Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Thursday, August 8, 2013
thankfulness this morning
Just a couple minutes to write this morning-- but I am blessed, and therefore thankful, at all times!
Thankful for cooler weather this week
for time to be at home
for two sweet little girls I get to babysit
for the extra income that brings
for productive cleaning moods
for a phone chat with both my mom and my grandma
for exciting surprises regarding super-secret project ;)
for a new academic adviser
for two life-changing forms to complete: a graduation application and an application for graduate classes!
for prayer with my husband every morning and night
for a strong, healthy body
for coffee.
for a husband whose faith is an inspiration to me
for knitting
for chiropractors
for forgiveness when I mess up
for so many things, I am so thankful.
God is so very good.
What are you thankful for today?
Linking with The Fontenot Four and Black Tag Diaries
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Cinnamony French toast, homemade pancake syrup, and take-that-Starbucks
You know those times you try something new in the kitchen and it's a complete flop?
I definitely have experienced that.
Today, however, was not one of those times. Today I tried THREE new things and they ALL worked! I was so excited.
We had French toast for breakfast this morning, one of Joshua's favorites. I love putting cinnamon in the batter that the bread gets dipped in (I REALLY like cinnamon), but usually the cinnamon doesn't mix in and just floats on top. So the first few slices get lots of cinnamon on them and the last few don't get any. Not cool. Today I changed around how I mixed the ingredients for the batter and it worked beautifully!
First, I beat two eggs in a medium bowl. Then I added about 1/4 cup dark brown sugar and beat it again till there weren't any lumps. Next I mixed in about 1/3-1/2 cup plain (homemade) yogurt (I don't usually measure) and beat again till smooth. Then I whisked in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and it mixed in beautifully! Finally I added 1/2 cup 2% milk (or so), and it was perfect. Usually I mix the eggs and milk first, so it starts out pretty runny. This time the batter was quite thick when I added the cinnamon, so the cinnamon mixed in well. It made amazing French toast!
While I was cooking the French toast I made homemade syrup to go on it. Last night I Googled "homemade pancake syrup" and found this recipe. It was so easy, and it tasted incredible--my husband absolutely loved it. I don't know if we'll quit the store-bought syrup altogether, but we'll definitely be using this pretty often. I added about a teaspoon of butter and a few drops of vanilla extract to the mixture after I took it off the heat, plus a little extra water because it was getting thick. I poured it into a half-pint jar when it was still hot, and it solidified in there pretty quickly as it cooled, but I'll just microwave it before I need to use it again. I know it's still lots of sugar, but at least there aren't any weird ingredients like in store-bought syrup, and NO high fructose corn syrup! Yay!
While I was cooking the French toast I made homemade syrup to go on it. Last night I Googled "homemade pancake syrup" and found this recipe. It was so easy, and it tasted incredible--my husband absolutely loved it. I don't know if we'll quit the store-bought syrup altogether, but we'll definitely be using this pretty often. I added about a teaspoon of butter and a few drops of vanilla extract to the mixture after I took it off the heat, plus a little extra water because it was getting thick. I poured it into a half-pint jar when it was still hot, and it solidified in there pretty quickly as it cooled, but I'll just microwave it before I need to use it again. I know it's still lots of sugar, but at least there aren't any weird ingredients like in store-bought syrup, and NO high fructose corn syrup! Yay!
Finally, I made a homemade chai latte this morning. Yeah, you read that right.
I felt like cinnamony, spicy tea to go with the French toast, and then it hit me: if I can make a latte with coffee and hot milk, why not make a chai latte with tea and hot milk? Duh.
It worked. Really well.
I steeped a chai tea bag in half a mug of boiling water, for quite a while (to get it strong). I added milk to mostly fill the mug and popped the whole thing in the microwave for a minute and a half to heat it up well (you could just steep a chai tea bag in a saucepan of 1 cup milk, too, and forgo the water entirely). The milky tea, a healthy teaspoon of coconut oil, and about 1/2 teaspoon of honey went in the pitcher for my immersion blender and I blended it like I do with my coffee (for about a minute, agitating the blender to incorporate a lot of air into the stuff). I finally realized why it gets such a rich foam: the fat from the coconut oil helps the milk (just 2%) get really foamy and creamy. YUM.
Man, it was good. I'm doing this all the time now, when I don't make a coffee latte. Seriously, who needs Starbucks?!?
I apologize for how long this ended up being, but I hope you go try at least one of these things. I kind of tend to geek out over food. Good food, that is. You won't find me going into raptures over a burger and fries. (Unless, of course, it's a homemade burger, grilled and juicy, with oven-baked fries tossed in olive oil... sorry. I'll stop now.)
Thursday, July 18, 2013
unexpected blessings
The title of this post has two meanings.
1. blessings that were unexpected because they were things that didn't originally look like blessings
2. blessings that are good things but that I didn't expect to be given to me
Our God is one who takes joy in seeing his children joyful. He delights in us (see Psalm 147:11, Isaiah 65:19, Zephaniah 3:17).
I think he likes giving us blessings that we don't see coming (unlike clothes and daily food, which most people in the US can expect every day), because just think how excited you are when you get a gift you didn't ask for, for no particular reason except that the person wanted to make you happy. For example:
Last night our best friends (Ruth and Joe) called; they're going to be in town this weekend and asked if they could stay with us Friday night! What an amazing surprise. We're so excited to see them.!
Today I came home for lunch to see my husband doing dishes for me, plus he'd brought home milk and bread without being asked. what a man I've got.
This jury duty, as long and tiring as it's been, has been a blessing as well--I've gotten to meet and interact with people I probably never would have otherwise, I've learned more about our judicial system than I ever thought I would, and I'm fulfilling my civic responsibility in a way not everyone gets to do. Plus I'm getting paid just as much as if I were working at the library part-time!
Oh, and another unexpected blessing from jury duty was that one of my fellow jurors has chickens and brought me three dozen eggs for just $1.50 each. I ended up with over five dozen eggs in my fridge at once because they were on sale at the store at the same time!
In two days I had two people ask me to look after their gardens while they're on vacation in exchange for whatever produce ripened while they are gone. I spend a little time watering for free produce--definitely a win, and an unexpected blessing, in my book!
What blessings has God given you lately that you didn't see coming at all??
1. blessings that were unexpected because they were things that didn't originally look like blessings
2. blessings that are good things but that I didn't expect to be given to me
Our God is one who takes joy in seeing his children joyful. He delights in us (see Psalm 147:11, Isaiah 65:19, Zephaniah 3:17).
I think he likes giving us blessings that we don't see coming (unlike clothes and daily food, which most people in the US can expect every day), because just think how excited you are when you get a gift you didn't ask for, for no particular reason except that the person wanted to make you happy. For example:
Last night our best friends (Ruth and Joe) called; they're going to be in town this weekend and asked if they could stay with us Friday night! What an amazing surprise. We're so excited to see them.!
Today I came home for lunch to see my husband doing dishes for me, plus he'd brought home milk and bread without being asked. what a man I've got.
This jury duty, as long and tiring as it's been, has been a blessing as well--I've gotten to meet and interact with people I probably never would have otherwise, I've learned more about our judicial system than I ever thought I would, and I'm fulfilling my civic responsibility in a way not everyone gets to do. Plus I'm getting paid just as much as if I were working at the library part-time!
Oh, and another unexpected blessing from jury duty was that one of my fellow jurors has chickens and brought me three dozen eggs for just $1.50 each. I ended up with over five dozen eggs in my fridge at once because they were on sale at the store at the same time!
In two days I had two people ask me to look after their gardens while they're on vacation in exchange for whatever produce ripened while they are gone. I spend a little time watering for free produce--definitely a win, and an unexpected blessing, in my book!
What blessings has God given you lately that you didn't see coming at all??
Monday, April 15, 2013
Marriage--More than I Expected
I got married at the tender age of 19-not-quite-20. I don't regret it one bit--my husband and I are growing up together, get to spend tons of time together, get to learn and experience life together, and will have several married years before we start having children. Marrying my man when I did is the best decision I ever made.
But I'll be the first to admit that I really had no idea what I was getting myself into when I got married! Marriage has brought a lot of surprises--some pleasant, some not as much.
I didn't expect that marriage would force me to mature so quickly. In the last almost-two years, I've had to learn to really be an adult. I've had to learn how to be selfless (that's a work in progress). I've had to learn how to handle finances, jobs, taxes, car repairs, medical issues, and more. I have learned to release myself from childhood and from the mindset of being dependent on my parents. Now, my husband and I take care of each other. I knew, cognitively, that all those things would come with marriage, but I didn't realize how quickly I (and my husband) would grow up.
I didn't expect how hard marriage would be. It's so worth it, but it's not always easy.
It's harder than I expected to come up with new date night ideas so we don't fall into the rut of "same ol', same ol'." To keep the house clean, orderly, and comfortable, day in and day out. To keep up with the never-ending jobs of laundry and dishes and scrubbing the toilet. To plan healthy, yummy meals...three times a day, every day (although this job comes more easily to me than others). I didn't expect it to take so much work to die to myself every day and intentionally love my husband the way he needs to be loved, not the way I want to be loved. To bite my tongue instead of letting an angry word slip past my lips when my temper flares. It's a lot more work than I expected.
But there are other things about marriage that are more than I expected. Amazing, wonderful things!
This love that comes out of my heart, directed at this person with whom I share, literally everything, is beyond anything I have ever experienced or could ever imagine. I never knew it was possible to love someone so much... or, just as wondrous, to be loved by them so much. Now I know why God uses the example of marriage to explain to us how much he loves us. It's a love that surpasses description, and cannot be expressed in words.
Marriage is more full of joy than I expected. You know the old adage about how two people can halve each other's sorrows and double each other's joys? Well, in marriage, that is SO true. Happy things are twice as happy. Hard things are twice as easy to bear. I mean, I get to spend the majority of my time with my best friend, who happens to be a really fun person to spend time with, who makes me laugh, who puts a lot of effort into making me happy, who directs me to my Jesus, and who loves me more than I will ever understand (as explained above). How much better can life get?
In marriage, there is more laughter than I expected. There is more encouragement. I didn't realize how much of a team we would be. We're each other's "buddies"--we always have the other's back, and we might sometimes get on each other's nerves, but just let someone else say something mean about us and watch out! We're there for each other. And let's just say... there are other aspects of marriage that have far surpassed my expectations, and I couldn't be more thrilled!
Marriage is so much more work than I expected...and sometimes, it brings pain, because we can hurt the most the ones we love the most.
But those hard things are so worth it, because in marriage, the love, joy, and happiness are so much more than I expected. I am in awe of this gift with which God has blessed us.
And I can't wait to see what other unexpected things life brings our marriage. The future isn't scary, because God is already there, leading us on, and I know that my husband and I will be hand-in-hand every step of the way.
What in your life has been more than you expected? Share in the comments!
Linking with: Exceptionalistic, A Proverbs 31 Wife, What Joy is Mine, The Alabaster Jar, The Modest Mom, Yes They're All Ours, The Better Mom, To Love, Honor and Vacuum, Messy Marriage, Graced Simplicity
But I'll be the first to admit that I really had no idea what I was getting myself into when I got married! Marriage has brought a lot of surprises--some pleasant, some not as much.
I didn't expect that marriage would force me to mature so quickly. In the last almost-two years, I've had to learn to really be an adult. I've had to learn how to be selfless (that's a work in progress). I've had to learn how to handle finances, jobs, taxes, car repairs, medical issues, and more. I have learned to release myself from childhood and from the mindset of being dependent on my parents. Now, my husband and I take care of each other. I knew, cognitively, that all those things would come with marriage, but I didn't realize how quickly I (and my husband) would grow up.
I didn't expect how hard marriage would be. It's so worth it, but it's not always easy.
It's harder than I expected to come up with new date night ideas so we don't fall into the rut of "same ol', same ol'." To keep the house clean, orderly, and comfortable, day in and day out. To keep up with the never-ending jobs of laundry and dishes and scrubbing the toilet. To plan healthy, yummy meals...three times a day, every day (although this job comes more easily to me than others). I didn't expect it to take so much work to die to myself every day and intentionally love my husband the way he needs to be loved, not the way I want to be loved. To bite my tongue instead of letting an angry word slip past my lips when my temper flares. It's a lot more work than I expected.
But there are other things about marriage that are more than I expected. Amazing, wonderful things!
This love that comes out of my heart, directed at this person with whom I share, literally everything, is beyond anything I have ever experienced or could ever imagine. I never knew it was possible to love someone so much... or, just as wondrous, to be loved by them so much. Now I know why God uses the example of marriage to explain to us how much he loves us. It's a love that surpasses description, and cannot be expressed in words.
Marriage is more full of joy than I expected. You know the old adage about how two people can halve each other's sorrows and double each other's joys? Well, in marriage, that is SO true. Happy things are twice as happy. Hard things are twice as easy to bear. I mean, I get to spend the majority of my time with my best friend, who happens to be a really fun person to spend time with, who makes me laugh, who puts a lot of effort into making me happy, who directs me to my Jesus, and who loves me more than I will ever understand (as explained above). How much better can life get?
In marriage, there is more laughter than I expected. There is more encouragement. I didn't realize how much of a team we would be. We're each other's "buddies"--we always have the other's back, and we might sometimes get on each other's nerves, but just let someone else say something mean about us and watch out! We're there for each other. And let's just say... there are other aspects of marriage that have far surpassed my expectations, and I couldn't be more thrilled!
Marriage is so much more work than I expected...and sometimes, it brings pain, because we can hurt the most the ones we love the most.
But those hard things are so worth it, because in marriage, the love, joy, and happiness are so much more than I expected. I am in awe of this gift with which God has blessed us.
And I can't wait to see what other unexpected things life brings our marriage. The future isn't scary, because God is already there, leading us on, and I know that my husband and I will be hand-in-hand every step of the way.
What in your life has been more than you expected? Share in the comments!
Linking with: Exceptionalistic, A Proverbs 31 Wife, What Joy is Mine, The Alabaster Jar, The Modest Mom, Yes They're All Ours, The Better Mom, To Love, Honor and Vacuum, Messy Marriage, Graced Simplicity
Saturday, April 13, 2013
L~ Literature
I could have written about so many things today! "L" is an easy letter.
Legalist...what, if it wasn't for the grace of God, I would most certainly be. (Life isn't about me and what I do, it's about GOD and what he does!)
Love...in all its wonderful forms. Of God, of my husband, of my family and friends.
Light...of Christ--and living in it. For obvious reasons.
But this afternoon I did something I haven't for a long time, and as a result I realized what I wanted to write about.
Literature.
As a child and teenager, I would often spend hours at a time reading--historical fiction, inspirational novels, books like Little Women and Pride and Prejudice and the entire Mitford series by Jan Karon. One of my favorite historical-fiction series was the "Dear America" series. These books were written from the point of view of fictional girls who lived in real historical places and experienced major events in history. I owned three, and the rest I got from the library. In these books I could experience the life of a girl traveling the Oregon Trail, another girl who lived through the Revolutionary War, one who was on the Titanic and survived, and a Black girl moving to Chicago from down south in the 1960's. At our school's annual Scholastic book sale last week I bought a new one, about a girl living in California in 1880, during the gold mining era.
This afternoon, after coming home from work and getting some groceries with my hubby, I spent a bit more than two hours reading all the way through this book (a little over 200 pages long). Granted, it's pretty easy reading, and I'm a really fast reader. But my husband was impressed. :)
It's been a while since I got that lost in a story--completely unaware of what was going on around me, immersed in the lives of the characters. The story has already burned itself into my mind so that thinking back on what I read, it feels like my own memories. Like they're people I knew, having experiences that I shared. And when I put that book down, it was almost like I was saying goodbye to friends I wouldn't see again for a very long time.
Have you ever experienced anything like that? The magic of good literature? I'm so glad that I was exposed to many good books as a child. As a result, my life has been fuller, my imagination has been enlivened, and my knowledge of the world enriched--just through the power of books.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
For professors, good food, and my husband, I am thankful
It has been a happy week.
I'm really enjoying my classes. My professors are fantastic. I'm pretty crazy about my husband, who at the moment is listening to "Through Heaven's Eyes" from The Prince of Egypt: a pretty upbeat way to start a morning, if you ask me!
I am thankful for all of that. Thankful that we have a full fridge and pantry. Thankful for our beautiful home. Thankful for our car, that got fixed on Tuesday (no more check-engine light on!).
I'm SO thankful for the dear professor who let me spend an hour talking his ear off yesterday, and who helped me work through spiritual questions and ponderings. It was such a blessing to visit with him. His class (just three weeks in!) has been one of the most educational, spiritually uplifting, challenging and enjoyable classes I've ever had. I love being a senior (hello, upper-level classes!).
I'm thankful for good food. This week I had fun making up some new recipes (come back for that tomorrow!!).
I am incredibly thankful for my husband. This week he's taken the car in to get fixed, worked on finances, worked hard at his job, helped me a lot with housework, picked up pizza one night so I didn't have to make supper, and he's loved me through everything like he always does. Our marriage still has a lot of growing to do, but we're at a great place and I'm really happy.
How has God blessed YOU this week? If you want to link up, visit the great blogs listed below!
The Fontenot Four, black tag diaries, There's Just One Mommy, Loved and Lovely
I'm really enjoying my classes. My professors are fantastic. I'm pretty crazy about my husband, who at the moment is listening to "Through Heaven's Eyes" from The Prince of Egypt: a pretty upbeat way to start a morning, if you ask me!
I am thankful for all of that. Thankful that we have a full fridge and pantry. Thankful for our beautiful home. Thankful for our car, that got fixed on Tuesday (no more check-engine light on!).
I'm SO thankful for the dear professor who let me spend an hour talking his ear off yesterday, and who helped me work through spiritual questions and ponderings. It was such a blessing to visit with him. His class (just three weeks in!) has been one of the most educational, spiritually uplifting, challenging and enjoyable classes I've ever had. I love being a senior (hello, upper-level classes!).
I'm thankful for good food. This week I had fun making up some new recipes (come back for that tomorrow!!).
I am incredibly thankful for my husband. This week he's taken the car in to get fixed, worked on finances, worked hard at his job, helped me a lot with housework, picked up pizza one night so I didn't have to make supper, and he's loved me through everything like he always does. Our marriage still has a lot of growing to do, but we're at a great place and I'm really happy.
How has God blessed YOU this week? If you want to link up, visit the great blogs listed below!
The Fontenot Four, black tag diaries, There's Just One Mommy, Loved and Lovely
Thursday, January 24, 2013
It's still Thursday, and I'm still thankful
Oh, so thankful, for so many things!
(This is my four hundredth post!!)
My beloved friend Ruth spent the last five days with us. We ate good food, worshiped together, laughed together, spent lots of time talking (and staying up late) and reconnected like it had been six days instead of six months since we'd been together. She is an incredible gift from God.
Lord willing, we'll visit Ruth and her husband over spring break. I am so thankful for friends like them (and Sara, who has also been such a blessing to me lately--as always)!!
I am thankful for the ways God makes His word and will abundantly clear to me. Like this week, I heard Romans 8 three days in a row. And I heard this message, over and over, just in slightly different words--God using His people to speak to me:
Every semester I have classes that get me so excited to learn. This semester, I'm excited about all of them! I have English, theology, history and science classes, and (as mentioned in a previous post) I'm taking volleyball and soccer. By the end of this semester I'll be done with my general education (yes, after four years). I like and greatly respect all of my professors, and I know this is going to be a great semester.
I am so thankful for our home, and even the never-ending responsibility of keeping it clean and in order. We have such a lovely place to live, which I appreciate all the more since Joshua rearranged last weekend--it's fun to have a "new" space in which to live.
This week has been so bitterly cold, which has made me all the more thankful for our car! Especially with having Ruth here, it has been wonderful to have our own transportation. I am, however, looking forward to warmer temperatures and walking/biking weather again!
I'm also thankful for new followers here and new friends on Facebook! If you're new here, please comment and introduce yourself--I can't wait to get to know you!
"Be joyful always," Paul wrote, "pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) This is my prayer for me, and for you, today and always.
Linking up with:
black tag diaries, The Fontenot Four, There's Just One Mommy, Lovely Little Whimsy, Loved and Lovely
(This is my four hundredth post!!)
My beloved friend Ruth spent the last five days with us. We ate good food, worshiped together, laughed together, spent lots of time talking (and staying up late) and reconnected like it had been six days instead of six months since we'd been together. She is an incredible gift from God.
Lord willing, we'll visit Ruth and her husband over spring break. I am so thankful for friends like them (and Sara, who has also been such a blessing to me lately--as always)!!
I am thankful for the ways God makes His word and will abundantly clear to me. Like this week, I heard Romans 8 three days in a row. And I heard this message, over and over, just in slightly different words--God using His people to speak to me:
"Life won't always be easy. Just because you believe in Me doesn't mean things will always work out the way you want them to. But My will will always be done, and I always have your best interests in mind. I love you, and you have a lot of friends and family who love you, too. I will bless you in ways you would never have imagined. I will always take care of and provide for you. Simply trust Me in all things--you have nothing to worry about or fear. You are My child, little one, and that means you are always in My care."My darling husband--who has such a servant's heart--cleaned out the massive (and disgusting) clog in our kitchen sink this past week, and fixed the drippy pipe. I never realized how much I generally take my kitchen sink for granted, of all things, but I learned how much I should appreciate it when I had to do dishes in the bathroom!
Every semester I have classes that get me so excited to learn. This semester, I'm excited about all of them! I have English, theology, history and science classes, and (as mentioned in a previous post) I'm taking volleyball and soccer. By the end of this semester I'll be done with my general education (yes, after four years). I like and greatly respect all of my professors, and I know this is going to be a great semester.
I am so thankful for our home, and even the never-ending responsibility of keeping it clean and in order. We have such a lovely place to live, which I appreciate all the more since Joshua rearranged last weekend--it's fun to have a "new" space in which to live.
This week has been so bitterly cold, which has made me all the more thankful for our car! Especially with having Ruth here, it has been wonderful to have our own transportation. I am, however, looking forward to warmer temperatures and walking/biking weather again!
I'm also thankful for new followers here and new friends on Facebook! If you're new here, please comment and introduce yourself--I can't wait to get to know you!
"Be joyful always," Paul wrote, "pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) This is my prayer for me, and for you, today and always.
Linking up with:
black tag diaries, The Fontenot Four, There's Just One Mommy, Lovely Little Whimsy, Loved and Lovely
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Blogging and real-life friendships!
One thing I really, really love about blogging is the community that develops among bloggers and readers. I've gotten to "know" several fellow bloggers via Facebook, and I am so thankful for the blessing they are to me. It's wonderful to have friends who have had similar life experiences as me, and who are just a little ahead of me in life, to learn from and be encouraged by. I have gotten to know a few bloggers with whom I have real-life connections. One, Kayla, is married to a former fellow camp counselor, and another, Beth, goes to my parents' church and became friends with my mom before Beth and I ever "met" via blogging.
I am absolutely thrilled that I get to meet both these amazing women during Joshua's and my visit to my parents' this week! I met Beth this morning at church and Kayla and her family are coming over tomorrow. Neither of them is blogging regularly at the moment, but Kayla has a website for her photography business, and I'm linking to Beth's post full of her wedding pictures. It is a delight to get to know both these beautiful women, and I hope to meet more of my "blogging friends" in real life someday!
I am absolutely thrilled that I get to meet both these amazing women during Joshua's and my visit to my parents' this week! I met Beth this morning at church and Kayla and her family are coming over tomorrow. Neither of them is blogging regularly at the moment, but Kayla has a website for her photography business, and I'm linking to Beth's post full of her wedding pictures. It is a delight to get to know both these beautiful women, and I hope to meet more of my "blogging friends" in real life someday!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
these yellow-tinted days
I know life isn't always perfect. I may be optimistic, but I'm also realistic.
However, on days like this, it's easy to look at the world through rose-tinted glasses. These days:
~church with my hubby, in a place we like, worshipping the God who loves us.
~sleeping in. Together.
~good food...lots of it. Good leftovers.
~time to do things we like: together, and by ourselves.
~teamwork. Working together. Installing plastic on our bedroom windows, to hopefully lower the heating bill. Laughing, helping, coordinating. And making a pie together.
~that pie. Not to brag, but the best apple pie I've ever had, anywhere. Kudos to my mother for training me in the kitchen.
~getting homework done. Two days early!
~time to sit, watch TV, and not feel guilty about it in the least.
~dishes: DONE.
~sunny day, windy day--after the rain last night. God is Lord of all seasons, of even the changeable weather.
I want to focus more on the good things. The blessings that so often go unnoticed. Even on the days when they're not so obvious as today's. Because you know what?
My perspective isn't always the same. The glasses aren't always rose-tinted (or, even prettier if you ask me, a golden buttery yellow...everything looks sunny through yellow). Some days they might be puke green. Or gray. Or a depressing kind of blue (not all blues are depressing).
But even when my perspective changes, God stays the same.
He always blesses--even when I can't see the blessings.
He always loves--even when I'm the most unlovable.
He's always near--even when I'm turning so far away.
That's my God. That's the one I believe in.
That's the God I thank, on days like these...
(and yes, of course, every day. but some days it's easier to remember.)
However, on days like this, it's easy to look at the world through rose-tinted glasses. These days:
~church with my hubby, in a place we like, worshipping the God who loves us.
~sleeping in. Together.
~good food...lots of it. Good leftovers.
~time to do things we like: together, and by ourselves.
~teamwork. Working together. Installing plastic on our bedroom windows, to hopefully lower the heating bill. Laughing, helping, coordinating. And making a pie together.
~that pie. Not to brag, but the best apple pie I've ever had, anywhere. Kudos to my mother for training me in the kitchen.
~getting homework done. Two days early!
~time to sit, watch TV, and not feel guilty about it in the least.
~dishes: DONE.
~sunny day, windy day--after the rain last night. God is Lord of all seasons, of even the changeable weather.
I want to focus more on the good things. The blessings that so often go unnoticed. Even on the days when they're not so obvious as today's. Because you know what?
My perspective isn't always the same. The glasses aren't always rose-tinted (or, even prettier if you ask me, a golden buttery yellow...everything looks sunny through yellow). Some days they might be puke green. Or gray. Or a depressing kind of blue (not all blues are depressing).
But even when my perspective changes, God stays the same.
He always blesses--even when I can't see the blessings.
He always loves--even when I'm the most unlovable.
He's always near--even when I'm turning so far away.
That's my God. That's the one I believe in.
That's the God I thank, on days like these...
(and yes, of course, every day. but some days it's easier to remember.)
Saturday, August 25, 2012
On tea and other hot beverages
My mom got me started drinking tea when I was quite small. I was probably eight or nine when I learned to enjoy a hot cup of tea. "Tea parties" with dolls and (when I was very young, two to four or so) with Daddy were fun play-time activities, but it wasn't till I was older that I realized the lovely possibilities for other happy times that tea holds.
Pretend tea parties turned into real ones with my girl-friends down the street, two sisters who had a knack for baking. We'd all make sweet treats and I set the table with the fancy china, tablecloth and linen napkins, and we used my mother's pretty tea cozy: large straw cylinder with a space inside that exactly fit the teapot that came with it, lined with pretty fabric and stuffed with some insulating material. (Go to this site to see exactly what my mom's tea cozy looks like on the outside. This site shows kind of what it looks like on the inside. It's quite brilliant, and keeps the tea hot for quite a long time--warm for nearly 12 hours!)
Then, in high school, tea parties took an even more mature turn with my tea and Jane Austen-loving friends. We would play "big girl dress-up" with fancy dresses that J's grandmother, a talented seamstress, had made, eat fancy and delicious snacks, and choose from J's big collection of tea.
When I started college I was given a hot pot, several new mugs, and several boxes of tea by dear friends who knew how important that was. I enjoyed cups quite often while studying in my dorm room, or with a friend or a few.
Now my husband and I will often drink tea together with breakfast, or during a cool evening while watching a movie and doing homework.
Tea has been the center of gatherings for my mom, me, and many friends, and tea parties with different people are among my happiest memories.
But tea isn't the only lovely hot drink there is! In the fall and winter, spiced hot apple cider is one of my favorite tastes and smells. I'm drinking a tea right now that tastes like Christmas: "Market Spice" by Simple Graces. (I looked for this tea company online but couldn't find it...I'm wondering just how old this tea is! Oh well, it still tastes amazing. :) ) A good hot chocolate, either from a high-quality mix (my mom makes a homemade mix; I'll share a recipe for it later this fall!) or made from scratch, is a treat that is unmatched in the winter. And then there is coffee, of which I am not a connoisseur but which I enjoy very much. My dad drinks Gevalia but I am quite happy with Maxwell House or the like. In lieu of hazelnut coffee creamer (my very favorite), I like putting some brown sugar and milk in my coffee. Also, I discovered this recipe for iced coffee on Pioneer Woman the other day, and I am making it very soon!
While other hot drinks are wonderful, and suited to their own occasions, tea is good all the time and there are so many kinds, tea suits itself to all tastes and seasons.
My mom's favorite tea, and one of the few that Joshua will drink, is Earl Grey. Bigelow's is my favorite. Actually, all of the tea that they make is high-quality and delicious!
Green tea with honey and lemon is refreshing and healthy-feeling. Peppermint is extremely refreshing, very Christmassy, and excellent all year for soothing the tummy. Chamomile has been one of my favorites for a long time, and especially with a little honey tastes wonderful and is very soothing. Plain black tea--especially a good one like English Breakfast--with cream and sugar is perfect for breakfast or teatime with some scones.
And then there are all the fruity-flavored teas, and the different herbal teas. I haven't had it yet, but I've heard that Red Raspberry Leaf tea is one of the best natural supplements for pregnant women--I plan on getting a lot of it someday! :) My favorite fruity tea is peach--so yummy. I'm also fond of lemon teas, which are wonderful iced.
Until I started writing this, I never knew to what raptures I could go about tea and other hot liquids that are drunk from a mug! Tea really has been a recurring, happy theme in my life...I hope it continues to be so. And I hope I've made you want some right this minute--go put the kettle on!
Pretend tea parties turned into real ones with my girl-friends down the street, two sisters who had a knack for baking. We'd all make sweet treats and I set the table with the fancy china, tablecloth and linen napkins, and we used my mother's pretty tea cozy: large straw cylinder with a space inside that exactly fit the teapot that came with it, lined with pretty fabric and stuffed with some insulating material. (Go to this site to see exactly what my mom's tea cozy looks like on the outside. This site shows kind of what it looks like on the inside. It's quite brilliant, and keeps the tea hot for quite a long time--warm for nearly 12 hours!)
Then, in high school, tea parties took an even more mature turn with my tea and Jane Austen-loving friends. We would play "big girl dress-up" with fancy dresses that J's grandmother, a talented seamstress, had made, eat fancy and delicious snacks, and choose from J's big collection of tea.
When I started college I was given a hot pot, several new mugs, and several boxes of tea by dear friends who knew how important that was. I enjoyed cups quite often while studying in my dorm room, or with a friend or a few.
Now my husband and I will often drink tea together with breakfast, or during a cool evening while watching a movie and doing homework.
Tea has been the center of gatherings for my mom, me, and many friends, and tea parties with different people are among my happiest memories.
But tea isn't the only lovely hot drink there is! In the fall and winter, spiced hot apple cider is one of my favorite tastes and smells. I'm drinking a tea right now that tastes like Christmas: "Market Spice" by Simple Graces. (I looked for this tea company online but couldn't find it...I'm wondering just how old this tea is! Oh well, it still tastes amazing. :) ) A good hot chocolate, either from a high-quality mix (my mom makes a homemade mix; I'll share a recipe for it later this fall!) or made from scratch, is a treat that is unmatched in the winter. And then there is coffee, of which I am not a connoisseur but which I enjoy very much. My dad drinks Gevalia but I am quite happy with Maxwell House or the like. In lieu of hazelnut coffee creamer (my very favorite), I like putting some brown sugar and milk in my coffee. Also, I discovered this recipe for iced coffee on Pioneer Woman the other day, and I am making it very soon!
While other hot drinks are wonderful, and suited to their own occasions, tea is good all the time and there are so many kinds, tea suits itself to all tastes and seasons.
My mom's favorite tea, and one of the few that Joshua will drink, is Earl Grey. Bigelow's is my favorite. Actually, all of the tea that they make is high-quality and delicious!
Green tea with honey and lemon is refreshing and healthy-feeling. Peppermint is extremely refreshing, very Christmassy, and excellent all year for soothing the tummy. Chamomile has been one of my favorites for a long time, and especially with a little honey tastes wonderful and is very soothing. Plain black tea--especially a good one like English Breakfast--with cream and sugar is perfect for breakfast or teatime with some scones.
And then there are all the fruity-flavored teas, and the different herbal teas. I haven't had it yet, but I've heard that Red Raspberry Leaf tea is one of the best natural supplements for pregnant women--I plan on getting a lot of it someday! :) My favorite fruity tea is peach--so yummy. I'm also fond of lemon teas, which are wonderful iced.
Until I started writing this, I never knew to what raptures I could go about tea and other hot liquids that are drunk from a mug! Tea really has been a recurring, happy theme in my life...I hope it continues to be so. And I hope I've made you want some right this minute--go put the kettle on!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
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
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
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thankful Thursday: two special people
Today I am incredibly thankful for two very special people.
One of them is my husband, who wrote a fantastic guest post yesterday (thanks baby!). We both really appreciate all the encouraging comments that have been left; it meant so much!! Also, I am SUPER-DUPER proud of him because he is doing great at work. I'm thankful for how hard he works to support us.
Plus, he is just the funniest, sweetest, handsomest, most thoughtful and most overall amazing guy I know. I just love him so much.
(this picture was taken by a nine-year-old. I love how it captures his personality!)
I am also ridiculously thankful for this girl!! This is my stunning friend Sara, who is so much like me it's kind of scary sometimes. She showed up last night for a surprise, two-night visit, which she's been plotting with the guy pictured above for over two weeks. It's bliss. Today we had a girls' day: we gave each other massages, played with each other's hair, gave each other pedicures (ah, foot massages!) and she even let me do her makeup! Plus we watched Sense and Sensibility, one of our favorite girly romance movies.
PLUS she's been helping me with cooking and dishes and we've had time to talk about everything under the sun. I cannot believe how much of a blessing she is in my life. This kind of friend doesn't come along very often, but I am so glad God put us together!!
I'm thankful for a lot of things, but right now I'm overwhelmed by the blessing of these two wonderful people sitting in my living room with me. Thank you God!!!
Linking up with lots of really great ladies:
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Worries...or Blessings?
Life lately has given me plenty of reasons to worry and be anxious and fretful:
I'm behind on homework since being sick last week.
My house is a mess, and I'm frustrated with myself for not taking the time to clean it.
I visited the eye doctor today so we're going to have extra bills to pay.
We're visiting my parents for spring break and I'm nervous about how the car will behave.
I have a big test and quite a few projects coming up quickly in school to prepare and study for.
I feel like I can just never get everything done, and that drives me crazy.
Talking to my mom today, she reminded me how important it is to not worry. That's one thing I struggle with all the time, and it's something I'm constantly learning and trying to not do.
Worry is of the devil. It's something he uses to take our focus off God and put it on ourselves. As if we can take care of ourselves by ourselves! How silly to think I can take care of my whole life by myself.
Paul wrote to the Philippians in chapter four of that book,
I'm behind on homework since being sick last week.
My house is a mess, and I'm frustrated with myself for not taking the time to clean it.
I visited the eye doctor today so we're going to have extra bills to pay.
We're visiting my parents for spring break and I'm nervous about how the car will behave.
I have a big test and quite a few projects coming up quickly in school to prepare and study for.
I feel like I can just never get everything done, and that drives me crazy.
Talking to my mom today, she reminded me how important it is to not worry. That's one thing I struggle with all the time, and it's something I'm constantly learning and trying to not do.
Worry is of the devil. It's something he uses to take our focus off God and put it on ourselves. As if we can take care of ourselves by ourselves! How silly to think I can take care of my whole life by myself.
Paul wrote to the Philippians in chapter four of that book,
"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 guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Those things I was worrying about?
I got to stay home with my husband for two days because I was sick. I've had time to relax and get well. The homework isn't due tomorrow: I have at least till next week to get it done.
My home is wonderful. It might not be the cleanest, but I saw it through a friend's eyes the other day, who said if she could live in any apartment, it would be this one.
My eyes are healthy. I have contacts so I can see. God will provide the means to pay for it, as he always does.
We're visiting my parents for spring break. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! Our car is doing FINE, and I know we'll be surrounded by angels the whole way.
I happen to go to an incredible school, with amazing teachers, and I'm learning so many things. It's such a privilege.
Things will get done. They always do!
Once again...as always...when I look at life with an eternal perspective--the way God looks at my life--things seem a lot brighter. Nothing has changed except my attitude and perspective. I'm so very blessed, and even the troubles that bother me aren't too big for God to handle.
In everything, present your requests to God.
In everything, give thanks.
In everything, let God be in control.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
A Little Weekend Getaway
Once again, I'm wishing my camera and my computer were still friends. I haven't taken any pictures in a while because I can't upload them. But my memories from this weekend will just have to stay in my mind!
Joshua picked me up after work yesterday and surprised me by having a bag all packed with our things, some snacks and drinks, and even a nice shirt for me to change into for our evening together. He had even already checked into our room.
The Liberty House is part bed and breakfast, part antique store in a hundred-and-twenty year old house that's quaint and old-fashioned. Our room was one of three guestrooms. It was very spacious, with a big queen-sized bed (the headboard was huge!), a comfy yellow wing chair, antique vanity and desk, and two twin beds--one in the room and one in a big walk-in closet--in order to accommodate families. (One of my friends actually stayed here with her family this past summer.)
We also had a TV with cable and a DVD player, and there's wireless internet, but we didn't bother with that. However, we don't get cable at home (not worth it for the cost!) so we watched the weather channel for a bit to keep an eye on the beginning snowstorm. (We got several inches of snow these past 24 hours--the most we've had ALL WINTER!)
The bed was extremely comfy so we relaxed for a while and then headed out to dinner. I had a barbecue chicken sandwich with a sweet pepper/pineapple salsa, and Joshua had a really awesome cheeseburger (man of simple tastes :) ). We shared a huge piece of (according to the menu) "better-than-anything" chocolate cake. ;)
After supper we headed back to our room and watched a movie, "City Slickers," because Joshua hadn't seen it. Just for fun. Because we could.
Later we went over to campus to watch an improvisational theater performance. Our school has a pretty talented improv group, and it was really fun.
We slept quite well, and had a fantastic breakfast this morning--coffee (with hazelnut creamer, our favorite!), orange juice, french toast, peaches, and sausage. It was delicious. Our hostess was very sweet and gracious. (If you're ever in our area, I'd highly recommend this as a place to stay!)
The best thing about this weekend was just how incredibly thoughtful my husband was. He took care of literally everything. He surprised me this morning with a sweet card and a cuddly little teddy bear, as a "just-because" gift. AND he did a ton around the house while I was at work this afternoon.
I can't recommend enough doing things like this if you're married. It was so refreshing to be away, just us, even if it was only five blocks from home and only for a night. Getting to a different place helped redirect my focus on my husband, forgetting about all the housework and homework I had to do. And it was a chance to just have fun together, to be pampered a little, to invest in our marriage.
A marriage refresher doesn't have to be costly or long in duration. It can be as simple as going for a walk together--getting out of the house, leaving the worries and responsibilities of the moment behind for a little bit, talking together without any distractions.
It can involve just staying at home but unplugging the TV, computers, and turning off phones and locking the door--no outside distractions, just YOU.
It can be getting in the car and driving, anywhere, just for the sake of being together (again, without any major distractions!). (Side note: Sometime I want to take a road trip without any specific destination in mind: just get in the car and go and stop whenever we feel like it. That sounds like my ideal vacation!)
The point of doing something a little out-of-the-ordinary with your spouse is:
To get your priorities back in order (God, your spouse, THEN you, then other things)
To get away from distractions (children, chores, media, work, bills, etc)
To really focus on each other and refresh your marital intimacy
And that was why we took our little weekend getaway. :)
Joshua picked me up after work yesterday and surprised me by having a bag all packed with our things, some snacks and drinks, and even a nice shirt for me to change into for our evening together. He had even already checked into our room.
The Liberty House is part bed and breakfast, part antique store in a hundred-and-twenty year old house that's quaint and old-fashioned. Our room was one of three guestrooms. It was very spacious, with a big queen-sized bed (the headboard was huge!), a comfy yellow wing chair, antique vanity and desk, and two twin beds--one in the room and one in a big walk-in closet--in order to accommodate families. (One of my friends actually stayed here with her family this past summer.)
We also had a TV with cable and a DVD player, and there's wireless internet, but we didn't bother with that. However, we don't get cable at home (not worth it for the cost!) so we watched the weather channel for a bit to keep an eye on the beginning snowstorm. (We got several inches of snow these past 24 hours--the most we've had ALL WINTER!)
The bed was extremely comfy so we relaxed for a while and then headed out to dinner. I had a barbecue chicken sandwich with a sweet pepper/pineapple salsa, and Joshua had a really awesome cheeseburger (man of simple tastes :) ). We shared a huge piece of (according to the menu) "better-than-anything" chocolate cake. ;)
After supper we headed back to our room and watched a movie, "City Slickers," because Joshua hadn't seen it. Just for fun. Because we could.
Later we went over to campus to watch an improvisational theater performance. Our school has a pretty talented improv group, and it was really fun.
We slept quite well, and had a fantastic breakfast this morning--coffee (with hazelnut creamer, our favorite!), orange juice, french toast, peaches, and sausage. It was delicious. Our hostess was very sweet and gracious. (If you're ever in our area, I'd highly recommend this as a place to stay!)
The best thing about this weekend was just how incredibly thoughtful my husband was. He took care of literally everything. He surprised me this morning with a sweet card and a cuddly little teddy bear, as a "just-because" gift. AND he did a ton around the house while I was at work this afternoon.
I can't recommend enough doing things like this if you're married. It was so refreshing to be away, just us, even if it was only five blocks from home and only for a night. Getting to a different place helped redirect my focus on my husband, forgetting about all the housework and homework I had to do. And it was a chance to just have fun together, to be pampered a little, to invest in our marriage.
A marriage refresher doesn't have to be costly or long in duration. It can be as simple as going for a walk together--getting out of the house, leaving the worries and responsibilities of the moment behind for a little bit, talking together without any distractions.
It can involve just staying at home but unplugging the TV, computers, and turning off phones and locking the door--no outside distractions, just YOU.
It can be getting in the car and driving, anywhere, just for the sake of being together (again, without any major distractions!). (Side note: Sometime I want to take a road trip without any specific destination in mind: just get in the car and go and stop whenever we feel like it. That sounds like my ideal vacation!)
The point of doing something a little out-of-the-ordinary with your spouse is:
To get your priorities back in order (God, your spouse, THEN you, then other things)
To get away from distractions (children, chores, media, work, bills, etc)
To really focus on each other and refresh your marital intimacy
And that was why we took our little weekend getaway. :)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Our Engagement Story
I'm a hopeless romantic. I hope some of you are, too. This story is for you!
Joshua and I discussed marriage very early in our relationship. Neither of us really wanted to date if we didn't at least have a good idea that dating would lead to marriage. I mean, why date with the expectation to break up? So we talked about it early on. We started dating in September of 2009. By December, we had pretty much decided that we were going to get married. We originally wanted the wedding to be in December 2010. However, it was my parents who changed that.
The two of us visited my parents over Christmas break of 2009-10. Joshua took a bus back to Nebraska, and I flew back the next day. My parents took me to the airport, and on the way there my dad rather suddenly said, referring to Joshua, "So. Is this the one?"
I was a little startled but I said yes. "Does he think so, too?" Dad asked.
"Yes," I said.
"So," Dad asked, "do you have a date set?"
"Dad!" I protested. "Well, we were thinking this December."
That wouldn't work, Dad said. He's a minister of music, and Joshua's dad is a pastor. Christmas is one of the busiest times for both of them...not to mention the weather usually isn't great for traveling.
So Dad suggested Memorial Day weekend of 2011. I didn't like the sound of that...it was nearly a year and a half away. So long to wait! Joshua wasn't thrilled either. But we agreed that that would be the wedding date.
Even at this point we weren't officially engaged. In February I knew Joshua was looking for a ring and planning on calling my dad to ask his permission to ask me to marry him. We had a delightful Valentine's Day, despite a massive blizzard that day. One week later, on February 21, a Sunday, I knew he was going to call my dad and ask for my hand. I knew, however, that Joshua didn't have the ring yet, so I didn't think he was going to ask me yet. That evening we met for supper and I could tell by his expression that the conversation with my dad had gone well. We were planning on relaxing in the evening by watching a movie. I wanted Joshua to see Pride and Prejudice, although he's not crazy about Jane Austen. We were in the downstairs lounge of my dorm building, the "mirror lounge," because one whole wall is covered with a mirror. Most of the dividers surrounding the lounge area were mostly closed. I was already changed into pajamas and was setting up the movie on my computer on a low table by a couch. I got up and turned around from starting the movie--and Joshua was down on one knee.
"Jaimie Elise Huebschman," he asked, "will you marry me?"
I was so surprised, because I hadn't expected him to ask me yet. For a few seconds I forgot to say anything, just stood there with my hands over my mouth and tears forming in my eyes. "Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!" I finally exclaimed, and pulled Joshua to his feet and gave him a big hug and kiss.
He knew that the only way to really surprise me was to ask me when I least expected it, and he certainly was right about that! The rest of the evening we hardly paid attention to the movie, but just kept looking at each other and giddily exclaiming, "We're engaged! We're going to get married!"
I could hardly believe that he had asked me while I was wearing pajamas, but he didn't mind. I got my camera and we took pictures together to mark the moment. We decided to not tell anyone except our parents until I actually had a ring to wear. The next day we called our parents to tell them, and they told no one else, not even our siblings.
That week was a busy one, and it was so hard to keep our engagement a secret! I was in a play and I wasn't free in the evenings much with rehearsals, and that next weekend were the performances. By Sunday the 28th I was done with the play, however. After church we had lunch together in the school cafeteria, and then Joshua walked me back to my room. My roommate happened to be gone at the time. Almost as soon as we got in my room Joshua got down one one knee a second time, and this time he pulled a small box out of his pocket. Inside was the perfect ring, exactly what I had been wanting: white gold with a diamond solitaire, nothing more. It was beautiful, and I cried again as he slid it on my finger. We took more pictures--this time with our hands, and the ring sparkling on my finger.
After that we started sharing our engagement. Our parents told our siblings, and Monday morning we sat beside friends in chapel and they noticed the ring on my hand. (Those friends are engaged to each other now, and the girl was my roommate last year!)
Most people were excited and happy for us. The people whose opinions we really valued were genuinely happy for and supportive of us. Most people were surprised. Some were doubtful, because of our young age or our short dating period. Even now when we tell people we're married most people who don't already know us are surprised because yes, we are young.
At our wedding the pastor made a point in his sermon of telling us, "No, you're not too young, no matter what anyone says." But that's a story for another time. :)
Joshua and I discussed marriage very early in our relationship. Neither of us really wanted to date if we didn't at least have a good idea that dating would lead to marriage. I mean, why date with the expectation to break up? So we talked about it early on. We started dating in September of 2009. By December, we had pretty much decided that we were going to get married. We originally wanted the wedding to be in December 2010. However, it was my parents who changed that.
The two of us visited my parents over Christmas break of 2009-10. Joshua took a bus back to Nebraska, and I flew back the next day. My parents took me to the airport, and on the way there my dad rather suddenly said, referring to Joshua, "So. Is this the one?"
I was a little startled but I said yes. "Does he think so, too?" Dad asked.
"Yes," I said.
"So," Dad asked, "do you have a date set?"
"Dad!" I protested. "Well, we were thinking this December."
That wouldn't work, Dad said. He's a minister of music, and Joshua's dad is a pastor. Christmas is one of the busiest times for both of them...not to mention the weather usually isn't great for traveling.
So Dad suggested Memorial Day weekend of 2011. I didn't like the sound of that...it was nearly a year and a half away. So long to wait! Joshua wasn't thrilled either. But we agreed that that would be the wedding date.
Even at this point we weren't officially engaged. In February I knew Joshua was looking for a ring and planning on calling my dad to ask his permission to ask me to marry him. We had a delightful Valentine's Day, despite a massive blizzard that day. One week later, on February 21, a Sunday, I knew he was going to call my dad and ask for my hand. I knew, however, that Joshua didn't have the ring yet, so I didn't think he was going to ask me yet. That evening we met for supper and I could tell by his expression that the conversation with my dad had gone well. We were planning on relaxing in the evening by watching a movie. I wanted Joshua to see Pride and Prejudice, although he's not crazy about Jane Austen. We were in the downstairs lounge of my dorm building, the "mirror lounge," because one whole wall is covered with a mirror. Most of the dividers surrounding the lounge area were mostly closed. I was already changed into pajamas and was setting up the movie on my computer on a low table by a couch. I got up and turned around from starting the movie--and Joshua was down on one knee.
"Jaimie Elise Huebschman," he asked, "will you marry me?"
I was so surprised, because I hadn't expected him to ask me yet. For a few seconds I forgot to say anything, just stood there with my hands over my mouth and tears forming in my eyes. "Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!" I finally exclaimed, and pulled Joshua to his feet and gave him a big hug and kiss.
He knew that the only way to really surprise me was to ask me when I least expected it, and he certainly was right about that! The rest of the evening we hardly paid attention to the movie, but just kept looking at each other and giddily exclaiming, "We're engaged! We're going to get married!"
I could hardly believe that he had asked me while I was wearing pajamas, but he didn't mind. I got my camera and we took pictures together to mark the moment. We decided to not tell anyone except our parents until I actually had a ring to wear. The next day we called our parents to tell them, and they told no one else, not even our siblings.
That week was a busy one, and it was so hard to keep our engagement a secret! I was in a play and I wasn't free in the evenings much with rehearsals, and that next weekend were the performances. By Sunday the 28th I was done with the play, however. After church we had lunch together in the school cafeteria, and then Joshua walked me back to my room. My roommate happened to be gone at the time. Almost as soon as we got in my room Joshua got down one one knee a second time, and this time he pulled a small box out of his pocket. Inside was the perfect ring, exactly what I had been wanting: white gold with a diamond solitaire, nothing more. It was beautiful, and I cried again as he slid it on my finger. We took more pictures--this time with our hands, and the ring sparkling on my finger.
After that we started sharing our engagement. Our parents told our siblings, and Monday morning we sat beside friends in chapel and they noticed the ring on my hand. (Those friends are engaged to each other now, and the girl was my roommate last year!)
Most people were excited and happy for us. The people whose opinions we really valued were genuinely happy for and supportive of us. Most people were surprised. Some were doubtful, because of our young age or our short dating period. Even now when we tell people we're married most people who don't already know us are surprised because yes, we are young.
At our wedding the pastor made a point in his sermon of telling us, "No, you're not too young, no matter what anyone says." But that's a story for another time. :)
Friday, January 20, 2012
Joy Dare Days 19 and 20
Day 19: a grace in the kitchen, a grace in the weather, a grace that might have never been.
In the kitchen: oh, so many! A friend over for chicken pot pie yesterday. Doing dishes with my hubby. Baking bread.
In the weather: well, there's been no snow, just lots of cold...but that makes walking to school easier.
That might have never been: a conversation with a beloved friend that was so very needed, but would have never happened if we hadn't sat at the same table in a class last year.
Day 20: 3 gifts you saw only when you got close-up.
Hmm. That's a harder one! One, pasta in the pantry that I forgot was there until I was digging around on the shelf. Such a lovely surprise!
Two, an adorable little squirrel outside the library, who, when I paused to watch him in his antics, rose up on his hind legs and twitched his cute little nose.
Three, quite a bit of spare change in a purse that I haven't used in a while, found while looking for something else in said purse.
Not so hard after all. :)
It's amazing how many blessings I can realize when I think about and look for them!
In the kitchen: oh, so many! A friend over for chicken pot pie yesterday. Doing dishes with my hubby. Baking bread.
In the weather: well, there's been no snow, just lots of cold...but that makes walking to school easier.
That might have never been: a conversation with a beloved friend that was so very needed, but would have never happened if we hadn't sat at the same table in a class last year.
Day 20: 3 gifts you saw only when you got close-up.
Hmm. That's a harder one! One, pasta in the pantry that I forgot was there until I was digging around on the shelf. Such a lovely surprise!
Two, an adorable little squirrel outside the library, who, when I paused to watch him in his antics, rose up on his hind legs and twitched his cute little nose.
Three, quite a bit of spare change in a purse that I haven't used in a while, found while looking for something else in said purse.
Not so hard after all. :)
It's amazing how many blessings I can realize when I think about and look for them!
The Vivid Grace of God
Vivid:
The realization, once again, of how much my husband loves me. He demonstrates it in so many ways. He says it without words. He tells me verbally. He gives me loving looks. His love is a huge thing in my life.
Vivid:
The way God works. It's not always this clear. But there are times, like this week, when it nearly knocks me over how bold and grace-full and loving He is. Putting people where they need to be, when they need to be there, with the people with whom they need to be.
Vivid:
My happiness singing in choir this week. I missed it SO MUCH last semester. It's such a joyful thing, lifting my voice in song, praising God, reminded of his goodness and forgiveness in the words I sing.
Vivid:
The kindness of God demonstrated in the kindness of others: my in-laws for taking us to Minnesota to get the car tomorrow, co-workers at the library covering for me, my boss in understanding when I got my schedule screwed up.
Vivid:
The way God blesses us beyond my wildest dreams. And even when it seems like we need more...we always have enough.
Vivid:
My peace despite circumstances that often cause worry.
Vivid:
The love of God shown me in hugs from a friend, a note from my mom, and so many ways from my husband.
Linking up today with Your Thriving Family, finding joy, and The Gypsy Mama. These are my friday favorite things, written on for five minutes based on the word "vivid"!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thankful for my husband
I realize more and more every day how blessed I am by my husband. It's so terribly easy to take him for granted. But lately I've been intentional about looking for ways to praise and honor him.
I'm learning how to listen better when he talks, and how to get his attention properly when I want to talk to him.
He has communicated to me how much he likes having me home, and how much he doesn't like it when I have to be gone in the evenings for work or class. I know this is him saying, "I love you and I love spending time with you."
In the last week, he has:
had chocolate cake made (with homemade chocolate frosting) when I got home
had steak on the stove and rolls out of the oven the next day when I got home
taken down the Christmas tree and packed up a lot of decorations so I didn't have to do that depressing task
picked up and organized the bedroom AND made the bed properly for once (the next day he poked his head in the bathroom when I was taking a shower and asked if I was going to wear the jeans that were on the bedroom floor, because if I wasn't they needed to go in the hamper, not on the floor. I about fell out of the shower.)
helped me with dishes WITHOUT BEING ASKED
taken care of bill-paying, a job I detest
taken initiative to get us to the DMV today to get his license renewed and get me my first Nebraska license
worked it out with his parents to get the four of us to go get our car on Saturday (finally!)
Yeah. My husband is awesome. And I could add other things to that list. ;)
How often do I look at the negative things about my husband instead of the positive? How much do I put him down instead of praising and honoring him? How much do I talk back to him instead of respecting him and submitting to him?
A lot.
Which is not how it should be.
But how often does he forgive me and let me try again? How often does he love me in spite of my faults? How often does he put up with my quirks?
All the time.
So today, I'm thankful for my husband. He is my greatest gift--God is so good to both of us!
I'm learning how to listen better when he talks, and how to get his attention properly when I want to talk to him.
He has communicated to me how much he likes having me home, and how much he doesn't like it when I have to be gone in the evenings for work or class. I know this is him saying, "I love you and I love spending time with you."
In the last week, he has:
had chocolate cake made (with homemade chocolate frosting) when I got home
had steak on the stove and rolls out of the oven the next day when I got home
taken down the Christmas tree and packed up a lot of decorations so I didn't have to do that depressing task
picked up and organized the bedroom AND made the bed properly for once (the next day he poked his head in the bathroom when I was taking a shower and asked if I was going to wear the jeans that were on the bedroom floor, because if I wasn't they needed to go in the hamper, not on the floor. I about fell out of the shower.)
helped me with dishes WITHOUT BEING ASKED
taken care of bill-paying, a job I detest
taken initiative to get us to the DMV today to get his license renewed and get me my first Nebraska license
worked it out with his parents to get the four of us to go get our car on Saturday (finally!)
Yeah. My husband is awesome. And I could add other things to that list. ;)
How often do I look at the negative things about my husband instead of the positive? How much do I put him down instead of praising and honoring him? How much do I talk back to him instead of respecting him and submitting to him?
A lot.
Which is not how it should be.
But how often does he forgive me and let me try again? How often does he love me in spite of my faults? How often does he put up with my quirks?
All the time.
So today, I'm thankful for my husband. He is my greatest gift--God is so good to both of us!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Seeing Joy
Every day I see the work of Satan around me:
Worry. Fear. Anger. Discontentment. Gossip. Maliciousness. Meanness. Sadness. Grief.
Sometimes it seems like those things are the only things people feel and do and think. Like Satan's taking over the world.
In some ways, he has. God's given him some temporary, limited control over the earth--just for now. But God is still at work. His Holy Spirit is still active and changing lives and hearts. Jesus' sacrifice was all that was needed for the salvation of the whole world, once for all, and it has not nor will it ever be nullified.
The Gospel changes hearts. What Christ did for us on the cross took away the power of Satan in our lives. Sure, he still has ways of affecting our lives. Sin is still a big part of the world, and it's still part of every person, including believers.
But knowing what we know about what God has done for us changes everything. Having an eternal perspective on life means that we don't have to despair. The things that define who Satan is don't have to define us.
In Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives, we can know love. Peace. Contentment. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Selflessness. Comfort. Happiness. Joy.
Ann's Joy Dare for today asks for "3 ways you witnessed happiness today."
I witnessed happiness in a four-year-old holding her daddy's hand.
In a good-looking, head-over-heels-for-each-other couple hand in hand.
In my friend eating bread that I made yesterday.
And I experienced happiness myself:
In a hug from my husband.
Nearly two hours to read a good book undisturbed.
Several compliments on my outfit today.
Singing in choir beside a lovely friend.
So yes, Satan still has an influence on my life. But God has a bigger one. He's the one who has taken over my heart. He has "turned my mourning into dancing." The hope I have in eternal life means that this life can be one of joy.
Worry. Fear. Anger. Discontentment. Gossip. Maliciousness. Meanness. Sadness. Grief.
Sometimes it seems like those things are the only things people feel and do and think. Like Satan's taking over the world.
In some ways, he has. God's given him some temporary, limited control over the earth--just for now. But God is still at work. His Holy Spirit is still active and changing lives and hearts. Jesus' sacrifice was all that was needed for the salvation of the whole world, once for all, and it has not nor will it ever be nullified.
The Gospel changes hearts. What Christ did for us on the cross took away the power of Satan in our lives. Sure, he still has ways of affecting our lives. Sin is still a big part of the world, and it's still part of every person, including believers.
But knowing what we know about what God has done for us changes everything. Having an eternal perspective on life means that we don't have to despair. The things that define who Satan is don't have to define us.
In Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives, we can know love. Peace. Contentment. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Selflessness. Comfort. Happiness. Joy.
Ann's Joy Dare for today asks for "3 ways you witnessed happiness today."
I witnessed happiness in a four-year-old holding her daddy's hand.
In a good-looking, head-over-heels-for-each-other couple hand in hand.
In my friend eating bread that I made yesterday.
And I experienced happiness myself:
In a hug from my husband.
Nearly two hours to read a good book undisturbed.
Several compliments on my outfit today.
Singing in choir beside a lovely friend.
So yes, Satan still has an influence on my life. But God has a bigger one. He's the one who has taken over my heart. He has "turned my mourning into dancing." The hope I have in eternal life means that this life can be one of joy.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Unexpected Blessings
Today's Joy Dare: "three ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God."
He doesn't always bless us in the ways we expect. "Do this, God!" we cry. "Give me good heath! Give us good jobs! Help us do this! Make this work out!"
Do we really think that we determine how he blesses us?
How do we define "blessings"? Are they always things we want? Always things we expected we would get? Always things we thought we needed?
Definitely not. God blesses us in his own way, in the way he knows we need it. He doesn't always give us what we want, or what we think we need. And even when things seem to be going completely wrong--he works things out for good. Sometimes we'll never see or hear about that good. But it does happen.
Startling graces...
An unexpected expense recently came up...and God provided a way to cover it, one we don't have to pay back. So surprising. So much grace.
I experimented with a recipe this morning: orange-white-chocolate scones. And they turned out so. good.
Breakfast and thrift-store-shopping this morning with beloved friends, Hubby told me to get whatever I wanted. Three books and a t-shirt. Unexpected little gifts.
I wrote a poem the other day, and realized after I'd written it that God had literally spoken to me through my own writing. That was definitely a startling grace!
(yes...this is four...do I have to be limited to three? :) )
May you be blessed in startling ways--for all is grace.
He doesn't always bless us in the ways we expect. "Do this, God!" we cry. "Give me good heath! Give us good jobs! Help us do this! Make this work out!"
Do we really think that we determine how he blesses us?
How do we define "blessings"? Are they always things we want? Always things we expected we would get? Always things we thought we needed?
Definitely not. God blesses us in his own way, in the way he knows we need it. He doesn't always give us what we want, or what we think we need. And even when things seem to be going completely wrong--he works things out for good. Sometimes we'll never see or hear about that good. But it does happen.
Startling graces...
An unexpected expense recently came up...and God provided a way to cover it, one we don't have to pay back. So surprising. So much grace.
I experimented with a recipe this morning: orange-white-chocolate scones. And they turned out so. good.
Breakfast and thrift-store-shopping this morning with beloved friends, Hubby told me to get whatever I wanted. Three books and a t-shirt. Unexpected little gifts.
I wrote a poem the other day, and realized after I'd written it that God had literally spoken to me through my own writing. That was definitely a startling grace!
(yes...this is four...do I have to be limited to three? :) )
May you be blessed in startling ways--for all is grace.
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