The best of all Good days

This is the best of all good days.

It's Good Friday.  The day when Christians all over the world remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps this doesn't seem like it should be a good day.  It certainly wouldn't have seemed good for the followers of Jesus.  Their Lord, the one they believed to be the Messiah, had been betrayed, arrested, tortured, mocked, and condemned to death.  Finally he was nailed to a cross.

And he died.  He really, truly died.

It seemed as if the Messiah wasn't who everyone thought he had been.  "If you are the Son of God," the soldiers and religious leaders taunted, "come down from there!"

I'm sure his mother, his disciples, those who loved and followed him, wondered why he didn't come down from the cross.

Why he endured unimaginable suffering.  Why he responded to their angry jeers with sad silence.

They couldn't know, then, the magnitude of what he was doing.  The Messiah, the Savior, suffered in near-silence, speaking only to utter words of forgiveness, words to fulfill prophecies made about him hundreds of years before... with the weight of the world's sin on his sinless shoulders.

He suffered so that we would not have to.  He took on himself what we deserve and endured separation from God himself so that we would never experience such grief, such guilt.

That's why today is called Good...

Image credit:  Iamnee via www.freedigitalphotos.net

Because we know that on another Friday, so long ago, Jesus paid the price for our sins.  He took our guilt and punishment on himself so we would know his forgiveness.  So that we would not die eternally, but would instead spend eternity with him in heaven.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

What wondrous love is this, O my soul?

What wondrous love is this,

That caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

apparently I'm growing up...

So I discovered proof of something recently: I'm growing up.

How do I know?  Several things:

Joshua and I spent over an hour working on our budget this evening.  It was fun.

My goals for this weekend are: get the kitchen clean, and get the bathroom clean.

I'm looking forward to composing a grocery list and a detailed, two-week meal plan tomorrow.

I'd rather watch The Dick van Dyke show than any TV show made in the last 40 years.

A clean kitchen is a joy to my heart.

I would rather sleep than do a lot of other things.  (Although I realize this is also true for infants and the elderly, so maybe this isn't so much a sign of growing up as it is of simply being human.)

My bedtime is 10 pm.  Even on weekends.

On a similar note, sleeping in means sleeping till 9 am at the latest.  Bliss!

Junk food equals homemade pizza and brownies.  (Thank goodness.)

I would rather eat oatmeal with flax seed for breakfast than sugary cold cereal (yuck).


And yet, I'm still a 21-year-old college student.
But I'm also married, so maybe that's an explanation for why I feel so weirdly adult.

I realize, of course, that I still have a lot of growing up to do.  I haven't had much life experience in comparison to my grandparents, or even my parents.  There are so many things left for me to learn and experience.

But let me tell you, for someone whose peers are all still living on a college campus and whose biggest worries are test scores and what mystery food will be served in the cafeteria, it is weird to state all those truths I listed above.  I feel... unusual.  Isolated.  Often misunderstood.

That's why I'm so thankful for the few married, close-to-my-age friends that I do have.  Because they understand, and it's so good to have friends who understand.  Who get me, who can sympathize, and who know how exciting it is to have a grocery budget over $50 a week.  (Not kidding.  That's about what I feed us on, and I am so proud of myself.)

This Thursday, and every day, I am thankful for the life God has given me: the good and the bad, because I learn more from mistakes than I do from successes, and I trust God more in hard times than in easy.  I'm so very thankful for a husband who loves me even when I'm an idiot, for friends who accept me exactly as I am, for family who are always there when I need them.

Because there's one more reason I've realized that I'm growing up:

I have come to learn that the greatest blessings in life are those that can't be assigned a monetary value.  Not things that can be purchased.  Blessings that are tangible, but absolutely priceless: family.  Friends.  Faith.  Forgiveness.

No matter how grown-up I get, I hope to always remember that.

Linking up today (for the first time in so long...so grateful!):
black tag diaries, Jenni Mullinix, lovely little whimsy, kate says stuff, First Day of My Life, Passionate and Creative Homemaking

Of school and cooler weather...blessings abound

The seasons are changing...schedules are changing...routines will change.  It's that time of year, and it gives me so much to thank and praise God for!  It's good to be thankful...but it's essential to know to Who those thanks and praises go.  I am thankful to God my Father, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for all the blessings He gives me every day, and in this new season of school and cooler weather.

Today's post is really late...but I am so thankful for that because it means that today is the first day of our four-day weekend. :)  Joshua has two extra days off between his summer job, and school starting on Monday.

I am thankful for cooler weather!  We've had the windows open every night.  It's so wonderful.  I'm very ready for fall!

I am thankful that my friends are coming back to campus this weekend!  It's been a quiet summer...I'm so excited to see some very special people.

I'm so thankful for work.  I LOVE the people whose houses I clean.  I enjoy working catering at school.  And I'm so excited to get back to working at the library on Monday!!!

I'm thankful for financial blessings.  The bill for our schoolbooks this year was terrifying, but thanks to financial aid it's all covered!  We were even able to help out my brother-in-law with buying books for his freshman year.

I'm thankful for family!  In the last week my parents have celebrated their anniversary and both their birthdays, and my brother's birthday is tomorrow.  Plus we spent last weekend at Joshua's parents.  Our family is amazing.  I love them so much. <3

I am so thankful for the school we go to.  We have amazing professors, and it's such a blessing to be on a Christian campus.  I get to go to chapel every day this semester, and I am looking forward to that so much.  I'm also in three classes with Joshua and three with my best girlfriend, and that is an incredible blessing!

I am thankful that I get to be in "advance" hand bells, and choir, this semester.  I love music, I love the directors, and I can't wait to be involved in our annual Christmas concert in December.  It's also one of my favorite ways to praise Jesus--through music!

I love all the new things that come with this new season.  It's a reminder of how good and great our God really is!!


Linking up to these lovely ladies:
black tag diaries; The Fontenot Four; Kate Says Stuff; First Day of My Life; Lovely Little Whimsy; Passionate and Creative Homemaking

Blogging, Bragging and Baking: Why God is Amazing

God has been working in some pretty cool ways this week.  As always, he gives us so much to be thankful for, but this week he reminded us how awesome he really is!

A young married lady, E, started reading my blog several months ago because she saw a comment I made on a blog that I visit on occasion.  A few months later, she started going to my parents' church and met my mom and dad.  Recently, my mom had this lady and another young married lady over for tea.  My mom was telling them about my blog, which is when E realized that she read it already.  This past Tuesday, E and I commented on each other's blogs, which was when I figured out she was from near my hometown.  Long story short...we have an insane amount of things in common, and we spent two and a half hours facebook chatting and getting to know each other.
Yeah, told you God is awesome. :)  E and I are hoping to meet in person when Joshua and I visit my parents over Christmas break.  It is a very small Lutheran world!  I'm excited to see what plans God has for this budding friendship...because he obviously orchestrated its beginning!

My husband is awesome, and other people are well aware of this fact, too!  Very good things are happening with his job.  We are blessed, and I'm so proud of him I could bust.  God is amazing; that's all there is to it.

I got to take a nap this morning (which is why this post is two hours late...oh well).  But I woke up to cloudy skies and the gentle rolling of a little thunder...I sure hope we get more rain!!  It sprinkled a little bit!

We had dinner with some new-ish friends last night at their home.  It was sooo yummy.  Also, I made dessert, which you should all try... chocolate chip cookie dough in the bottom of a paper-lined muffin tin, a mini Reese's cup on that, and then brownie batter on top.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Oh my goodness, SO delicious.  And if you wanted to make it really easy you could buy store-bought cookie dough and use a good brownie mix...but I didn't feel like doing that so I made a quarter batch of cookie dough (had some left over) and half a batch of brownie batter (which was exactly enough).  YUM.

I'm thankful this week, also, for new blogging friends, and bloggers I'm getting to know better.  Blogging is a big world, and yet we still manage to find people like us--for me, that means a heart crazy in love with Jesus, almost as crazy in love with my husband, and with a passion for homemaking.  It has been so encouraging to find others who are doing and loving the same things I am, and who have been able to encourage me in my faith and in life.

This is a ridiculously long Thankful Thursday post...I apologize.  But what's a girl to do when her Jesus is so wonderful? :) :)

Linking up with some other thankful (and thriving :) ) ladies this week:
black tag diaries; The Fontenot Four; Passionate and Creative Homemaking; Live Called; a punk, a pumpkin and a peanut; Kate Says Stuff; First Day of My Life

{The Top Ten Reasons} Why I Love Being Married

I've been married for a little over a year.

Nope, not a long time.

But I have learned a lot in the last year.  I've learned that there is SO MUCH I still don't know.  And there was even more that I didn't know when we started out.  I really had no idea what I was getting into when we got married.  How could I?  It was something I had never experienced, and I could read about it all I wanted, and get advice from my parents as much as I could, but I've discovered that marriage, like many other experiences, can only be learned by doing it.

That's reason number one why I love being married.  When you're married, you just keep learning.  No one expects you to know everything about it right off the bat.

#2: I get to live life with my very best friend, every single day.

#3: Even though we argue sometimes, we make up every time.  Nothing keeps us down for long.

#4: A very handsome man tells me every day that I'm beautiful.  Esteem booster much??

#5: Whenever I need to cry (for whatever reason), a strong, warm shoulder is always there for me to cry on.

#6: I thrive on hugs, and I can always count on one from my husband!

#7: I never have to go to bed alone.

#8: If I have an itch or an aching back, there's always someone willing to scratch or rub it, as the need requires!

#9: I always have someone with whom I can have deep, theological discussions, intense political talks, or completely mundane conversations about nothing at all.

#10: I know that for the rest of my life, this amazing man will always be there for me--he's never going anywhere, no matter what, and neither am I.

Wow.  Reading that over, I'm really glad I got married.  All those great things, all part of one relationship!  What a blessing my husband is.  God is pretty awesome to have designed this thing called marriage!!


Linking with: Deep Roots at Home; A Wise Woman Builds Her Home; To Love, Honor and Vacuum; Raising Homemakers; Women Living Well

every friendship for God's purpose

I firmly believe that everything in our lives happens for a purpose.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 8:28.  For some comparison, here are three translations of the verse, thanks to www.biblegateway.com:

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁸ We are assured and know that [^[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Footnotes:

Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts read, “God works all things with them.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, ^[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Footnotes:

Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together^[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Footnotes:

Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts read And we know that everything works together.

My NIV Bible reads, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  This is my favorite translation, along with the NLT, because of one thing: Those versions focus on God working.  Yes, everything does work out in our lives for good--but it's not because of luck, or some unknown force.  It's because of GOD.  It's important to remember that we might not understand why he allows certain things to happen.  God does not cause evil.  Evil is a result of the work of Satan and every person's own sinful nature.  However, God sometimes allows evil to happen because through it he can work good.  We may not see at the time why certain things happen.  We may never know why it was allowed.  But we can trust that God worked some good out of it--because he always does.

Specifically today I want to talk about how God brings people into our lives to fulfill his purposes for us.  Two dear friends of ours, Joseph and Ruth, are moving away to begin a new chapter in their lives.  We've been good friends with them for just over a year: Ruth and I met and became friends in January of last year, and it's gone from there.  They and we were engaged at the same time, and we got married just a couple of months before they did.  We have that kind of friendship where everyone can be themselves and not feel judged in any way; we all love each other for who we are.  We've been there for each other though the first year of our marriages, encouraging each other, praying for each other, and just being there.

It certainly hasn't been perfect.  We all communicate in very different ways, and although we learned that and understood it, sometimes that caused misunderstandings between us.  But that's what forgiveness is for.

Ruth and Joseph have been an incredible blessing to Joshua and me in so many ways.  Just having friends who understand this first-year-of-marriage thing has been a huge gift.  We're not as close with any other young married couples around here--although I do hope to become better friends with some other people over the next months.

I believe that God places people in our lives because he has something he wants to tell or teach us or of which we need reminding.  With friends like Joseph and Ruth, and my friend Sara, some of those things are pretty obvious.  God reminds us that he is always there for us.  That he will always provide.  That we are precious to him.  That we are loved even when we feel most unlovable.  That we don't have to hide who we really are.  That the way he created us is the way he wants us to be.  That he still has so much he wants to do in our lives.  That he loves us, more than we could possibly imagine.

I am so thankful for the friends that God has placed in my and Joshua's lives.  Some of them are just for a time.  Others, I think, will last for years, perhaps even our whole earthly lives.  Ruth and Joseph are two such friends.  I take great comfort in knowing that, even if we don't see each other very much any more, we have eternity to look forward to--all of us together, in the presence of God.

thankfulness of things tangible and things intangible.

I am thankful for my husband's extravagant love.  He helps me around the house.  He does laundry while I'm at class and work.  He works hard to help support our little family.  He blesses me with gifts, with little cards to surprise me, with a getaway last weekend!

I am thankful that my failures don't make me who I am: that God does not count them against me, but sees me as his precious child, holy, forgiven, sanctified.

I am thankful that I don't have to live focused on my sinful self.  I am always sinful, but I am always a child of God: holy, sanctified, forgiven--a saint of God.  This is my life, too.  God lets me be a worker in his kingdom, in ways that I don't always know about, but ways that always give him glory.

I am thankful for my amazing friends, women (and a few men, too!) who make me smile, who encourage me, who help strengthen my faith, who share their wisdom with me, who encourage me, who love me for who I am.

I am thankful for my parents, and my parents-in-law: people who bless us without ever expecting anything in return.  They pray for us all the time, they do sweet things to surprise us (like the Valentine's Day package my mom sent today!), they have raised us to believe in and love God, and continue to encourage us in our faith.

I am thankful for time to do homework.  Time to do housework.  Time to be with my husband.  Time, most importantly, to spend time with God.

I am thankful for the reminder that there is so much more beyond this life.  Earth isn't all there is.  This life isn't all there is.  To me, this gives meaning to my life right now: knowing that there is more to come.  Eternity with God.  Everything here points to my life with him in heaven.  Suffering won't last.  Sickness won't last.  War will cease.  Poverty will disappear.  Sorrow will stop.  Death will end.  This life has purpose and meaning, always.

Loved By God, Just the Way I Am

I've come to a place where I can accept, and like, the person I am.  I'm not exactly satisfied with that person, but maybe I'm not supposed to be.  There's always learning, growing, becoming to do.  God still has a lot to teach me, so "who I am" will never be completely finished.  I'm not a static being.  I don't like the word "evolving" (for the evolutionary connotations) but that's a fairly apt description for how I'm changing.

Part of the reason that we're not supposed to be quite comfortable in the skin we're in is that there's something more coming, something better--a glorified body.  One that's sinless.  Flawless.  Perfect.

That's a weird concept...to think of myself as perfect.  Because I am so not.  I beat myself up a lot--figuratively, of course--about my imperfections.  The list is long: selfishness, thoughtlessness, faithlessness, worry, discontent. I could go on.  But I've come to terms with the fact that I'm going to stay sinful, and there's no use fretting about it.

That is NOT to say I shouldn't try not to sin!  There are a lot of bad habits I could and should work on breaking.  There are so many things I have yet to learn.

But God won't love me any more, if and when I try to become a better person, than he does right now.  He can, will, and does use even my worst faults for his own purposes.  He gives me jobs to do for his kingdom. He loves me unconditionally, and forgives me constantly.  I'm beautiful and holy in his eyes--so who am I to put myself (or others) down?  We're all worth more than that.  We're priceless: creations of the God of the universe.

That's another huge concept to try to wrap my mind around, but when it comes down to it, that is what is most humbling and most encouraging to me.
The GOD
of the universe
loves/made/forgives/redeemed
      ME.

Sounds insane. It should be.  But it's true.  And that's what gives me hope, purpose, joy, life!  Being a child of God is the greatest blessing in life.  I'm more thankful for this than anything else.

Compared to him, my flaws are pretty minor.  They're not to big for him to handle.  They do't get in the way of his love for me.  And-
Nothing.
Ever.
Will.

catch-up and God-talk

I haven't had much time to write, and haven't been able to think of much to write about.

Finals week begins Monday.  I only have one test, but six papers to write this week.  None are terribly long, but it's a little overwhelming.  I did finish a short story this evening, with Joshua's help to get the male perspective accurate.  I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

This week has been fairly typical otherwise.  Last week of classes.  I feel perpetually sleep-deprived.  That's partly my own fault, though.  Last night there was a formal dance and we went with Ruth and Joe, and then went to IHOP for a midnight pancake run.  I've never been to IHOP at all and certainly not at such an hour!  But it was fun, and delicious.  We didn't get home till 2:30, however, so this morning was slow and lazy.  But it was nice. :)

Today I also got laundry and grocery shopping done.  It's nice to have clean clothes and a full fridge!

The story I wrote is based on the experiences Joshua and I had over Thanksgiving break: broken-down car, both of us upset, tow truck ride, all that.  My English professor had an incredible insight when she read the story.  I wrote about how the young couple in the story (basically us) had to put the car in neutral, and let the tow truck driver take control of the car to get it on the truck and driven to the repair shop.  The couple had to let go of the wheel entirely and trust their car to someone else.  They had to let him take the wheel and just go along with the ride.

I'm surprised I didn't see the spiritual application of this story myself, but I'm sure glad my teacher did.  We have to let God take control.  We have to get in the passenger seat, let go of our lives, and let him take us where we need to go, where we'll be safe.  Considering that the story is based on real life...it was very emotional for me.  It's like God was talking to me, but it took nearly two weeks for me to hear the message, and then I had to be told by someone else what it was.

I hear you, Lord.  Let you take over.  Trust you.  Don't worry.  Don't fret.  Sit back and enjoy the ride.  Life is so much easier when I don't have to focus on the particulars of the trip--when I don't see what's ahead in the road.  Because you, God, can see, and you'll get me through everything safely.

comforts of home

As I write there is oatmeal bread in the oven, just about done, and vegetable-beef soup on the stove (I didn't realize how long of a project that is, but oh it's going to be worth it!).  Joshua and I have been lounging in pajama pants and t-shirts since we got home from church.  It's been a wonderful, relaxing, couple-bonding day.  And I got to do some cleaning and cooking, so I'm pretty happy. :)

It's amazing how my emotions rise and fall, how days and weeks can have such a combination of bad and good. Whoever first compared life to a roller coaster sure had it right.

That's just how it is here on earth, I suppose.  The good parts more than make up for the bad.  God is gracious, even though we're living in a world of sin.  He lets us experience little glimpses of his glory, his goodness, and the perfection that he is preparing for us in heaven.  So many good gifts fill every single day, more than I can count, and far more than I ever thank God properly for.  And yet he keeps them coming.

This marriage-thing is wonderful: on the days when I'm sad or upset or frustrated, Joshua is there to help ease them.  On the days when I'm being a snotty little brat (because I sure can be!), he is there to put me in my place and help make me aware of my sinfulness.  And on the days when I'm happy, content, and joyful, he shares in those things and makes them all the more sweet.

Today I'm reveling in these comforts:
comfy clothes
comfort food
a warm home
a calm, relaxed mind
the gentle presence of my husband
the peaceful presence of the Holy Spirit.

It's a good day today.

One of those days...

It's been one of those days.

When the house is a mess.  I mean a complete disaster.

When we go on a wild-goose chase trying to find Culver's, my choice, (and realize half an hour later, on the way home finally, we were going the right direction the first time).

When I lash out at Joshua in anger and frustration.

When, in short, I pretty much feel like a complete failure.

It's days like this when I have to remember that my identity is not based on my failures or achievements.  It's not based on how good a wife or homemaker I am.  It is based on the fact that Jesus Christ died for all my sins, including every one I committed today, and that I am a child of God, loved, forgiven and saved by him.

Yes, I strive to be a good wife and homemaker (and trust me, I will be spending most of tomorrow cleaning!!).  But I don't have to base my self-worth on my performance.  I didn't create myself, after all: God created me, and it is he who gives me worth and value.

It's been one of those days, too:
Visiting my father-in-law and seeing how much better he's doing.

The last day of classes before Thanksgiving break!!

Subway for supper--no cooking necessary!

Extra hours at the library.

Family and friends who love me.

It's SO amazing how much God blesses me, even and including those days when I fail to thank him for what he's given me, and in fact throw it back in his face with my contempt.  I'm not nearly perfect, but God loves and blesses me anyway.  And what's more, he'll give me a new start tomorrow, a new day in which to love, honor and serve him--a new day full of more of his blessings and grace.

Thankful Thursday

I'm so tired tonight.  It's almost time for Thanksgiving break, and the semester only has about two weeks after that.  It's been a long, busy semester.  But we've been so blessed this semester.

Today I'm particularly thankful for:

-the fact that one week from RIGHT NOW we will be with my parents, siblings, grandma, aunt, uncle and cousins!!!  I can hardly wait.  I haven't seen my folks since July and the extended family since the wedding in May.  It's going to be amazing.

-only one day left of school till a week off.  My goals are to get the house completely clean (in preparation for Christmas decorating!!) and (finally) finish thank-you notes.  (I know, I know, I'm a horrible person...)

-beautiful fall weather.  It's been gorgeous.  I admit, however, I'm ready for snow now...

-new windows installed in the living room and kitchen today!!!  FINALLY!  They're beautiful, and I'm hoping they will have a positive effect on our utilities bill.  Just a few more improvements and they'll be all done.

-continued healing for Joshua's dad.  (thank you so much for your prayers!)  We'll be visiting him tomorrow and I'll post an update later.

-my amazing husband.  I know, I'm always thankful for him and I write about him all the time, but he is so encouraging, so sweet, so loving, so wise, and such a comfort to me.  I don't know where I'd be without my best friend.

-our wonderful friends and fantastic family--such amazing people are in our lives!

So much to be thankful for.

We're getting our car TONIGHT!!!

It's an absolutely beautiful fall day.

It's Friday!!!

Several friends are coming over this weekend.  I'm very much looking forward to time with them.

My husband is amazing.

God has given us good health and strong bodies.

We have really good food to eat, every single day.

I love our home.  I even like cleaning it (sometimes).

God is so good to us, always, in every thing.

We have the best friends in the world.

I talked to my mom AND sister on the phone this week!

Neither of us has much homework at all this weekend.

A test that was going to be today has been moved to next week Wednesday!

I have fifteen followers as of today and pageviews have been going up a lot.  (I try really hard not to make this the source of my encouragement to blog, but it is very encouraging.)

As of tomorrow, Hubby and I will have been married for five months.  And what an incredible five months it has been--and just keeps getting better! :)

Lessons and Happy Things

Update on the car situation:
The Camero needed too many repairs to be worth it.  Our trusty mechanic advised against the purchase.
Hubby looked at another car last night (at the moment I don't remember what it is).  It's a 1993 but in better shape than the Camero, has been owned by an adult who took it to the same mechanic we go to for repairs, and it only needs tires and brake pads instead of a kajillion other repairs.  (Well, the Camero didn't need that much, but it was close.)  So: chances are better that this will be the car.  Plus it won't wake the neighbors with the unholy racket that the Camero makes!  And I think it's prettier and more sensible-looking. :)

I am proud of my husband.  He spent most of his day "off" yesterday figuring out car stuff, plus he cleaned up the living room so it looks waaay better than it has in weeks, and he made the bed.  I forgot how nice it is to crawl into a bed that hasn't had the covers balled up all day.  In my free time yesterday I finally- FINALLY- mopped the kitchen floor and cleaned most of the bathroom.  Our house now feels sanitary again.  It's fantastic.

We had friends over (Ruth and Joe) for supper--I made nachos.  Or taco salad, depending on the ratio of lettuce to everything else.  It's one of my favorite meals ever, and it was SO. GOOD.  And then Ruth made chocolate chip cookies.  It was a great evening.

This whole car business is really teaching me trust (again) and patience (even more).  I was chatting with a classmate yesterday, a lovely young lady with a chronic disease (I don't know much about it except that it causes her a lot of pain and makes her very tired).  She's undergoing blood transfusions to combat it.  Yesterday she explained to me that there's a chance she could go into remission, but she'll be fighting the disease for the rest of her life.  One might expect such a sick person to be reclusive, depressed, angry, or bitter.  Emma is none of these things.  She's cheerful, happy, encouraging, sweet, joyful, and has a fantastic boyfriend and lots of supportive friends.  She told me that God has been teaching her how to trust him through this ordeal, and that he's faithful always, even in the midst of the pain.  She is such an example to me, and to so many others.

My mom sent me an email this morning that included these passages from Scripture:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is
right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if
anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things...And
the God of peace will be with you...And my God will meet all your
needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  To our God and
Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."  Philippians 4: 8-9, 19-20

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work...Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for
food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge
the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way
so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."  2 Corinthians 9: 8, 10-11
I am so thankful for my husband, my family, my friends and acquaintances; our home, our health, our jobs, our education.  I am thankful for the ways that God constantly blesses us, for the ways he continually expresses his love for us, for the grace he daily bestows on us.

Ever Thankful

SO much to be thankful for this week (as always)!

1. Monday: learn I'm getting a much bigger refund from our school than I thought. Tuesday: learn our car needs repairs that will cost more than it's worth.  Wednesday: find a possible vehicle owned by a person who lives right across the street.  (On Craig's List.  Not half an hour after it was posted.)  We haven't decided for sure on this vehicle yet--it's a Ford truck--but it is within our price range and looks to be in good shape.  I am really excited to get a new car!!!

2. Tuesday morning home with my hubby.  I woke up at 6:30 not feeling good so emailed profs to tell them I wouldn't be at morning classes.  I needed it so much.  We both did.

3. Working out yesterday with BOTH my best girlfriends here!

4. A four-day week.  This weekend is "fall break."  We just get Friday off, but I can hardly wait for an extra day to sleep in, no work on Saturday, time to relax!

5. We are going camping with good friends this weekend--just a few blocks from home, actually, but I'm excited. :)

6. I love fall here.  Not quite as many colors as in Wisconsin, but it's still so beautiful.  Yesterday was one of those perfect fall days: cool but not cold, breezy but not terribly windy, sunny but with some lovely clouds too, and mysterious fog in the morning.

7. This is the most important but the one I will say the least about.  Joshua and I have had some major bonding experiences this week.  We feel much closer and know each other much better now than we did a week ago.  God is so good and constantly unifying us--making us more one with each other and more one with Him!

linking up to black tag diaries :)

Why Living in Nebraska is So Delicious!

Hubby brought home fresh sweet corn for supper yesterday.  I'd never made it by myself, but it's very easy.  The most time-consuming part is shucking it.

Shucked corn!

Drop it in boiling water very briefly.  As my mom said, "All you want to really do is introduce the corn to the water.  Corn, meet boiling water.  Boiling water, meet corn.  And then it's done."  (paraphrased slightly :) )

While the corn boiled, I briefly steamed some fresh green beans and cut up a garden-fresh tomato, added olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Heaven.  It was like sunshine in my mouth, the tomatoes especially.

Oh, I also made a batch of fresh biscuits.  Neither Joshua nor I can get enough of biscuits.  They're SO good.

Tomatoes and beans.  Biscuits.  Cranberry juice mixed with lemonade.  Fresh sweet corn.  Yes, we eat like kings.

Very happily. :)

Bliss.  Sweet, crisp, juicy, delicious.

The corn we didn't eat I cut off the cobs to freeze.

That, my friends, is gold, right there.

Two more meals' worth!!

Next up: corn salsa!

Gratefulness this Week

I'm thankful for my hubby, and for the time we'll get to spend together this weekend!!  (This was a date night a couple weeks ago, and that is sparkling grape juice in our glasses. :) )

Thankful for this beautiful woman and the fact that she's coming to visit this weekend!!!!  (This picture is from a "Prom Alternative" event with her church, our senior year in high school. :) )

Thankful for God's power, majesty and artistry.  (This is the sky after a storm a few days ago.)

Thankful for beauty, living things, and the kindness of an elderly flower-growing friend at church.  (These flowers have graced our house all week!)

Thankful for the Lord's providence--such good food!!  (Homemade bread and white cranberry-cheddar cheese, YUM)

(One almost-bad banana into half a dozen AMAZING banana muffins!)

Oh, the Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me
The things I need
The sun and the rain and the appleseed.
The Lord is good to me!
(-the "Johnny Appleseed Song")



Linking up to black tag diaries for Thankful Thursdays

Being Honest With Myself

This post was inspired by Jon Acuff's blog post today on his website Stuff Christians Like.  (Plug for Jon: if you've never visited his site, I'd highly recommend that you do, and no he's not paying me to say this, he doesn't even know me.  He's a great writer, very thought-provoking, and often quite funny!)

Jon was talking about how as Christians we sometimes live a "double life."  One side of us is the "good Christian," while the other side has guilty pleasures (Jon talked about music, TV shows, other stuff that I've never heard of which is probably a good thing) like watching movies we know aren't God-honoring, or reading books or listening to music that isn't God-pleasing either.  I would add that that side of us can also have hidden sins that no one knows about, like a secret affair, an addiction to pornography, alcoholism, you name it.  It can also be things that could seem harmless, like a propensity to laziness, worry, or gossip.  None of these things is God-honoring either.  Jon pointed out how we often try to hide the less God-honoring part of ourselves, or even deny that that side exists.

So Jon asked, "What's one way we can be more honest as Christians?"

I think some Christians (read: me) avoid talking about some of the more serious things their sinful nature has gotten them to do because 1) they don't want people to judge or think less of them and 2) they want to set a good example for their other friends and acquaintances. However, neither of these is a good reason. (I'm convicting myself here.) First, what people think matters a lot less than what God thinks, and if we've repented of our sins, God's forgiven us and sees us as perfect and holy. Period. (He KNOWS we've sinned, he just doesn't count it against us anymore.) Second, if we (I) really want to set a good example for others, we (I) can let them know our failings AND that we've repented of them AND that we're forgiven AND that we're striving to live as God would have us to BECAUSE God loves us so much. Look at all that opportunity to share the Gospel!!

I think Christians should try less to keep their secret sins (or vices, or TV shows that they probably shouldn't watch, etc, etc, etc) a secret, and instead see their own experiences as an opportunity to testify to God's grace.

Being honest can also mean, if you have a serious problem or addiction, taking steps to get help to conquer your addiction.  I have my own share of sinful habits that are hard to shake, and I can tell you from experience that our sinful nature doesn't want to let us get rid of those habits.  Satan loves to see us stumble and fall, and he does everything he can to try to compromise our faith in God.

But God loves us even more than Satan hates us.  And God is far more powerful than Satan.  God wants to help us live lives that glorify him just as much as Satan wants us to disobey God.  And what God wants us to do, he gives us the strength to carry out.  Sometimes getting rid of a sinful habit is really hard.  I still struggle with worry and distrust and contentment, all the time.  I know I'm forgiven when I fail, but that doesn't mean I want to keep sinning.  By God's grace I'm able to (sometimes) say "No" when I'm tempted to sin.  And his grace is so huge that it is more than enough to forgive me when I fail.

I think it's important for Christians to be honest: with themselves and with one another.  It's also important to remember that God already knows the best and worst of us.  What's more, whether we're honest with ourselves or not, he loves us for who we are: sinners who are covered in and saved by grace.

Before I Let the Worry Set In

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?...Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

~Matthew 6:25, 27, 31-34

There is no point in worrying.  It's not productive, it doesn't help, it only makes me and those around me upset.  God knows everything I need.  He desires me to keep my priorities in order: first God, his kingdom and righteousness, and then other things.  When God is the most important thing in my life, everything else will fall into place.

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guide your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."


~Philippians 4:4-7

As my mom has said: "Thanksgiving is the antidote to worry--the source of peace."  When we realize all our blessings, everything we have to be thankful for, our worries and troubles seem so much less and are put into perspective.  When there's so much for which we can thank God, how can we fret for what we think we don't have?

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."


~Ephesians 3:20-21

God IS In Control.

We're waiting out more nasty weather--living in Nebraska, this happens a lot.  (So far, our town hasn't been hit by anything severe.)  It's times like this that remind me how powerless I am and how powerful God is.  Jesus stilled a storm, calmed the wind and waves, and calmed the disciples' fear.  The weather is something so totally out of my hands, and it's such a comfort to remember that God's hands are big enough to hold the clouds and wind and rain--he literally has the whole world in his hands.  :)

I have some more control over my life than I have over the weather--but only in a way.  How much control do I have in my life, really?  I have a say in some things, but ultimately, my life is in God's hands.  I was just talking about this with a friend yesterday.  It's really better for me to let God take control.  Sometimes he lets circumstances give me the message, "You know what, Jaimie, I am a lot bigger than you.  I know a lot more than you.  You can't control things, you don't understand things, but I can and I do.  I am taking care of your life.  Just let me!"  Really, when I think about it, I'm committing the old sin of making another god more important than THE God--making myself into a god.  I try to take the wheel and put God in the passenger seat.  What I really should do is let God be the pilot of the plane of my life, and then go sit back in coach, so I can't even tell him what he should do, since I can't see where I'm going anyway.

"Pray about everything, worry about nothing," my mom tells me.  That's her shortened version of Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  When we leave off worrying, and pray about it instead, God fills us with his peace, calming our hearts and minds.  Besides, worrying doesn't do any good anyway!!

When I start to feel afraid, about anything, it's because I'm trying to take control of my circumstances in some way or another.  When I give that fear over to God, it disappears, because he can handle it.  He is in control.


This is my 100th blog post!!  It's been quite a journey since I started blogging last October.  I hope to continue for a very long time.  My prayer is that God makes me a blessing to others.  My goal is to honor him.