New Venture

these photos are from campING not a camp, but it works

Ryan getting a job after months of us praying and waiting on the Lord has lifted a lot of weight off of us as a couple... the relieving of that burden has also propelled me forward, lighter of heart, into thinking about my own employment. 

there'd be laundry there, not just trees and rope

And like a light bulb moment it hit me to look into summer camps. Ryan and I have been discussing and we're pretty certain we're not getting married this summer, but instead this fall. This is a recent discussion, only the last few weeks. Before that I thought I'd at least spend part of the summer visiting India, so this never occurred to me before. But now that I have the whole summer free a job at a summer camp makes perfect sense.

and camp food probably a little superior to this

Any normal long term job I would feel strange trying to apply for since I'm leaving in the fall. I don't to be dishonest even by omission and having a job think they're making a long term hire when I'll be gone so soon... but I really need a job! And normal local summer jobs have a huge inundation of applicants which is why I've not often had success before (there are six, no seven now, colleges in Spartanburg). We are not really a tourist location, so there are only a few companies that hire more in the summer, and there is just such competition.

and if I thoroughly enjoy staying here, why not a cabin?

Also, I have a transportation problem. When I had my seasonal job my younger sister was home and we had two cars. Now with her in college, and no plans to come back after her graduation this May, we are down to one working car. My father works around 50 hours a week, with a half hour commute to work. He also works a strange schedule, starting one day at 7am, another at 1pm, so having to work around his schedule really limits my availability...

doesn't this just fill your soul with glee?

But with a summer camp, this isn't an issue. I just have to worry about getting there and back. Once there I can either just stay on site (food and laundry are provided so there's not much reason to leave) or carpool with someone who has a car into town (like if I need to buy toiletries). I am not used to having a car, so that will be no hardship. Indeed, being stuck in the country as I am, what I miss most is people, not stores. So I will have lots of socialization in camp so I'll probably be set.

I was a girl scout for eight years, am one of three sisters (no brothers), and went to an all women's college so I understand the mindset of a girl's camp. I was a theatre major and am passionate about arts and crafts. I adore nature and am not afraid of getting dirty. I have woods behind my house I trekked in as a kid and camping was a favorite activity for vacations. And I really love the idea of a Christian camp, where I could share my faith with the campers.

songs around the campfire... happy sigh.

But I could see myself fitting in with a co-ed, secular camp easily as well. I could be a general counselor as well as an instructor. I am flexible.

So I'm telling you about my new venture. This is a fresh idea, but one if it is to work requires immediate action. This is the latter half of the camp recruiting season. From what I'm reading, pretty much all camps will have all positions filled by mid-April. So I have to be applying actively if this is what I'm going to do...

So I'd appreciate prayers. If this is God's path for me, may I find just the right niche. If not, may He course correct me.

God is Good

I am so at peace, so joyful, so happy right now.

God is so good.

Thursday has been so good. Ryan got a job. My future brother-in-law got his Master's (defended his thesis), and my younger sister's creepy roommate moved out. And I'm on a few prayer boards and they were just filled of praise reports. A great day.

And I was just thinking of all that when I started to get a migraine. But I decided, who cares? I said a little prayer that God would ease it, took some ibuprofen and Tylenol at my mom's urging, and went online. There I bumped into Tabitha and I was telling her about my blessed day.

Then simultaneously I get a message from my ride to Friday night Bible Study. They aren't going because their cat had to have surgery. Sad. I run in my mind through lists of possible back up rides, but I can't think of anyone. So I won't get to go to Bible Study and share my good news in person. Sad.

And I sigh and then decide not to let it bother me. Migraine? Bah. God is good. Upset plans? Bah. God is good.

I am so at peace, so joyful, so happy right now.

Whether good things happen or bad things happen:

God is good.

Linked up to Faithful Fridays.

Thankful Thursday

Yes, I'm doing a second thankful post this week. I have a lot to be thankful for...

Thank you God for being yourself. For being able to cling to you and say, "God is good. I trust God. I know He will work it out." I thank You for faith. I know it is a gift for you. I pray for more.

Thank you for Ryan's job. Thank you for the stretching and growing of us as a couple as we waited on you. Help us to wait on you more, as we wait eagerly to be married.

Thank you for ideas I've been having about employment. Please bless them if it is your will, and give me a job if it is in your will for me. Create the position for me. Please help me find my niche in it.

Thank you for the books you let me review.

Thank you for this blog. Thank you for the internet.

Thank you for joy!

Thank you for seasonable weather.

Just again, thank you for being you!

Linking up to:

Gainfully Employed!!

Praising God this Preparation Thursday! Ryan has a job!

You've heard a little of the saga, but now that it's over I'll give you the overview:

Last Thursday he had a job interview. He showed up... the person interviewing him did not.

He waited three hours. When he left he told them if they wanted to interview him they'd have to do it on his terms and give him a phone interview. He was very angry. Knowing the US job market, I assumed this meant he'd never hear from them again.

On Friday they called and he got his phone interview. They did several interviews throughout the day. At the end of the day he was basically told he had the job, but he wouldn't find out the salary until Monday.

In our long job search, he's gotten about a half dozen job offers, but none of them have been enough. I can't work for the first year I'm there (legally) and I have college debts, unfortunately, so we have a minimum. So we weren't celebrating just yet.

Monday he went in to get the job offer and eager to discuss the job itself, the company, etc. The person he met with was ill equipped and unwilling to have a conversation about the job with him, the letter he was offered had run out of ink on the second page so you couldn't' read it, and the amount he was offered was just short of enough.

We discussed it and decided he'd try to negotiate, but we were both pretty glum. On Tuesday he woke up with severe allergies and just took the day off.

On Wednesday he called them up to negotiate. The first person he talked to said the offer was what it was and there was no room for negotiation and got off the phone. A few hours later he got a call from a  new member of the HR staff and she discussed why he wanted more. She said she'd negotiate with him a better salary and made an appointment for this morning.

We were hopeful. The salary they'd offered was so close that if they were really open to negotiation they'd probably give us enough.

I went to bed last night hoping... his morning is our night, so he met with her while I slept.

And of course you know he got it. He negotiated a salary slightly above our minimum. He starts April 9th. We're very relieved.  Thank you, God.

Throughout this experience we've been praying to God that the right job offers us enough money... and if it wasn't the right job that they wouldn't. So as frustrating as having about a half dozen job offers (including a few tempting ones) that weren't just enough was, we also knew it was God protecting us. So this job must be the right one!

In other preparation news, I completed the first segment of my Hindi studying! It took about a week, which is a nice pace. I'm going to keep it up. And I was also looking into other online resources. Learning a new language makes my brain hurt. :)

Praising God!

Yarn Along

Okay, I really didn't get any work done on my vest this week.... I did a little yesterday, but earlier in the week it fell and some got ripped out and so really I'm just back where I was last week. So I decided not to take a new picture but instead just use last weeks. Do you, like me, obsess about the picture to share? I DO actually think next week I'll have it done, or at least have a lot of progress accomplished. I've been busy this week, but I have less piled up against me upcoming.

As far as books go, I've finished Our Favorite Sins and A Taste of Heaven since last week. I am still working on All Things Are Ready, which is my wedding planner, and have started Angels Are For Real. And I'm continuing the Bible in 90 days challenge.

I also read The Hunger Games this week! I really want to read Catching Fire now, but I don't have it. It was really good, as probably a lot of you already know. I don't have a picture of it because as soon as I was done my mom took it so she could read it. I don't think I'll get to seethe movie now... maybe in a month or two when it'd be in our local $2.50 movie theater (movies that are out of the normal theaters but not quite on DVD).

Happy Birthday, Beth!

Today is my sister Beth's birthday. She lives in Florida, so I won't get to see her today, but I wanted to do this post to show her I love her and hope the year ahead is blessed by God. 

She's an incredible, accomplished woman. She's a passionate teacher, an impressive world traveler, a loving wife, and a caring friend. I'm blessed she's my sister. I love you, Beth!

Book Review: A Taste of Heaven by Sproul

A Taste of Heaven is about worship. I was excited yet nervous to read it. After all, is there a subject more emotional for Christians than worship? We can get all caught up in it because it's important. Sproul directed us to realize God's preferences always trump ours, since it is about Him above all. In order to find out what God says about worship, the proper place to look is the Bible. Sproul takes us through the Bible and discusses the form and attitude of worship. By worship we aren't just discussing music, but the attitude of heart, baptism, holy communion and the substance of the experience of community worship in the church.

I loved how he gave voice to opposing Christian views. Sproul doesn't insist on his own way, though he admits his preferences. Instead he points out the Bible's view, then guides us through the reasons that many Christian groups disagree and the conclusions they've made. Honestly, this book was not what I was expecting.  I thought it would be talking about the emotions and spirituality of worship (that is, not as much the practical, tangible aspects) and perhaps the history. Then when I actually was looking in it, I read the chapter headings and thought "oh no, this is going to be a defense of the Reformed way as the only way"... but it wasn't either of those things. I genuinely loved this book.

I receive this book free from Reformation Trust in exchange for my unbiased review.

I'm Blessed

I really am. I feel a little wiped out though.

Ryan got the job offer. It's not enough. He's going to try negotiating, if that doesn't work he'll walk away. I am okay with this. There's more than one element at work here. Prayers for our continued patience in waiting on the Lord is appreciated.

I am blessed to have a tummy full of my mom's delicious macaroni and cheese.

I am blessed Sophie is looking better.

I am blessed with the books I get to review. I just got another one in the mail today! I look forward to tell you about it later.

I'm thankful I got to spend time with my friend Emily this weekend.

I am thankful for how God ties things together.

I am blessed by Ryan and the love we have for each other. Love that clings to each other even when we're not 100%, love that fosters forgiveness.

I am thankful for the Bible.

I'm linked up to I'm Blessed.

Book Review: Our Favorite Sins by Todd Hunter

Our Favorite Sins is a book about battling temptation... especially those temptations which are especially enticing to you. Hunter goes through some of the most common temptations, but mainly generalizes so that we can all benefit from the examples even if we don't share a particular weakness. He affirms that the only salvation from temptation is God, but presents new (old) methods for connecting with God so that He can save us.

I really took my sweet time reading this book. That's because I needed time to reflect and pray as I went through. I really enjoyed the spiritual practicality Hunter shares. I found it interesting and even enlightening as he presented the liturgical prayers as tools, truly weapons, in this battle of sin nature and surrendered will to God. I'm from a liturgical church so I already saw their value but I hadn't seen them quite in the light presented by Hunter.

This book has definitely earned my recommendation. I am very glad I had the privilege to read it.

I received this book free from the booksneeze program in exchange for my unbiased review.

Update

I started writing this post yesterday, but then got too sleepy. I guess that's okay because I have an update now I didn't then anyway.

You know how I told you Ryan's crazy waited-for-three-hours-for-an-interviewer-who-never-showed-up story?  Well as he left, he told them that if they still wanted to interview him they'd have to do it on his terms and call him for a phone interview.

In America, I don't think that'd ever happen. As one who has had far too much experience job hunting, the law of the land here is the interviewee has no rights.

But Ryan's not in America. And they called him back the next day and interviewed him!And guess what?

He's pretty much got it! He has the job. He just doesn't know about how much it will pay. He'll get the "offer letter" Monday (I'm not sure if we do this in America, but they're big deals over there) and that's when they can do salary negotiation.

Ryan's gotten several job offers since he's been looking. It's just none of them have been enough for us to survive. That first year in India I can't legally work, so he has to make enough for both of us.  So we'll see how it goes on Monday.


God is good. I excited about this opportunity He provided, no matter how it turns out.

India, Blog, and Relationships

I'm about to really make my blog go crazy. So if you've come here and it really looks bizarre.... forgive me. I'm messing with it. I'm giving it a makeover.. except I have no idea exactly how I want to make it over. So I'll be experimenting. I doubt I'll settle on a final product until April though, so don't get too excited or scared by anything you see here.

I do have in my head an idea for how I want it to look when I move to India... but that's still a ways away. Aaand of course that's what I'm supposed to be writing about here! It's Preparation Thursday!

So what have I done to prepare to move to India this week?

Well, I was hoping to title this post "gainfully employed" because today Ryan had a job interview we really thought he'd get...

But the person who was going to interview him never showed up! He waited for three hours before he left.

The unfortunate truth is that our future is really on hold until he can get a job. I mean, it's not that much on hold, but everyday he's unemployed pushes the ultimate day we get to be together farther away. But we trust in God's provision and timing, as well as His guidance. And He's let us know we're marrying sooner rather than later. So we're having faith.

In other news I did start working out again regularly. Ryan and I had a nice discussion about that. He lives in a city of two million and well, it's polluted. I live a rural area and the air is nice and clean. So I wonder about if I'll be able to really work out in the outdoors when I go to India. When my friend Lydia moved to a smoggy area (Anaheim) from here she got bronchitis. Twice. It ultimately cascaded into having her come home earlier than she thought she would. So I'm wary of air pollution. I'm not sure my lungs won't freak out...

But who knows? Still, I'm thinking we should probably get an air purifier and I can do my real exercising indoors.

Ryan and I also have been talking wedding. I'm pretty sure it's 100% certain we've picked out the wedding rings! It will be a little while before we can actually buy them though. We found them on etsy. I love etsy!

I suppose the most constructive thing we've done this week is work on our relationship. I think we've had some really good talks this week, even some really good fights.

Preparing for India is mainly about preparing my heart, and that's God work. I've spent time with Him this week... but not as much as I should. Still, I have faith in the transforming power of fellowship with Him, and I can feel Him preparing me.

Book Review: Finding Our Way Home by Baumbich

This is a great novel. Ms. Sasha Davis is a world class ballerina.... who has been reduced to the role of hermetic invalid after a tragic fall. Evelyn Burt is her cheerful, capable nineteen year old live-in assistant, who is newly engaged and has left home for the first time.This book takes you through a journey of healing, friendship and humbling ones self.

I really enjoyed it.I feel like I know people like both Sasha and Evelyn. I thought the ballet portions were extremely realistic and was surprised afterwards to read in the author's note that Baumbich had known nothing about ballet before this book. The women aren't the only realistic characters. I thought both of their love stories were realistic and engaging.

One odd element was "Our Lady of Dance", an antique snowglobe treasured by Ms. Davis. It was in line with lots of literary symbols and was fine. I just thought in a Christian book the kind of guidance lent by this snowglobe to Sasha's character would probably be better coming directly from God. That's not to say God doesn't play a part in the novel, because He does, but the snowglobe has a large role. (I just noticed this is a "Snowglobe Connections" novel, so I suppose it must be a device to connect this with other novels. That's fine, but it was still strange.)

This book definitely gets my recommendation. I enjoyed it and had a good time reading it. Baumbich's characters are excellent!

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah publishers in exchange for my unbiased review.

Yarn Along

 

I have a confession: I haven't really been working on yarn stuff at all this week. I didn't however post on this last week so I do have progress to share! The mystery project I shared two weeks ago is a vest! I am not done with it or I'd model it, but I'm probably... 65% done? I may or may not have it done by next week.

I just finished reading Finding Our Way Home, a contemporary novel, last night. It was really good and I plan on reviewing it later today. I'm also still working on Our Favorite Sins by Todd Hunter, which I couldn't find when I wanted to take this picture.  And the item below Finding Our Way Home up there is my Nook (in its box) because I'm reading A Taste of Heaven by R.C. Sproul on it. I just started it last night.

The large book in the background? That's my wedding planner! It's called All Things Are Ready: A Bride's Complete Christian Wedding Planner by Amy Hayes and I'm loving it so far!

Blessed Indeed

I am so exceedingly thankful and joyous on behalf of my friend Hannah and TJ, because they have now legally adopted their daughter Hayley! Soooo happy for them!

I'm also thankful for my awesome, wonderful church.

I'm thankful that I unexpectedly got to go to the first meeting of our "foyer group" which I thought I'd have to skip. A foyer group is pretty much just informal fellowship of church members to foster friendships and bonding. Our group was starting to meet Sunday night, but I hadn't thought I'd be able to go... but after church I found a ride! We had a great time and were at the most lovely house with a spectacular view. It was a casual dinner party. Afterwards we prayed together and it was just really great.

I'm thankful for the books I get to review. I just finished one (yay!) and will be posting that review today. I have several more I'm working on... I am so blessed to be able to do this. It really matches with my passions and abiilties. I am extremely thankful.

I am thankful for my family. They are wonderful people.

I am thankful Ryan has a job interview Thursday (Wednesday night for us). Prayers appreciated!!

Linking up with I'm Blessed, Thankful Thursday.

Exercise and Discipline

I am all sweaty. I just worked out for about forty-five minutes. My heart is racing and I've got a head rush. And I feel good.

Did you know I was in college the first time I felt endorphins from exercise?

Me in college

My freshman year was a crazy mix of roommate and academic stress and when fall exam week rolled around I was having a really hard time dealing with it all. I'd heard the advice that exercise helps stress, so I decided to figure it out. My freshman year our student center was being remodeled so the only gym available was the athlete's gym in the academic building (which us non-athletic students were allowed to use) so I trekked out there and tried it. I don't think I got the endorphin rush the first time, but I did get rid of some nervous energy, so I went back out there... 

I'm not sure if it was the second time or if it took longer, but I remember the shock I had when I finally tapped into that endorphins place.  And I remember esctatically going to my friends in the cafeteria and telling them I'd gotten endorphins from exercising for the very first time!!

And they were like, really?

in tap dance recital costume

Yeah... I was not an athlete growing up (or now) and I detested P.E. (I think it hated me too!)  While I've always loved a few activities, like swimming or dancing, generally I either didn't have access to a pool or the resources. I had done tap dancing for a year when I was six and ballet for half a year when I was seven (we moved before the year was up). But down here they only dance class they offered was clogging and a) I didn't really like it and b) it was expensive. I liked basketball okay, but I wasn't really good enough to join a team, though we did have a hoop... but I didn't like it enough to play by myself so I really only played if one of the neighbors joined me. My sisters weren't exciting enough to tear my nose out of a book.

I never understood why anyone liked sports or exercise. For me, the more you exercised, the more it hurt. I never got joy out of exercising where I felt a burn. But as I had never found the endorphins, that makes sense. I wonder if I'd found them as a kid if my life would be different? Eh, doesn't matter, didn't happen.

I did spend a lot of time playing outside. I had time periods where I'd do a lot of biking or walking, but I wasn't terribly consistant.

As you can probably tell from how the "See Pam Run" has gone, I've never gotten very good at consistency when it comes to physical discipline.

I'm not horribly consistent with spiritual discipline either, though I think I do a little better. I try to put first things first most of the time. Still, I think having a moderate amount of discipline in other areas affects our spiritual growth. I say "moderate" amount because I've seen far too many people replace the relationship with God with one discipline or obsession to say that it is always healthy. In fact, letting things go is often a sign of spiritual development in the "type A" department.


For me, however, I need more discipline. It's a balancing act. And while my chronic ear infections ceased many years ago, I still have difficulty balancing my life. I know I'm not alone in this struggle, but I am extraordinarily bad at it!

God, help me bring my life more in balance. Show me how to make it work.

And for my blog readers, this post also lets you know I'm restarting See Pam Run this week! Barring injury, I plan on finishing this time.

Preparation Thursdays

I realized a few minutes before Thursday expired I hadn't started this yet. I feel like I've really been "dropping the ball" this week when it comes to my regular obligations. But so here I am, doing Preparation Thursday, which is where I share about how I'm preparing for the move to India. But this Prep. Thurs. goes beyond even that...

I realized last Thursday I was expecting more than six packages from book review programs soon, a few of which were overdue.  On Friday one came, but not one of the overdue ones. Saturday brought none, and unsurprisingy neither did Sunday.

On Monday I woke up to this welcome sight:

I was so curious as to what was in that big, white one! I've never gotten a package like that before from any publisher...

It was my wedding planner!

One of those big binders they sell. It is a book about wedding planning for Christian brides, which also includes lists and organizational tools.


When I had signed up to review All Things Are Ready, as it said "planner" I thought it'd be like a book with some space to write in. I didn't realize it'd be so nice and... bride-like. And I felt my heart swell with gratitude...

I'd wanted a planner like this before, but never could afford it. And now not only did I get one for free, but it was specifically for Christian brides. I've already read quite a bit in it, and it matches up with me very well.

I felt loved by God. I am a huge wedding fanatic. I know I can get obsessed with it. So last summer, when Ryan and I were discussing our marriage, I prayed to God to be my wedding planner. I was looking at the time frame, the money, and the distance. The impossibility of it all and the disordered desires of my own heart and I knew.. I knew I had to hand the baton to God.

So I gave it to Him. I prayed for Him to be my wedding planner. To take what He knew we'd have in resources (which we still don't know) and the vision and desires He has for me and He knows I have in my heart and reconcile it with the timing that still only He knows. And I asked Him to change my heart to be happy with whatever happens. However it goes, I put it on Him and asked Him for his plan for me...

That was last summer. And He has reordered some desires... and He's also given me faith He'll come through. And also.. sometimes I am a horrible daughter and doubt Him dreadfully.

So when this planner arrived I felt loved and grateful. I've been struggling with so much and this was assurance to me that God is planning this day that does mean a lot to me.

Then I got online and saw how God had come through for another of my brethren.... and I instantly got sibling rivalry. My heart deflated in ingratitude because I still had needs that were unmet and God hadn't come through with those and...

I caught myself and berated myself. I prayed to God to forgive me my wicked heart and that I was grateful and to help my ingratitude...

A few hours later I was given clearer vision of God's provision with the planner He gave me... because I'd been emailing Lydia, who will be my maid of honor, regarding times to go wedding gown shopping with me.

And she said it's either today or you have to wait until after March 27th. I've been trying to get a trip together since January, so I didn't want to delay more.

So when the planner arrived, I was just delighted in God's provision of it... now I am awed at God's timing, since I hadn't known when I opened the picture what God had, that'd I'd be taking this trip the next day and would get to take it with  me.

My mother was going to come and we were going to boutiques in Spartanburg. But she wasn't feeling well the next day and Lydia revealed she had to be in Greenville in the early evening/late afternoon. So instead, Lydia and I just decided to go to David's Bridal in Greenville, which I figured was a good idea because I am plus sized and it didn't seem that the smaller boutiques would have much I could try on anyway.

Dress #3

I don't have money to buy a wedding dress right now, but I figured a reconnaissance trip was a good thing to do... it would be good to find out what kind of styles looked good on me.

The trip was wonderful. I tried on seven dresses and then stopped because... I fell in love with the seventh one. It's way out of my price range. But God filled me with peace about it, not mourning. That surprised me. With a lot of the things I've wanted for my wedding which I conceivably can't have, I have been filled with mourning. But in this, God instead gave em peace. This assures me that whatever dress I end up getting will be perfect. Maybe it will be this one.. maybe not. But I am utterly at peae about it.

I don't want to share photos of that one or even some of the ones that were closer winners because Ryan can read this. But I thought it'd be fun to share a photo or two of some that will not be my wedding dress, for sure.

Dress #4

THEN something happened after the wedding dress shopping. The reason Lydia was going to Greenville in the first place was because she'd run into a mutual friend of ours from college and she was meeting her for dinner and then agreeing to be a guinea pig for a business meeting of hers. So I tagged along. 

So for me, having dinner and hanging out with this friend of ours was entirely last minute... but not really at all. Because I had prayed to God to get a chance to reconnect with her before I moved to India! So this last minute evening was a divine appointment!

Ryan and I also talked a lot about what we want for our wedding this week, prompted by the wedding planner. And he's in the search for a job still, and is closer. Please keep that in your prayers.

I'm Blessed

I know I normally do this on Monday (or early Tuesday) but I'm actually glad I didn't get around to this until today. I have a lot to be thankful for...

I am thankful that today is my grandfather's 87th birthday. Thank you, God, for my grandfather and blessing us with his years.

I am thankful for the ruling about the Virginia Tech massacre, finding the school negligent. My cousin was one of those killed, and I am praying this will bring her parents some healing. Mom and I were crying most of the afternoon.  I... I don't really have words to express. I just am glad justice is yours, God, and thank you for this ruling.

I am thankful I spent yesterday wedding dress shopping, catching up with an old friend and being girlie.  I will have more about this tomorrow for Preparation Thursday.

I am thankful for God's sweetness and His peace. I trust you, help my disbelief.

I am thankful for Ryan and my relationship, communication skills, and faith for helping us grow and maintain our love despite the 8,000 mile distance.

I am thankful for getting time with best friend Lydia yesterday.

I am thankful I got to spend time with my sister Alison this Saturday.

I am thankful for the "reunion" we had at Bible Study this Friday. One of our own, Keiko, moved to New York City and came down for a visit because her grandson Josiah was just born (her daughter lives here) and that was awesome. Also my friends Grace and Jacob came and I got to see them and their darling son Daniel for the first time since November.

I am incredibly thankful for this week, God, and how you stretch and grow me. Help me share what you have shared with me to pass on, and let me bring you glory always. I love you. You are so sweet! I am so blessed.

Linking up to I'm Blessed and Thankful Thursdays.

Psalm Journey Continued

It's Psalm Sunday! Each Sunday I'll continue posting the next step of the Psalm Journey until it is completed. To read any Psalm in full, click on its name. To read other Psalm Sunday posts, click the button to the left. Below I've provided one verse that stood out for one reason or another, and then do a brief reflection on the psalm. 


Psalm 96- "Sing to the LORD, bless his name, tell of his salvation from day to day." v.2
    This Psalm is one of worship, an often quoted and much loved Psalm. I highlighted this verse because I thought how we should be daily witnesses not only of God's redemptive salvation but also in how day to day He saves us in the little ways.

Psalm 97- "The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory." v. 6
    This Psalm of God's Might Righteousness ascribes God the proper glory. It reaffirms what Romans 1 says about how all people have witnessed God and are without excuse.

Psalm 98- "Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy" v. 8
   This is a joyful hymn of praise for God and His Creation, and how God will come to deliver us.

Psalm 99- "Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD and he answered them" v. 6
    I love how this Psalm is lauding God's holiness, but says how these men, mere mortals, cried to God and He answered them. A Holy God! Praise Him!

Psalm 100- "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name" v. 4
   Is there another Psalm where every line is iconic? Yes, probably. But I was amazed how familiar I was with this classic Psalm.

Psalm 101- "Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in this land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the LORD" v. 8
   This Psalm is attributed to David. Yet as I read it I feel sad as I think of his son Abimelech and how David did nto intervene despite this Psalm's pledge.

Psalm 102- "Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD" v. 18
    And it was! And we are that unborn generation that praises God along with the Psalmist.

Psalm 103- "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" v. 8
   I love this Psalm!! It is a listing of a few of the amazing character attributes of God. It is a Psalm to persue and know Him better.

Psalm 104- "May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD" v. 34
    This Psalm talks about how God provided creation in all of its wonder, and how all creation looks to Him, for He is its source and Hope.

Psalm 105- "For I remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant" v. 42
    This is a Psalm for the people to remember what God has done with Israel.

Psalm 106- "They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass" v. 20
    This is another historical recounting Psalm- but this one focuses on the nation of Israel's unworthiness and blatant sin... and yet God was with them. Hope for us all!

Linked up with Faith Filled Fridays.

500th Post

Anyone remember this banner?

Did you know that you reading this post is a divine appointment? God knew before you or I did that you would be reading this post.

It's my job to listen to Him so that He can tell you, through me, what you need.  Sometimes that could be a laugh, or a serious point of encouragement, or reviewing a good book. Sometimes it's just me being me, whatever that means.

This is my five hundredth post.

You may have noticed I haven't posted in a few days. Mainly this has been because I wanted to have number five hundred be special... and I got stuck.

I've also been spending too much time doing other stuff when I get online, and then when I actually get to my blog... something comes up and I have get offline.

I need improve my prioritization.

I'm wasn't sure how I wanted to celebrate #500. I have known for a long time I planned on giving my blog a makeover... in April. 

I'll be really impressed if you remember this one!

But this week has been making me meditate on a few reoccurring themes. And that combined with this has become a message from God for me about how I should address my blog writing.

So for you, this means I'm spending more time relating with God regarding my posts.

We'll see what this means concretely for this blog only in time. But I hope there will be a positive change for Him, and also for you.

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
   -2 Corinthians 4:6

Yarn Along

So I forgot to post to the Yarn Along last week...

I finished the baby blanket I was working on!

 Consequently I have two projects to show you: the finished baby blanket and...

Know what it is?

...the project I'm in the middle of... know what it is? :) I hope to have it finished by next week and will let reveal then!

As far as books go I finished The Road to Grace, Heart of the Country, and God Gave Us Love since last time. I'm in the middle of Our Favorite Sins by Todd Hunter.  I'm also still plugging away at the Bible in 90 days, but I just didn't take its picture this time.

Laugh! (7 Funny Stories)

Yesterday I was having a hard time posting. I was going to write you something profound and deep... but couldn't find the words so I just did  simple "thanks" post.

my late goats, Henry and Blake

But today, I was telling some funny stories and it hit me today I will focus on humor. Because God created laughter.

Without further ado, some funny stories:

1. When I was in high school I went to school with this button up shirt on one day. I'd gone to my locker between classes and after I swung my back pack up to my shoulder I did it in *just* the wrong way so that it caught on the top button and just pulled them all open and BAM my bra was showing for the whole hall to see.

me, from a dance recital when I was 6

2. When I was in high school, I was in gifted art and to be funny I'd taken my fingers covered in paint and run them over my face. I totally forgot about it and afterwards I went to my sister's volleyball game.

After the game was over, my middle school gym teacher came up with concern on her face saying, "What happened to you?" Then she furrowed her brow and stared at me and I had a lightbulb moment and said, "Oh! I have paint all over my face, don't I?"

And she stormed off muttering, "I sat there the whole time thinking you'd been a horrible accident or something..." Oops.

3. Freshman year of college several friends and I were standing in front of a dorm and decided to hop the railing so we were standing on the edge, facing out. I don't know why we thought this was a good idea. Then they decided to get down... by jumping the four or five feet to the ground. I am very clumsy when it comes to jumping, and would have rather clambored back over the railing and taken the stairs, but they had jumped down so neatly and were impatient and saying "Come on!" and I told myself, if they can do it you can do it. (Hahahaha! I need to stop thinking that) So I jumped.

I landed flat on my butt. They were surprised at my clumsiness (I wasn't) and as they helped me up I felt a breeze....

My pants had split neatly right across my butt so my underwear was hanging out. No wait, my favorite pants had split right across the butt so my underwear was hanging out. I had to put my hands on my rear and walk stiffly to my dorm room (which luckily was one building over!)


4. In college the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, came and spoke to us. I was in the auditorium and my cell phone started going off.. which was awful because I'd actually turned it off! But I'd sat down in just the wrong way as to push the buttons that not only turned it on, but pocket dialed someone on speakphone. Redfaced, I was fumbling trying to turn it off and someone behind me hissed "Take out the battery!" so I tried...

And my battery and the back of my phone flew across the auditorium floor. Jimmy Wales and everyone stopped and looked at me while I tried to pick them up and he paused his speech until I sat back down.

So not kidding.

me, in a wig in high school

5. Just the other day, when Tabby and I were hanging out we went to Salvation Army and there was a wedding dress that was my size. It wasn't my style at all, but just to be funny Tabby urged me to try it on. I told her only if she'd try on a bridesmaid gown.

The fitting rooms were full so we stood there waiting, our dresses over our arms, side by side. Remember, Tabby is pregnant with twins. A lady said to Tabitha "Having a wedding soon?"

"Yep," she said, since she's my matron of honor.

"Well, it's never too late," she said. I was confused, but then a fitting room opened up...

Then we realized she thought Tabby was the bride... and very pregnant. She must not have noticed Tabby's wedding rings! We laughed and I offered to walk up to the woman and say loudly something about my wedding so she'd over hear, but Tabby said it was fine and we left it alone.

6. Tabitha works at a Bowling Alley/Roller Skating place. So one day we decide to roller skate. I had done it a few times, since she's been working there a while, but I am so stiff. I could roller skate as a kid, but I guess I developed curves which totally threw off my center of gravity. So I would rollerskate stiff as a board, shifting my feet like one inch at a time to creep forward. I felt like if I didn't, I'd fall flat on my butt.

But I was watching all the other skaters and they were loosely gliding around like hyper swans and I thought, "If they can be so loose and not fall over, why would you fall if you unstiffened?"

So I relaxed. I didn't like make a big motion or spin or even move at all really.  I just relaxed.

And BAM! I landed on my tailbone.

7. When I was in high school we'd have (mandatory) pep rallies where they'd do some crazy contest or something you'd have to sign up for in advance. They had a dancing competition one and I was too chicken to sign up, and I then sat in the stands watching those who had and I thought, "I'm not going to miss out on something more fun than sitting in the bleachers because I'm scared. Next time they offer something like this, no matter what it is, you're signing up."

So the next time they offered... karaoke!

So I signed up and selected "You Can't Hurry Love"...

The day I was to sing, I got up there and I sang... my nerves were through the roof though. I love, love, love, love to sing... but I can't sing in front of people, solo, without being a basket case.

So afterwards, I hurried to my friends and they told me I was great. I asked, "Could you tell I was shaking?"

And they said, "Shaking?"
(and this is where, when I tell this story, people always smile, thinking this story is a case of 'Conquer your fear, it will be a-okay, no will notice, etc')
They said, "Shaking? We thought you were doing some kind of funky dance!"

Hahahaha!!!!

Hoping at least one of these 100% true antidotes from my own life made you smile! Love you all!

Thanking God

I'm blessed by God daily. I am not always appreciative, but the once weekly link-up helps me, in a tiny way, remember to say thank you to my Creator and Savior.

Thank you, God, for giving my loved ones patience.

Thank you for Grace. I'm sorry I need it so often, but boy am I glad you offer it.

Thank you for Pinterest and that new fun.

Thank you for high speed interent.

Thank you for the encouragement and comfort you have recently provided.

Thank you for Ryan. I love him so...

Thank you for emails. And spellcheck. And trees.

Thank you for Sophie and her cuddliness.

Thank you for allowing me to do book reviews.

Thank you for crocheting.

Thank you for my glasses... please help me find the pair I already lost? (yes... really!)

Thank you for bananas.

Thank you for believing in me and taking me seriously. Help me let your Voice drown out others, you know just the ones.

Thank you for ministering to my heart.

I love you God.

Linking up to I'm Blessed, Thankful Thursdays.

Book Review: The Road to Grace by Genung

The Road to Grace by Mike Genung is a Christian men’s book for those struggling with sexual addiction, especially pornography. Genung is the founder of an international men’s ministry, Blazing Grace, which is aimed at the issues addressed in the book. He tells of his own testimony and struggles very transparently.  He brings a lot of scripture and experience with God to the table. It is a book you have to chew over and process slowly.

Genung wrote a good book for Christian married men who struggle with pornography. There is a small section for wives of husbands struggling with pornography, but there is no helpful content for women who struggle sexual issues, including no recommended resources. While single men may be able to find much of what is in here helpful, the book was definitely written for a married man. Single men were nodded at, but many chapters were written exclusively for married men and the difficulty of purity during celibacy was never mentioned. There is a lot here for Christian married men who struggle with sexual sin other than pornography, but that definitely is the focus. While this is directed at a specific demographic, it unfortunately also covers a far large amount of men in the Church today, and therefore many will find it invaluable.

The book is called The Road to Grace because Genung focuses on God’s grace as the answer for these men. One thing he did was to switch between “love” and “grace” as if they were the exact same word. While God’s grace and God’s love are certainly entwined, I've known many Christians who accept one but struggle with the other. But Genung makes no differential at all. I also thought his chapter order was not well done. I read the first few chapters thinking the book was headed in one direction only to find it was more well-rounded than it appeared. I recommend  if you aren’t finding helpful information in the first few chapters, persist.

Overall I thought it was a good resource and would recommend it.

I received this book for free from the BookCrash program in exchange for my unbiased review.

Preparation Thursdays

This week we've been focusing more on thinking about our wedding(s).  I've been logging hours on a wedding board and joined Pinterest.  There's not too much I can do, since so much is up in the air. He and I have been talking and think we'll aim for July. Yes this July, though that could easily be moved back. If he can come to America, we'll probably do something here then. If not, I'll go to India for a visit, and we'll only have the one wedding in India.

I reapplied for the company I worked at seasonally because tehy told me they might be hiring around now, so hopefully that works out.

Ryan is still applying for jobs, and we have a plan that will significantly shorten that search. Please pray if you would like to....

That's about the extent of it, preparation wise, this week.