2010

Alright, so it's the first day of a new year. On with the obligatory blog post!

Jesus is the only One who knows what 2011 holds for me, but I can look back on 2010 and see His goodness. It didn't seem like much of an "exciting" year, but as I remember things that happened, it turns out 2010 really was quite a good year!

-I started in a new position with my company (that fortunately came with a raise!)
-I went through training and started volunteering at the local Pregnancy Care center
-My sister moved in with me for 5 months
-I started meeting with a dear woman at my church who has huge giftedness in prayer and teaching and just prays through my life with me
-I made girl friends my age and joined a bible study
-I started helping with the junior high youth group at church
-I networked and found families that actully needed a babysitter and found new kids to love and play with

I know there is plenty more, but that's just a taste of the goodness that was in 2010. Here's to a fresh start in 2011!

Update and Advent

It has been awhile, and I don't know where to start. The summer ended with my little sister leaving her life in Alabama and driving up here to live on my futon. She's been doing great--found a job and is making friends. We've both agreed that she needs to be out by the end of the year, since really my living room is not the best place to live, so she has been apartment-searching around the area. It is great having her in town and spending time with her.

This advent season has been good for my heart. In the time leading up to Christmas day when Jesus is born and prophecies fullfilled there is such a feeling of anticipation and groaning. Waiting. I feel like that is often the state of my life--usually in a good way, thankfully. I am EAGERLY awaiting the second coming of Jesus, when all tears will be wiped away and all things will be new. My soul was made for that day, and longs to come home to it. I've thought this was pretty normal until a few months ago as I was praying over some friends. I said, "And Jesus please come back soon". My friends laughed and had a slightly puzzled look on their faces. And I had to say "Of COURSE I want Him to come back soon!" No pleasures in this life could even come close to the joy of being with my Jesus. I think that's why advent just resonates with me. What a time to anticipate all being right with the world, and reflect on the goodness of God come to earth!

Hello, Summertime

Mmmm.... life in the summer time is so wonderful! Everyone just seems a tad more relaxed. Now if only I didn't have to work 40 hrs a week, it would be perfect. ;-)

So far, besides work, my summer hasn't been too eventful, but still filled with fun. I went on a day hike up hanging rock with my friend Christine, which was exhausting and wonderful. Fourth of July was spent watching the downtown parade, and then partaking of Toy Story 3 in theatres (highly recommended, as are all of the toy story movies!).




I've also really, REALLY been enjoying getting to know people in my church better. The girls I go to Bible study with are great, and some families I've been getting to know just really make life fun! I watched fireworks on the 4th with Tammie and Mickey and their wonderful daughter Maddie, and recently I pretended to play hostess and had a dear family over to my apt for some dessert. It's great to just be grafted into to other people's families!

Kindred Spirits

Typically every year or so I spend a chunk of time watching Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea straight through. I think what first attracted me to the movies when I was little was that Anne had red hair like me (although, unlike Anne, I've always liked my red hair!). Now I love Anne because she has a wonderful story with lots of humor, deep friendships with Diana, and of course pretty much the most romantic saga of all times with Gilbert :) What really strikes me about Anne though is her discovery of "kindred spirits". Of course, she automatically discovers some of these kindred spirits, such as Diana Berry, and sweet Matthew. But what I particularly love is how people that make Anne furious also eventually become kindred spirits. Gil--who makes Anne so mad she breaks her slate over his head--because a kindred spirit (and eventually husband). Rachel Lynde, the town gossip who speaks her mind, eventually wins over Anne's heart and is dubbed a kindred spirit. And there are many others...Diana's Aunt, the Pringles, and old Mrs. Harris. Once Anne enters into their world and discovers what makes them who they are, she finds something lovable in them after all. I absolutely love that--and think it is something we can all learn from. There is a saying that "hurt people hurt people." I think a lot of the time that is true--those that are wounded most sometimes act out and cause pain to others. Those people that are the difficult ones in our lives, and usually the ones that need the most love. Once we spend time to see their story, we can become kindred spirits after all. I've seen this more recently in the tv series LOST. When LOST was first beginning we were introduced to so many characters, and quickly discovered that many of them had not-so-nice pasts, including murder. But when the episodes showed flashbacks of individual characters' lives, did we almost automatically start rooting for that character--or at least, understanding why they did what they did? Of course, there are always some things that there are no excuses for. But on the whole, I want to be the kind of person that can find a kindred spirit in most everyone. I want to be someone who is slow to speak, quick to listen, and who will be willing to alter her first judgements of people. I want to be someone who sees beyond labels into the uniqueness of an individual and cherishes who they are. I want to be like Anne, not just because of my red hair :) Thank Jesus that I already have so very, very many kindred spirits in my life, and I hope to always leave room for more!

Wait, I have a blog?

I haven't forgotten about my blog, I've really just been at a loss for what to share! Leave it to Stephanie to give me a push :) So here are some ramblings:

-Things at work are still lameo, but I'm moving to a new position within the company, which is supposed to be accompanied by a little raise, so there's a little bit of hope. I figure, even if I hate the new position as much as I hate what I'm doing now, at least I'll be making a little more money with it, right? Seems logical.

-I am so much falling in love with my church family. Seeing the way they care for each other, work through issues together, and spend time together just makes me so happy. If it weren't for the fact that the following day is Monday which means I have to go back to work, Sundays would hands-down be my favorite day of the week! I really look forward to Sunday morning service, I love the Sunday evening potlucks they sometimes have, I have fun at choir practice each Wednesday evening, and I was even glad I went to the church budget meeting! It is wonderful to be around people that love the Word and seek to be faithful to the Lord's will.

-If you remember from last summer, my good friend Lisa and I planted a garden together in her yard (since sadly I am lacking my own yard). Well this year we doubled the size of our garden, and so far things are going GREAT! The tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers are doing well just like last year. However this year we have added corn--which has been AMAZING to watch grow--it actually looks like corn!!!, string beans, lettuce, spinach (which sadly has already died), and we are getting ready to plant some watermelon and canteloupe seedlings. So great! Come visit me and maybe I can give you some produce :)

-I really like wearing lipstick. This is neither here nor there, but something I have come to terms with, even if it does make me sound like a little old lady.

Alright, well I think that is good enough of a start to get me back into the swing of things! And if anyone (coughstepaniecough) has any suggestions of what I should be talking about, feel free to let me know :-P

Membership

Nothing much exciting has been happening in my life recently, which is perfectly fine with me! I love consistency. The most recent fun thing in life is that this past Sunday I became a member of my church! I really can't even say how excited I am. I have been attending regularly for about a year and a half, and have grown to love the people and the values of this church. I had a great meeting wit the associate pastor and one of the elders to discuss membership, and joing on Sunday was wonderful. I am so glad for the opportunity to be cared for and disciplined by the people God has put in leadership here. How beautiful a church body is with many members, each with differing gifts and personalities. It is wonderful to be a committed part of a such a group. My prayer is that I will be able to offer as much as is offered to me! This is the first church I've ever become a member of, so I am excited to be "official" :)

The American Pink

I don't understand the color pink. I don't know that I've ever understood it. The most I know is that we dress baby girls in pink and baby boys in blue so that strangers will know the gender of the baby and can stop you in the grocery store to tell you what a cute little girl or boy you have. How those colors were chose, and who was the one to pink them, I have no idea. But I truly would like to know.

But that is where my knowledge of the color ends. I don't know if this is only in American, or in the western world, or if this is somehow a universal understanding of what colors to dress your baby in.

What I don't understand is this: Why, as babies get bigger, is it ok for girls to wear blue but never for boys to wear pink? Truly! The only guys I know that wear pink are either gay, or have the slogan "Real men wear pink" printed on their hot pink t-shirt.

I really just don't get it. How was pink assigned to be the GIRLS ONLY color? Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against the color, I just can't wrap my mind around it. And as a girl, it seems an unspoken rule that you can not be ambivilent about pink. You must either love it/be obsessed with it, or you must thoroughly abhor it. Either one is acceptable, but no "Eh, I could take it or leave it."

I'm not sure how pink got to be like this...I truly don't think any other color has as much confusion surrounding it. Anyone have any ideas? I know this is a random discussion...but it is seriously something I question quite often. Help!