6 month check up on 2012 goals

1) Learn German.  Ehh.  This one is on hold for the time being.  Faith and I are learning Koine Greek, instead! Rosetta Stone's too danged expensive!


2) Read through the complete works of Shakespeare.  Gonna work on this one this summer!  AKA soon.


3) Go hiking/camping on a mountain with Kevin.  Also a summer goal.  Probably going to count this as completed when Collette & Pete come out and visit (which we so very much hope they will do!)


4) See sunrise on said mountain.  See above.


5) Use the paint supplies I have acquired.  Well, I've only got blank canvases.  No paint.  So...


6) Use the Pilates DVD and mat I bought myself for Christmas.  For two weeks, I was pretty faithful with this, but things got busy & I got lazy.  Will have to pick it up again.  Oy.


7)  Write a letter to a friend a week.  With this, I've done okay.  I wouldn't say it's been one per week, but at least three a month!


8) Journal weekly.  Yessah!


9)  Read through the collected works of Milton.  Erhm... after Shakespeare.  Promise.


10) Read through the collected works of Lewis.  Have read The Great Divorce, and am half done with The Four Loves.  For my thoughts on these, see my other blog! 


11) Read through The Making of a Sonnet, and attempt one a month.  Nope.  Haven't been feeling it.  But might be a good fall-winter activity.  Will see.


12) Work harder than absolutely necessary.  I think I've got this one.  But, to be continued.


13) Develop relationships with the girls in the youth group.  Yes!  So far so good!  Also, to be continued!


14) Sing out.  Yes... but I need to be reminded of this kinda often.


15) Develop better posture.  Oy.  I need to see a chiropractor.


16) Complete the application process and become a certified teacher in the state of Colorado.  Yes!  Finished the application, just waiting to hear!


17)  Learn more about pre-K education.  Finished ECE101, just begun Guidance Strategies!


18) Collect and read as many of my childhood-favorite books as I possibly can!  Doing okay with this one, too - read The Prisoner of Zenda, and recently acquired the Roll of Thunder series!

How are YOU doing on your 2012 goals?? 

As you can see, I've got a lot of work to do..........

but 9/18 seems to be right on track!

one year

On this day last year, Kevin and I arrived in Colorado.

2011

2012

Nineteen

HAPPY DECEMBER 19!

Today, in reaction to the news of Kim Jong Il's death, I'm thankful for freedom.  

In America,

I have the freedom to celebrate Christmas.  

I have the freedom to praise God publicly.  

I have the freedom to write a blog and express my religious/political/creative ideas and beliefs.  

I have the freedom to vote for my nation's leader.

I have the freedom to be dissatisfied with my nation's leader and speak my mind about it.

I have the freedom to choose my career.

I have the freedom to listen to/watch/read anything I can get my hands on.

I have the freedom to travel - across state and national borders.

I have the freedom to marry whomever I choose and have as many babies as God gives me.

I have that freedom.

While our nation is by no means perfect, I thank God for the freedoms we enjoy!

Watch this to see one of my favorites sing of freedom 
(a la the underrated Christmas classic: Holiday Inn.)

abraham and sarah

Lately, I've been struck with the realization that Kevin and I are called to be Abraham and Sarah.  Let me explain.

Earlier this year, not long after we got married, we knew we were meant to move across the country from Philly, PA to the Denver area, Colorado.  Away from everything: PBU and DE life, friends, family... every support system I had known for the past four years, and Kevin... his whole life.

Kevin felt a call to study Scripture and ministry at Denver Seminary.  We searched for jobs and apartments.  We looked and prayed for plans to fall into place.  Ultimately, though, we knew that regardless of our "plans" working out via internet searches, phone calls and emails, Kevin and I would be moving.  It came to the point (before Kevin received the joyous letter from Denver Sem) that we felt we needed to move whether or not he was accepted for the fall semester.  Such was the feeling - the call - that we both had toward our future in Colorado.

So, a week after graduating from Philadelphia Biblical, Kev and I packed up our box of an apartment, loaded all of our earthly possessions into a moving van, and drove 30+ hours west.  Jobs were uncertain, though Kevin had an "in" from his previous job on the east coast.  We still had no idea what our apartment really looked like, other than the pictures we had seen online - which we hoped were not fabricated or dishonest.

We arrived at Idaho Springs, saw our [gorgeous!] apartment, applied for jobs, found a church, made some friends, and settled down with life.  Truly.  That's about how fast it all happened, too.

It has just been incredible to see the way that the Lord has seen fit to bless us.  He called us out in faith, and now He delights in rewarding us for our obedience.  It is not a huge stretch to compare Colorado to the Promised Land... but I think there's truth in the analogy that God let us know He had/has enormous and amazing things in store for us, calling us to leave our comfortable support systems and the life that we had known to pursue what He had - whatever that might be - out in the wild blue yonder of the Rockies.

I see Kevin as an Abraham figure, anyway.  I see him as one appointed by God to be His ambassador in a foreign, unfamiliar land.  I think God sees him that way, too.  Since we've settled here, Kevin's heart is for seminary and for further education in Biblical studies... but his desire is for practical ministry in the local church.  That much is clear.  We arrived at FBCE at the moment the associate pastor was looking for an intern - a role he asked Kevin to fulfill maybe three weeks after we had begun attending the church.  Once in that position, and after a summer of awesome ministry with the youth group and the rest of the church body, the associate pastor has received and answered a call to lead a church in Kentucky.  Kevin is in prime position to assume several of those responsibilities.

Don't you see?  It's all just a little too perfect.  Too perfect to be coincidence, anyway.  Of course, this is how we see God work.  I see Him blessing our obedience in moving out here, and our continued obedience in submitting our will to His in His plan for our life.

I see myself as Sarah.  I see myself as one appointed to stand next to my Abraham in support.  Not questioning his leadership, but faithfully serving next to him.  I also put my trust in the Lord that He will be faithful in providing us with the family that we so desire.  (And, any of you who know me well understand my Sarah- (or Hannah-) like desire for children, though Kevin and I are still young.) But, in His timing.

This is one of the numerous reasons why I love the Old Testament narratives of God's people.  I love seeing the way God works, how people respond to Him, and how He blesses.  How can we but rejoice in His word?  How can we but obey and heed His call?  How can we but trust in Him?

I humbly ask for your prayers as we continue to settle into life here.  I ask that especially through this holiday season we will be the image-bearers of Christ and ambassadors of the Lord in a dark and unbelieving world.

Genesis 18:19

"For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household 

after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, 

so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him."

Psalm 37: 3-6

Trust in the LORD, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him, and he will act.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

and your justice as the noonday.

on our way to target

we saw:

-purple mountains
-a herd of elk
-a black bear, uncomfortably close to the road
-an ambulance and a number of tow trucks
-my workplace
-gorgeous sunset
-some fun animal-shaped statues on the top of a hill
-a diaper on the road

we listened to a playlist containing:

-the Glee version of “Friday”
-Billy Joel
-Dashboard (I snuck one in!)
-TSwift
-Ben Folds & Regina Spektor
-Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
-Chris Brown
-Paul Simon

journey to colorado

Kevin and I are currently 1/3 of the way on our journey across the nation to our home in Colorado. That means we drove 15 hours, towing my little Mazda-pig behind Kev’s truck in the blistering heat from DE to MI. Although I managed to finish my book, Stonehenge, before sunset, I tried to keep conversation with Kevin (to keep him awake, of course) and tried to block out the music and sermons he insisted on listening to. Not that I was TRYING to block out the sermons… they were some good ones… I mean, good messages and all… I just had to finish my book! Priorities! I had to finish before sunset, and I had to finish so I could give it back to my brother - it was his library book! So.

HOWEVER, I don’t want you to think I was ignoring my husband. Oh no - we discussed favorite moments at PBU, favorite profs, the very distinctive laughs of different profs, theological issues raised by the sermons I was trying to block out…

Some highlights of the trip:

-Kevin’s favorite moment was when his paper for senior seminar was praised by Dr Krewson and submitted as the representative paper of his class (with maybe the work of one other student).

-My favorite moment was when Dr Toews didn’t know what an “apiarist” was, and I was able to tell him very confidently (thanks to an episode of The Office)… he told me to go to the head of the class, “whatever that even means.” I am so proud of that moment. That Iinstructed Dr Toews.

-Favorite profs shall remain nameless (although it shouldn’t be hard to guess at mine….)

-Kevin is exceptional at imitating Victor Jacobs’ and Dr Schnittjer’s laughs. And it just about killed me.

-Theological issues dealt with the necessity of there being a literal Adam and which aspects of the Gospel are “essential” to teach to a new or non-believer.

-The sermons we listened to: three by Ravi Zacharias, and one by John Piper. You know what’s up.

And now, we lounge at my parents’ home in Michigan. I laid out by the lake today, got a bit of a sunburn on my nose, and read some of my book. Currently reading Our Search for Happiness by M. Russell Ballard. Somehow, I got roped into lifeguarding for a group of 8th graders from my old middle school on their annual year-end outing to our camp. Ah well. I’ll never say no to more sun. Or gas money.

Friday AM we leave for the next leg of our journey — from MI to IA.


June 3, 2011

After two days of relaxation in Michigan (read: two days of sunburning & reading), we head out tomorrow on another 12-14 hr drive to another lake house in Iowa! Pray for safety and alertness — we’re leaving in just over four hours. You read that right: we’re leaving at 4 AM. And Michigan hasn’t bought into the whole Dunkin Donuts craze yet. Apparently notall of America runs on Dunkin. Much to the sadness of all involved in early morning car rides, I’m sure.

Boy am I sunburnt.

June 9, 2011

Our journey from IA to CO was expedited (sort of) due to the Missouri River flooding: Kevin and I were planning on leaving Monday morning around 2, but left Sunday night at 10:30.

Some conclusions and observations:

-Nebraska is lame (smelly and buggy and boring).

-I cannot fall asleep to Ravi Zacharias, but I *can* fall asleep to John Piper. I think my ears perk up to an interesting accent.

-Kevin rubs his head in a rather distinct manner/pattern when he’s getting sleepy and trying to stay focused.

-I am surprisingly alert from 2:30 to 5 am.

-People are way nicer out west than on the east coast.

-As we crossed into Colorado, Kevin didn’t cease smiling (he set the GPS to calculate altitude…which continued to rise as we passed Denver).

-Good omens: Kevin saw a deer almost as soon as we crossed the border into CO, and I saw a rainbow.

-Mountains? Yes, we think so.

(I had taken pictures - a lot of ‘em - but… I make it a habit of deleting pics from my camera as soon as I put them on my laptop… and my computer crashed before I backed it up on the external hard drive… so… you’ll have to wait on that!) We arrived at 11:00 am and moved our stuff into our new and completely excellent apartment by 11:30. We live above a coffee shop with free wifi (yes yes yes), and across the street from Beau Jo’s Pizza. We’ve come to anticipate an almost daily visit to the local Walmart. Oy.

Recently, we:

-Bought a 32” TV (we basically had to: our landlords pay for cable!)

-Were blessed to meet Dave S. in Java Mountain Roasters (the coffee shop downstairs) who was reading his Bible… and proceeded to have an excellent discussion about school districts, his church, Denver Seminary, CCU and Billy Graham.

-Met Will, working at ModMood Vintage Furniture, a Mormon with whom we struck up a conversation about religion and life across the States. Very cool guy.

-Visited Denver Seminary and met Cheryl in the Registrar office. I want her to be my… aunt, or something.

-Are anticipating the arrival of our furniture and such on Monday!

-Have applied for work in Idaho Springs… I had an interview at Starbucks today that went really really well!

-Are reading through the letters of John together. Loving the focus on fellowship and togetherness that is brought about by mutual love of Christ and acceptance of the Gospel. We pray we are able to demonstrate that sense of unity to our new community out here in CO!

the merry meanders begin

Here’s a honeymoon story for ya, free of charge:

TRAVEL DAY: Thursday, December 30.

GOAL: Grand Rapids Int’l Airport -> O’Hare Int’l Airport -> Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport -> Gatlinburg, TN -> Happily Ever After Cabin high in the Smoky Mountains.

Sounds fairly simple, right? That was the plan. But this is kind of how it played out.

We woke up early, so we thought we’d head on in to the airport in GR to get a cup of coffee and wait for our flight. As we walk in, our flight is “on time”, according to the screen. As we punch in our information at the kiosk, the flight canceled and our information was denied. The United Airlines workers saw us as an inconvenience, and let us know. Obviously, it was our fault and our responsibility to see that we make our connection to Knoxville. They found a flight headed for Chicago (that was originally meant for Madison, but was going to fly to Chicago instead… and at the same time our original flight was supposed to leave. Still not sure how they figured that one) and issued us not boarding passes, but security passes to get up to the gate. At the gate, they said, the attendants would determine who they were able to fit on the plane. We were, fortunately, among the twenty that were able to board.

Arriving in Chicago around the time we would have initially, Kev and I headed over to find our information for the flight to Knoxville. The customer service desk was, of course, unmanned. Kevin started punching in our information at the kiosk, which was, of course, denied. I picked up the courtesy phone, talked to a service rep, referred to Kevin as my husband for the first time to a complete stranger, and got the gate for the Knoxville flight. So, we maneuvered around the hundreds of people that were occupying the United Airlines terminal to talk to a lady at another desk to (hopefully!) get a boarding pass. Once we gave her our information, she informed us that the flight for which we were hoping… didn’t exist. She audibly and irritably sighed (again, because we were an inconvenience), but was able to put us on a flight leaving for Knoxville only ten minutes after our “original flight” was supposed to leave.

After breathing a sigh of overwhelming relief, muttering, “This would only happen to us,” we walked to Chili’s for lunch. After lunch, we walked back to the gate, sat among hundreds of dissatisfied UA customers, fellow travelers and one shrieking teenage girl for another two hours as flight after flight was delayed.

In all, Kevin and I counted ourselves lucky that our travels went as well as it did. We arrived safely, our luggage arrived safely (probably hours before we did), and we drove out of the airport in a new Kia Soul, headed for Gatlinburg and our cabin, “Happily Ever After.”