pretty awesome to have a church leader that is also a genuine friend to share in moments like these.
Also this weekend: ice cream at Sylas and Maddys with some girlfriends, laughing so hard my sides hurt, wine, friends who tell me what I need to hear and not just what I want to hear, brunch at First Watch, lots of personal growth with a family situation, a great sermon from Matt on what it means to be a good friend (Also, I need to see Super 8 again). I really love my life and my heart feels light. I have to give huge praise to God for all of these blessings. I have felt God move in BIG ways this weekend and can't wait to see what happens next. Greater things are yet to come!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Awesomesauce this Friday!
Worship Night VI: July 29th - 7pm B.Y.O. Picnic - 830pm Music - South Park 12th & Mass
And now for something different. Bring your own picnic dinner with the family. Bring your blankets and/or chairs and hang out with EastLakers on the lawn of South Park at 7pm. Then at 830 we'll kick off the Music. Baptisms. Communion. It's a party for God we're throwing DOWNTOWN at South Park near 12th and Mass St. Don't miss it!
Want more info about Eastlake Church? Check out the website! http://www.eastlakelawrence.com/
And now for something different. Bring your own picnic dinner with the family. Bring your blankets and/or chairs and hang out with EastLakers on the lawn of South Park at 7pm. Then at 830 we'll kick off the Music. Baptisms. Communion. It's a party for God we're throwing DOWNTOWN at South Park near 12th and Mass St. Don't miss it!
Want more info about Eastlake Church? Check out the website! http://www.eastlakelawrence.com/
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Jesus the poached egg
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." CS Lewis, Mere Christianity
I really like this quote by C.S. Lewis. I think if I had been exposed to this in my youth it may have had a deep impact on the way I viewed Jesus. I didn't become a Christian until college, and prior to that religion just was a non-factor in my life. I do remember this argument of Jesus as a great teacher but not the Son of God being brought up a few times. I think it's something people say when they're just not comfortable believing in Jesus but don't want to fully admit it out loud.
But when you really study the Gospels and all of the things Jesus said-it's just too hard to make that claim and get away with it. Either Jesus was who he said he was, or he was freakin' crazy, or a liar. Jesus drew a line in the sand about who He was, He never left his purpose of being on Earth open to interpretation. EastLake did a talk about this very topic on Easter that was fantastic, non-patronizing, and then went one step further and gave examples of how God's love continues to work in us and heal people today. Listen to it here if you're interested.
I really like this quote by C.S. Lewis. I think if I had been exposed to this in my youth it may have had a deep impact on the way I viewed Jesus. I didn't become a Christian until college, and prior to that religion just was a non-factor in my life. I do remember this argument of Jesus as a great teacher but not the Son of God being brought up a few times. I think it's something people say when they're just not comfortable believing in Jesus but don't want to fully admit it out loud.
But when you really study the Gospels and all of the things Jesus said-it's just too hard to make that claim and get away with it. Either Jesus was who he said he was, or he was freakin' crazy, or a liar. Jesus drew a line in the sand about who He was, He never left his purpose of being on Earth open to interpretation. EastLake did a talk about this very topic on Easter that was fantastic, non-patronizing, and then went one step further and gave examples of how God's love continues to work in us and heal people today. Listen to it here if you're interested.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Fourth of July weekend recap
There are moments in life that really just take my breath away. This weekend, collectively, was one of them. Nothing huge happened, just lots of little moments of joy and happiness. It was a wonderful sample for me of how amazing it's going to be in Heaven. Wait, what? Let me explain.
Sunday's sermon was about the sacredness of our bodies, but in the middle of that the guest pastor was talking about what it would be like when our bodies are resurrected after Christ comes back. He said it would be like the perfect version of us, before sin entered the world. God originally intended for us to live forever with Him, and not get old and have the illnesses that are a part of the world now. So his idea was that we'd still be us, we'd still be recognizable, just the way God originally intended us to be...a perfect version of ourselves. Hope that means I won't have to wear glasses, haha! But anyway, while talking about this, he held up a sample spoon from Baskin Robbins and asked if we knew what it was. Duh, anyone over the age of 3 knows. The point of the sample spoon is to get a little taste. It's not going to satisfy you, because the idea is that you'll purchase the one that you liked the best. But it's enough for you to know that more is coming. He says everything on Earth that brings us joy, things that are right, when we act and do works on God's behalf...all of those things are just a sample of what God's got in store for us once we're with him forever. It won't be some cute imagery we've all seen on cartoons where we're sitting on clouds all days strumming a harp. With all the beauty that's within nature, and the good that's in people when we're kind and act in love showing us this is just a small taste...man, it's going to be epic.
But anyway, all that is not to say that I'm wishing away my life...far from it. Just that I know as good as life can be, it's not the end. This weekend we got to dogsit Penny's brother, Patrick, and went out to a latin american restaurant with his owners on Friday. They are fun and kind of bohemian and just cool overall. We had a blast watching Penny and Pat run in the backyard and chase each other and play with their stuffed toys. Saturday my beloved mowed the lawn in 90+ heat, bless his heart, and we had a nice, relaxing afternoon that consisted of a nap, freshly squeezed lemonade, video games, and snuggles with the animals. After church on Sunday, Michael indulged my crazy and got me a tumbler from McAlister's, with which I'll be able to snag a sweet tea for 99 cents whenever I bring it in. We made homemade sloppy joes (SO good! Why did it take us so long to do that?! Thanks Tish for the inspiration) and hung out 'til after midnight with a group of people, just talking, laughing, playing with sparklers. Today Michael woke me up with a bluebery muffin and fruit salad in bed, with an iced vanilla coffee to go along with it. I had to work during the day, but he kept me company and we had the Firefly marathon on tv in the background. Tonight some cherished friends came over for a traditional hamburger Fourth of July cook out, and we set off fireworks in the street and hung out on the drive way. The night ended with chocolate cake, never a bad thing. All in all a pretty fantastic weekend, and lots of little glimpses of joy, for which I lift my head and say Thanks to the one that created all of this.
Sunday's sermon was about the sacredness of our bodies, but in the middle of that the guest pastor was talking about what it would be like when our bodies are resurrected after Christ comes back. He said it would be like the perfect version of us, before sin entered the world. God originally intended for us to live forever with Him, and not get old and have the illnesses that are a part of the world now. So his idea was that we'd still be us, we'd still be recognizable, just the way God originally intended us to be...a perfect version of ourselves. Hope that means I won't have to wear glasses, haha! But anyway, while talking about this, he held up a sample spoon from Baskin Robbins and asked if we knew what it was. Duh, anyone over the age of 3 knows. The point of the sample spoon is to get a little taste. It's not going to satisfy you, because the idea is that you'll purchase the one that you liked the best. But it's enough for you to know that more is coming. He says everything on Earth that brings us joy, things that are right, when we act and do works on God's behalf...all of those things are just a sample of what God's got in store for us once we're with him forever. It won't be some cute imagery we've all seen on cartoons where we're sitting on clouds all days strumming a harp. With all the beauty that's within nature, and the good that's in people when we're kind and act in love showing us this is just a small taste...man, it's going to be epic.
But anyway, all that is not to say that I'm wishing away my life...far from it. Just that I know as good as life can be, it's not the end. This weekend we got to dogsit Penny's brother, Patrick, and went out to a latin american restaurant with his owners on Friday. They are fun and kind of bohemian and just cool overall. We had a blast watching Penny and Pat run in the backyard and chase each other and play with their stuffed toys. Saturday my beloved mowed the lawn in 90+ heat, bless his heart, and we had a nice, relaxing afternoon that consisted of a nap, freshly squeezed lemonade, video games, and snuggles with the animals. After church on Sunday, Michael indulged my crazy and got me a tumbler from McAlister's, with which I'll be able to snag a sweet tea for 99 cents whenever I bring it in. We made homemade sloppy joes (SO good! Why did it take us so long to do that?! Thanks Tish for the inspiration) and hung out 'til after midnight with a group of people, just talking, laughing, playing with sparklers. Today Michael woke me up with a bluebery muffin and fruit salad in bed, with an iced vanilla coffee to go along with it. I had to work during the day, but he kept me company and we had the Firefly marathon on tv in the background. Tonight some cherished friends came over for a traditional hamburger Fourth of July cook out, and we set off fireworks in the street and hung out on the drive way. The night ended with chocolate cake, never a bad thing. All in all a pretty fantastic weekend, and lots of little glimpses of joy, for which I lift my head and say Thanks to the one that created all of this.
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