Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Niece Time
Yesterday I had the absolute privilege of spending the day in Grand Rapids with my absolutely perfect, almost 7 week old, niece and her mom. It was so good to just relax in their home with Sarah and Adele. Sarah is such a good mom and I loved getting the chance to observe their routine and think about my own someday. Adele is such a sweet little baby and Auntie Rach got lots of cuddle time! There is nothing like a sleeping baby curled up on your chest! What a blessed and wonderful day :)
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thankfulness
Just wanted to share a chunk of the devotion for today from Jesus Calling. I just love the message. It is saying the exact same thing that One Thousand Gifts is about. Thankfulness is the key to joy.
"Thank Me for each blessing along the way; this brings Joy to both you and Me. A grateful heart protects you from negative thinking. Thankfulness enables you to see the abundance I shower upon you daily. Your prayers and petitions are winged into heaven’s throne room when they are permeated with thanksgiving. In everything give thanks, for this is My will for you."
"Thank Me for each blessing along the way; this brings Joy to both you and Me. A grateful heart protects you from negative thinking. Thankfulness enables you to see the abundance I shower upon you daily. Your prayers and petitions are winged into heaven’s throne room when they are permeated with thanksgiving. In everything give thanks, for this is My will for you."
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Lenten Journey 2012
So last year was the first time since elementary school that lent really meant something to me. I say "since elementary school" because I went to Trinity Lutheran, so naturally we attended lenten services every week for chapel on wednesday and sunday morning church. It always felt like a weeks long journey of big events leading up to Easter. But after leaving Trinity that was kind of lost for me. Last year Peter's Aunt Jan organized a study for us to do individually at home with the book "Reliving the Passion", but there was also a blog that she updated frequently where we could discuss what each portion of the study meant to us. Since I was undertaking the discipline of doing the study and focusing my heart and my mind on lent I also decided to give up sweets, and tackle a Jillian Michaels workout program. (I'm not sure whether the workouts were really related to lent, but it worked for me!)
I made it the whole nearly 7 weeks without sweets and I lost inches, but most importantly I really felt the weight of Christ's sacrifice. Too often Easter sneaks up on us and we haven't even had the time to stop and think about what it really means. I'm not saying you should give something up for Lent but I am saying that for those weeks leading from Ash Wednesday to Easter you should do something unique to you that will help you journey toward Easter stopping to think about each major event that took place on the way to the cross. For me giving something up was a physical reminder of the season. Every time I had to turn down dessert I was reminded that it was Lent. Doing the study helped me to think about each event in great detail. He died for us! That is huge! We should feel the gravity of that every day of our lives. Instead I think we take it for granted. We forget what he suffered. We forget that Jesus knelt down in the garden the night He knew He would be betrayed and He wept. He begged that it could be done another way. He asked God to spare Him. It wasn't easy for Him, but He gave His life for us.
I challenge you to remember everything this year. Don't just wait until Easter morning to be thankful that He died and rose again. Carry it with you for these next several weeks. Let it sink in. Think about all the unpleasantness and fully realize the magnitude of His love for you!
This year I am giving up Facebook. Hopefully every time it crosses my mind to go on Facebook it will remind me to stop and ponder. I also hope to use this time to think more clearly about what I do or do not need to buy. A financial challenge should be good for me :)
And finally, I began reading "He Chose the Nails" by Max Lucado. This should be an excellent book to facilitate deeper thought. Lucado focuses on the "gifts" of the cross. Every little thing, the nails, the robe He wore, the spit, the crown of thorns, all of them translate into a gift that has been given to us. Ideally I will use this blog to further my study by posting my thoughts and favorite passages. Feel free to follow along :)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Things I Learned in Cozumel
As I opened my book to read for the night the smell that escaped from it's pages transported me back to Cozumel. It smells like sunscreen and salty air and who knows what else. But it's the combination that smells distinctly like Mexico. I was surrounded by it as I sorted laundry out of my suitcase. I wish I could bottle it and keep it forever. I have learned that the sense of smell is one of the most powerful. And the most elusive and unexpected. Mexico clings to my clothes and hair and books. But it will be gone soon and it's not something I'll get to cherish forever. But there are other things I can, all of the things I learned there.
General Things I Learned:
Lizards actually do run on their back legs, and it's awesome. Also, iguanas hang out in trees, and occasionally tumble out of them. Also awesome.
Pepto bismol tablets turn your tongue black. Gross.
The color of the water in Cozumel really is as bright as it looks in those idyllic pictures you see.
Jelly fish stings hurt.
The forecast is never right.
God's the most amazing artist. I was constantly in awe of His creation.
Things I Learned About Myself:
I love snorkeling.
People in costumes still terrify me.
I can eat a surprising amount of food.
I actually can be in the sun for a whole week without burning!
However, I don't tan much.
I am capable of doing adventurous things without being crippled by fear (namely of snakes). In fact I can almost talk myself out of fear.
I enjoy getting soaked in mud.
I am capable of bargaining with Mexican vendors!
I love my home and relaxing on the couch each night with my husband. A week of vacation is actually enough.
I enjoy traveling with people. Other people teach me things and make me look at things in a different way.
What I Learned About Peter:
(or what was reinforced, I already knew most of these things)
He doesn't get worked up about anything.
He is friendly to everyone, always.
He is hilarious. In a dry way. And he is completely unaware of this.
Watching people discover how funny he is brings me endless joy.
He still gets excited over tonka trucks.
He is capable of reading a whole book in less than a year. In fact, he can finish one in a week!
He only got on a plane because he loves me, and he'd be happy to never have to do it again.
Even when he feels sick and horrible and is forced to be on a plane and stand in long endless lines he still manages to be good natured. You would hardly know that he is suffering.
He is extremely positive.
He makes me feel safe.
His laugh is the best sound in the world.
Things I Learned About Jenelle:
She is the klutz-iest person I know :) if there is something to trip over or run in to, she will.
She eats very slowly ;) but honestly if that's how she manages to eat so much and still stay so skinny, more power to her!
She notices everything. The littlest things bring her joy and nothing is boring. I love her point of view. I hope to be more like her in this.
She always has a little smile on her face when she takes pictures. Even when she has been doing it for a while.
She has this certain little laugh when she is laughing at her husband. It's adorable and I love it and I wonder if he has ever noticed the difference.
She makes friends everywhere she goes. People are drawn to her.
When discovering a frog has been stepped on, she entombs it in a leaf and lovingly relocates it to the jungle.
She talks to any and all animals
She craves adventure and in turn makes everything into an adventure. Everything is more fun when Jenelle is around.
Most situations cause her to dance.
She is so thoughtful.
Things I Learned About My Brother:
He is still the funniest person I know.
He still makes super weird faces
He gets one annoying thing in his head and repeats it for days on end until everyone is repeating it and will never forget it.
He says flobberworm as an expletive. Often.
I absolutely love his laugh. Especially when he laughs at himself.
He is still one of my best friends. I can't believe I ever forgot this.
He is so happy. And positive. And unaffected by negativity.
He is very much like his dad. Also, he is going to be an amazing dad. These things go hand in hand.
When discovering a tiny hermit crab on the beach, most people would stop, look, and keep walking. He takes it with him, names it Alfonzo, and bonds with it in the sand.
He is quite fearless. Barracuda follow him and he just keeps on keepin on.
He drives like a maniac :)Which actually is a requirement in Cozumel.
He can find humor in any situation.
He becomes Joe Cool when he drinks ;)
Overall I learned that I am blessed beyond what I ever could possibly deserve. I learned that I have the best people in the world for family (honestly I knew this, but spending a week with them was the best). I learned that God delights in watching us explore His creation, I just know He does.
General Things I Learned:
Lizards actually do run on their back legs, and it's awesome. Also, iguanas hang out in trees, and occasionally tumble out of them. Also awesome.
Pepto bismol tablets turn your tongue black. Gross.
The color of the water in Cozumel really is as bright as it looks in those idyllic pictures you see.
Jelly fish stings hurt.
The forecast is never right.
God's the most amazing artist. I was constantly in awe of His creation.
Things I Learned About Myself:
I love snorkeling.
People in costumes still terrify me.
I can eat a surprising amount of food.
I actually can be in the sun for a whole week without burning!
However, I don't tan much.
I am capable of doing adventurous things without being crippled by fear (namely of snakes). In fact I can almost talk myself out of fear.
I enjoy getting soaked in mud.
I am capable of bargaining with Mexican vendors!
I love my home and relaxing on the couch each night with my husband. A week of vacation is actually enough.
I enjoy traveling with people. Other people teach me things and make me look at things in a different way.
What I Learned About Peter:
(or what was reinforced, I already knew most of these things)
He doesn't get worked up about anything.
He is friendly to everyone, always.
He is hilarious. In a dry way. And he is completely unaware of this.
Watching people discover how funny he is brings me endless joy.
He still gets excited over tonka trucks.
He is capable of reading a whole book in less than a year. In fact, he can finish one in a week!
He only got on a plane because he loves me, and he'd be happy to never have to do it again.
Even when he feels sick and horrible and is forced to be on a plane and stand in long endless lines he still manages to be good natured. You would hardly know that he is suffering.
He is extremely positive.
He makes me feel safe.
His laugh is the best sound in the world.
Things I Learned About Jenelle:
She is the klutz-iest person I know :) if there is something to trip over or run in to, she will.
She eats very slowly ;) but honestly if that's how she manages to eat so much and still stay so skinny, more power to her!
She notices everything. The littlest things bring her joy and nothing is boring. I love her point of view. I hope to be more like her in this.
She always has a little smile on her face when she takes pictures. Even when she has been doing it for a while.
She has this certain little laugh when she is laughing at her husband. It's adorable and I love it and I wonder if he has ever noticed the difference.
She makes friends everywhere she goes. People are drawn to her.
When discovering a frog has been stepped on, she entombs it in a leaf and lovingly relocates it to the jungle.
She talks to any and all animals
She craves adventure and in turn makes everything into an adventure. Everything is more fun when Jenelle is around.
Most situations cause her to dance.
She is so thoughtful.
Things I Learned About My Brother:
He is still the funniest person I know.
He still makes super weird faces
He gets one annoying thing in his head and repeats it for days on end until everyone is repeating it and will never forget it.
He says flobberworm as an expletive. Often.
I absolutely love his laugh. Especially when he laughs at himself.
He is still one of my best friends. I can't believe I ever forgot this.
He is so happy. And positive. And unaffected by negativity.
He is very much like his dad. Also, he is going to be an amazing dad. These things go hand in hand.
When discovering a tiny hermit crab on the beach, most people would stop, look, and keep walking. He takes it with him, names it Alfonzo, and bonds with it in the sand.
He is quite fearless. Barracuda follow him and he just keeps on keepin on.
He drives like a maniac :)Which actually is a requirement in Cozumel.
He can find humor in any situation.
He becomes Joe Cool when he drinks ;)
Overall I learned that I am blessed beyond what I ever could possibly deserve. I learned that I have the best people in the world for family (honestly I knew this, but spending a week with them was the best). I learned that God delights in watching us explore His creation, I just know He does.
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