Saturday, February 26, 2011

Things I Enjoy and Where They're From

I wrote in my journal this week a list of things I love and where those things come from. It helps me to feel more secure when I take ownership of my loves and passions. Here ya go:

Seasons. This love comes from having lived in SoCal my whole life and having a lack of seasons. It also comes from my need to categorize life into months, chunks...seasons in order to see growth and have closure.

Chocolate. "I got it from my mama" (really)!

Travel. It comes from traveling...and wishing...and needing to be part of something bigger.

Warm Beverages. This love came with college. Oh I wish I could say more, but to really share this piece of happiness with you, I'd have to make you a latte.

Slow Mornings. This comes from Brit and Nan, the sisters! I had lots of slow mornings with them last year when Brit and I were floor partners. They taught me the value of taking time for joy and meditation before the day starts.

Owls and Mushrooms. From a blooming collection of each; I also have this romantic notion of a magical forest in which they live and fit so enchantingly.

Camping. This love comes from growing up "in" Yosemite (or camping in, at least).

Girlie Movies and TV Shows. I believe my enjoyment of these originated with my sister...we would eat in front of the TV whenever she babysat ("Shh! Don't tell Mom and Dad, Chrissy!")

Peaceful and Pretty Genres of Music. This comes from listening and exploring...

Homemaking. A lack of sport's teams as a child, an apartment, and a mom from the '50s.

I want to hear from you! What are some of your favorites and where were they born/started? I'm helping you become more secure...hehe!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

"Pretty Light"

I usually don't write when I'm feeling bad. And I'm not feeling bad today, but I have been... there have been awful things this week. And I wish I could tell you all the details. I wish I could spill out the very interesting thoughts I've been having, but I just can't...I'm learning how to restrain. I'm learning that my desire for intimacy is one that can only be fulfilled by Jesus. I have long struggled with the idea that I can't share my ENTIRE life with just anyone. Yes, I have my closest friends who know me inside and out, but even in those relationships, there are times when I have to stop stumbling over my words, desperate to be understood, and just give a groan to the Holy Spirit. I am rejoicing today in the fact that he takes those longing groans and turns them into coherent pleas before the Father. How marvelous.

But this morning, I'm not feeling so bad. It's been a week of self-care which can prove exhausting, but I was reminded last night by one of the sweetest of all people that I am a strong woman. What?! I usually describe myself as weak...seriously. But when I cut out time to take care of myself I am strong. You...ya, you who said that, you are amazing.

So I feel like living in pretty light today. Yesterday's theme was "comfort", the day before was "coming to the end of myself", today's is "pretty light"... abstract as it may be.

Pretty light.

Friday, February 18, 2011

I Have a Historic "Crush"



I'm in a Women in Missions class this semester which so far has been wonderful. Wildly wonderful! I'm inspired every time we have class because it always includes a look at women from the Bible, women in missions (past or present), and really good conversations about what it means to be in a women in cross-cultural ministry. Get the point? I love this class.

So we are reading Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper which is a really good book that bios a few...well, faithful women in history.

First up: Sarah Edwards. To be totally honest, I did not even know who she was, much less that she was important. Jonathan Edwards' wife...yeah, the "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Jonathan Edwards. He was married? Oh yeah he was married AND he had eleven children with his wife Sarah! Turns out Sarah is an absolute tender-heart. I was blown away by the way Jonathan described her...the way she softened him. She was the epitome of a good hostess and she loved Jesus devotedly. And... you just need to learn everything about her!

I guess I can't offer you that, but I can offer you an excerpt from the book. This is the description I was talking about; Jonathan's description of Sarah from before they were even dating:

"They say there is a young lady in [New Haven] who is loved of that Great Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this Great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight; and that she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on Him...[Y]ou could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful, if you would give her all the world, lest she should offend this Great Being. She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness, and universal benevolence of mind; especially after this Great God has manifested himself to her mind. She will sometimes go about from place to place, singing sweetly; and seems to be always full of joy and pleasure...She loves to be alone, walking in the fields and groves, and seems to have some one invisible always conversing with her."

So there you have her, friends! I love her so much I've devoted my facebook status to her twice this week. But seriously, I'm thanking God and searching my heart, with the above description as a guide. Just think: our King loves us even more tenderly than Jonathan loved his wife! Wow and hallelujah.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Heart-Shaped Food in the Kitchen

This series comes to a close with a picture of the kitchen!

I'm having computer trouble again...sad. Which means I actually have better pics of our delicious kitchen but can't get them onto Swirley (that's my computer's name). Oh well!

I made heart-shaped toast for breakfast yesterday and a heart-shaped pasta dish for dinner. I have pictures of those too but...

Did you have a good Valentine's Day?

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Oh Hey, Still Here... In my Bedroom

Sorry for the delay with this series. I finally have a computer again! I haven't had one since Thanksgiving weekend, so praise Jesus for a new (cheap) hard drive. Yesssss.

...This semester is going to be frequently crazy...I'm coming home as often as possible to play with my baby nephew before my brother's family moves away...My mood is dependent on the days events, oh! how fickle am I?...I'm grateful for God's grace and healing...I love my Women in Missions class. These are just some passing, stand-outish thoughts from the (difficult) week. But it's still good to be living in this place!

Today: the bedroom, or my portion of it, at least. Pretty basic: a bed, closet, dresser, bookshelf. I made some wall art out of my favorite verse, Jeremiah 32:40-41. The words from this passage float around and through picture boxes of loved ones (which often fall off the wall in the middle of the night. Any picture-hanging suggestions? I'm trying to avoid holes in the wall).

And one day my herb garden needed a bit more sunshine so it sat on my bed... don't you just LOVE the ceramic mushroom?! I do. It was my second favorite Christmas present (after the espresso machine!). Thanks, Sissy.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Our Sunny Bathroom

I'll spare you pictures of the bathroom...though it is cute. There was a collection of Dutch windmill stuff around home, so I decided to go with a Dutch theme for the bathroom. My Granpa was born in Amsterdam (I can hear him saying that in his Dutch accent now) and we grew up with the fun influence of stories from the homeland. It's nice to think of Granpa (who's now with Jesus)...even if it is in the bathroom, hehe! With a new blue and white shower curtain that matches the pretty Holland-inspired things, our bathroom has a feel. A good, clean, sunny feel.

And yes! The bathroom is sunny... I've never had a sunny bathroom before. I "grew up" in a bathroom without windows. That sounds funny. I didn't grow up in a bathroom, but you know... my childhood bathroom? Whatever. This one has a largish window that streams in pretty pretty sunshine. And people, I'm not really a sunshine kind of girl. I really love cold weather, but sunshine is still cheery. So here's a print from Watercolor Works Etsy Team Blog to represent our sunny bathroom:

...and I love the wall heater in our bathroom. Another little thing to remind me of Gramma and Granpa's old house.