This post stems from a few things. For one thing, I thought about it in November when I was thinking about different things I am thankful for. A second thing that made me think this way was watching The Sound of Music Live on Thursday night and listening to "I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad...". The third and final thing that has led me to think of these things is recognizing how God made each person unique and knows them specifically. He knows what upsets each person and he knows what makes each person smile. Each day we wake up is a day He has given us life which is a miraculous act of grace. Life is by no means a cake walk, but God has been so kind in filling his creation with things that not only bring him glory, but with things we can enjoy as well and praise him for in the process.
So because of the above reasons, I would like to share a list of ten of my favorite things.
1. Puzzles--I love puzzles! I enjoy the way it allows my brain to both relax and work at the same time. I love that I can do puzzles and watch things with Michael at the same time--this comes in especially handy when he wants to watch something that is almost too intense for me to handle :)
2. Cows in fields on the countryside--I started getting really happy about seeing a nice group of cows in a nice green field maybe with some trees or a little creek a few years back. It is something that always makes me smile. In fact, I even have a favorite group of cows to drive by in Iowa.
3. Snow on evergreen trees--I just find it to be absolutely beautiful.
4. Holding babies--ah babies are so precious. It is incredible to me to consider the miracle of life! As it is close to Christmas I find myself more aware of the babies around me and marvel at the fact that Jesus came as a baby! Back to the holding babies though, this is something I have always loved and I can hardly wait until Michael and I start a family and I can hold my own sweet babies.
5. Squirrels--I really enjoy watching squirrels do their thing. I think in some ways this stems from my mom liking to watch squirrels. Last weekend I spent some time with my nephew, August, watching squirrels run around the back yard.
6. December--I love December! I love the first 'big' snowfall that often comes and I love preparing for Christmas. It is such a happy and beautifully reflective time of year. Along with this I really enjoy Christmas decorations--especially Christmas lights. They make everything so festive and cozy.
7. Laughter--I so appreciate laughing alone, with others, and hearing others laugh. I think laughter is a sweet gift from the Lord. We all have unique laughs and laughing is a nice way to bring people together. Listening to other laugh almost always makes me smile. In fact thinking of specific individual's laughs makes me smile--thinking of my brother Sam's laugh right now.
8. Reading a good book--I really enjoy getting caught up in a good book. I started and finished the Divergent trilogy in two weeks. Oof really enjoyed those books. I also appreciate when books surprise me.
9. The Swinging Bridge--I think this bridge in my hometown in lovely. I like to walk on it and I like to look at it. My grandparents had several paintings/drawings/pictures of the bridge up in their home and now I have one of them up in our home.
10. Pie--delicious. Actually I like pie for more reasons than just because it is yummy. Pie brings many fond memories for me. I remember baking pies with my Grandma Karen in the summer, I remember my mom working on making pie crusts with our neighbor Doris, I remember eating pie at several of our birthday parties with grandparents growing up, and pie was often present at family gatherings on the Clayberg side. One of my goals for the next year is going to be improving on my pie baking skills--slightly concerned about my waistline as I look towards this endeavor (someone has to eat all the pies I am going to practice making), but I am really excited about it! :)
There are obviously many other things that would fit into my favorites--I didn't even talk about learning or relationships or faith all of which are important to me. I love who God is and I love that while He is a God who must be glorified, I love that He designed us to enjoy his creation. What a great and gracious God.
Ok so this is kind of unrelated, but another one of my favorite things is songs that proclaim truth. We sang this song in church this morning and I have been thinking about it a lot today, so I wanted to end with this: All Is For Your Glory
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
An Encounter with Grief
Grief in an interesting thing. I was struck by this today during our car ride home from our Thanksgiving weekend. The ride was fine, but towards the end I started to feel a bit carsick--stomachache and headache, just feeling lousy. This lead me to feelings of frustration and self-centeredness. I was crabby about feeling gross and that spread to negativity towards going back to work again tomorrow. To combat this negativity and to try to distract myself into feeling better I put in my headphones and put a song I have been enjoying lately on repeat, then I leaned my head forward to just "soak in" the music and try to "escape" for a few minutes.
As I was listening to the song I recognized and appreciated a hint of country sound in the artists voice.
Country music always makes me think of my dear Grandpa Butch.
Thinking of Grandpa reminded me of what was happening during this upcoming week 6 years ago--finding out Grandpa was fighting a losing battle, finding out he would be removed from the machines assisting him in living in a few days, seeing his smile one more time, rubbing his head, saying a tearful goodbye, and hearing the news I was expecting to hear on that Wednesday afternoon on December 5th that Grandpa had passed away.
And suddenly I was in tears missing my Grandpa and the wonderful man that he was. I miss his laugh, I miss his smile, I miss sitting on his lap, I miss his hugs, I miss hearing him talk, I miss the mouse in his arm, I miss his whisker rubs, I miss truck rides, I miss lazy afternoons, I miss everything about him.
These overwhelming feelings of missing him came out of no where and without any warning.
When you lose someone important to you it seems that while time heals the wounds and allows you to return to a new normal, there is still an inexpressible ache that comes from missing them. There doesn't have to be a big reason for the grief to occur, sometimes it just stems from hearing a little country twang in a song.
I appreciate grief. I like the reminder it brings of how important and special that person was and still is to me. I would be a different person today if I hadn't had such an incredible man like my Grandpa Butch involved in my life.
For me grief also pulls me to Jesus. As I was quietly letting the tears fall in the car I found that I didn't want to be around anyone, but I didn't want to be alone--enter Jesus. Jesus knew and loved my Grandpa better than anyone and He knows and loves me better than I know or can love myself. He knows my heart and the sad ache that comes over me when I miss that man. He sees and cares about every tear.
I found myself silently worshiping my God who loved my family the same even when our lives were changed forever as Grandpa was taken from us.
Through remembering my Grandpa and my time of quiet worship, I was convicted of my attitude...God did not create me to be a fussy individual who dreads going to work after a long weekend. My Grandpa was a wonderful example of an individual with a positive attitude and what it means to live a life that is selfless, dedicated, and hardworking. He did not waste his life and I do not want to waste mine.
God does not forsake his children. He is with them in good times and bad. He is with them in life and in death. I love the song "Wonderful, Merciful, Savior". I love how it describes God as Father, Savior, and Spirit. It is the song I was lead to in my worship this evening and it is the song I leave you with tonight.
Listen to "Wonderful, Merciful, Savior" here
As I was listening to the song I recognized and appreciated a hint of country sound in the artists voice.
Country music always makes me think of my dear Grandpa Butch.
Thinking of Grandpa reminded me of what was happening during this upcoming week 6 years ago--finding out Grandpa was fighting a losing battle, finding out he would be removed from the machines assisting him in living in a few days, seeing his smile one more time, rubbing his head, saying a tearful goodbye, and hearing the news I was expecting to hear on that Wednesday afternoon on December 5th that Grandpa had passed away.
And suddenly I was in tears missing my Grandpa and the wonderful man that he was. I miss his laugh, I miss his smile, I miss sitting on his lap, I miss his hugs, I miss hearing him talk, I miss the mouse in his arm, I miss his whisker rubs, I miss truck rides, I miss lazy afternoons, I miss everything about him.
These overwhelming feelings of missing him came out of no where and without any warning.
When you lose someone important to you it seems that while time heals the wounds and allows you to return to a new normal, there is still an inexpressible ache that comes from missing them. There doesn't have to be a big reason for the grief to occur, sometimes it just stems from hearing a little country twang in a song.
I appreciate grief. I like the reminder it brings of how important and special that person was and still is to me. I would be a different person today if I hadn't had such an incredible man like my Grandpa Butch involved in my life.
For me grief also pulls me to Jesus. As I was quietly letting the tears fall in the car I found that I didn't want to be around anyone, but I didn't want to be alone--enter Jesus. Jesus knew and loved my Grandpa better than anyone and He knows and loves me better than I know or can love myself. He knows my heart and the sad ache that comes over me when I miss that man. He sees and cares about every tear.
I found myself silently worshiping my God who loved my family the same even when our lives were changed forever as Grandpa was taken from us.
Through remembering my Grandpa and my time of quiet worship, I was convicted of my attitude...God did not create me to be a fussy individual who dreads going to work after a long weekend. My Grandpa was a wonderful example of an individual with a positive attitude and what it means to live a life that is selfless, dedicated, and hardworking. He did not waste his life and I do not want to waste mine.
God does not forsake his children. He is with them in good times and bad. He is with them in life and in death. I love the song "Wonderful, Merciful, Savior". I love how it describes God as Father, Savior, and Spirit. It is the song I was lead to in my worship this evening and it is the song I leave you with tonight.
Listen to "Wonderful, Merciful, Savior" here
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| Grandpa and 3 of his girls...some of the sweetest blessings and memories God has given me. |
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Thankful for Five Year Olds
I never wanted to teach kindergarten. I mean never. It seemed overwhelming to have so many little ones with minimum school experience under my watchful eye and teaching guidance every day. Don't get me wrong, I thought they were adorable, but I did not think I was cut out to be their teacher. The idea of teaching not one, but several (ahem, 23) five-year-old children the basic building blocks that are essential to the rest of their school learning experience is a rather daunting task. How does anyone do this?
Of course I know the educational answers to this--repetition, multiple representations, activating multiple learning styles, etc. But, things get messy when you are actually doing this with real children. Children who miss their mommy and daddy, children who have tummy aches, children who need to use the bathroom, children who have no idea at the beginning of the year why they are at this place called school.
I love my kiddos. They make me absolutely crazy, but I am wild for them. They stole my heart the first time I met them on that incredibly hot and humid August evening.
Here are some of the things I love about them as a whole:
1. They show me love in consistent ways.
I am not kidding when I say they make me crazy...I think almost every day there is some point in time when I have to put both of my hands on my face, think to myself "oh my goodness", take a deep breath, and persevere despite their lack of focus and tattling tongues. However, they are so sweet. It doesn't matter if I just finished scolding them or praising them, every day I am met with hugs, "I love you Mrs. Olson", and the love sign language.
2. They love to sing.
I never thought I would sing in my classroom--ha! What a joke that seems like now. We sing every day and multiple times a day...in fact I make up at least one, if not two, new songs for them each week to learn our new sight words for the week. They love to sing with me and they love to sing on their own. It is delightful to hear them singing our songs while they work. It was adorable on our field trip to the pumpkin patch when we were on a tractor ride and they were belting out our "October" song together all on their own. Music is so important in learning.
3. They love painting and special projects.
Today we did a special turkey craft that they knew was coming and looked forward to all week. Ah, they get so excited to paint and they paint and paint and paint over the exact same thing until they are sure it is thoroughly covered--wow that paper is wet by that point! I love how excited they get for little things and how focused they are during that time.
4. I love seeing their learning.
Yes! They are learning! Not only do their assessments show this--almost all of my kids know almost all of their letters which is a HUGE improvement from the beginning of the year, they are so much stronger in other areas as well--but I see this every day. I love seeing their growth in all areas of kindergarten...when I consider what they were like the first day of school I think it is remarkable to consider where they are at now. Wow. No other grade level allows such a total transformation for all students in a trimester. It is truly incredible. Even now I am smiling as I consider how awesome that has been to see them learn and own why they are at school and to see the emotional and academic progress.
I have been learning so much about myself and teaching through being these 23 children's kindergarten teacher. They challenge me and excite me. I have been convicted of my need for more patience and grace on several occasions so they are also pointing me towards my constant need for Jesus.
I am thankful to have the next week off of work--I need a break, they need a break, and we all need rest (we are a bunch of snotty, coughing individuals), but I will be missing them and excited when I can greet their smiling faces next Tuesday for our first day of kindergarten in December!
Of course I know the educational answers to this--repetition, multiple representations, activating multiple learning styles, etc. But, things get messy when you are actually doing this with real children. Children who miss their mommy and daddy, children who have tummy aches, children who need to use the bathroom, children who have no idea at the beginning of the year why they are at this place called school.
I love my kiddos. They make me absolutely crazy, but I am wild for them. They stole my heart the first time I met them on that incredibly hot and humid August evening.
Here are some of the things I love about them as a whole:
1. They show me love in consistent ways.
I am not kidding when I say they make me crazy...I think almost every day there is some point in time when I have to put both of my hands on my face, think to myself "oh my goodness", take a deep breath, and persevere despite their lack of focus and tattling tongues. However, they are so sweet. It doesn't matter if I just finished scolding them or praising them, every day I am met with hugs, "I love you Mrs. Olson", and the love sign language.
2. They love to sing.
I never thought I would sing in my classroom--ha! What a joke that seems like now. We sing every day and multiple times a day...in fact I make up at least one, if not two, new songs for them each week to learn our new sight words for the week. They love to sing with me and they love to sing on their own. It is delightful to hear them singing our songs while they work. It was adorable on our field trip to the pumpkin patch when we were on a tractor ride and they were belting out our "October" song together all on their own. Music is so important in learning.
3. They love painting and special projects.
Today we did a special turkey craft that they knew was coming and looked forward to all week. Ah, they get so excited to paint and they paint and paint and paint over the exact same thing until they are sure it is thoroughly covered--wow that paper is wet by that point! I love how excited they get for little things and how focused they are during that time.
4. I love seeing their learning.
Yes! They are learning! Not only do their assessments show this--almost all of my kids know almost all of their letters which is a HUGE improvement from the beginning of the year, they are so much stronger in other areas as well--but I see this every day. I love seeing their growth in all areas of kindergarten...when I consider what they were like the first day of school I think it is remarkable to consider where they are at now. Wow. No other grade level allows such a total transformation for all students in a trimester. It is truly incredible. Even now I am smiling as I consider how awesome that has been to see them learn and own why they are at school and to see the emotional and academic progress.
I have been learning so much about myself and teaching through being these 23 children's kindergarten teacher. They challenge me and excite me. I have been convicted of my need for more patience and grace on several occasions so they are also pointing me towards my constant need for Jesus.
I am thankful to have the next week off of work--I need a break, they need a break, and we all need rest (we are a bunch of snotty, coughing individuals), but I will be missing them and excited when I can greet their smiling faces next Tuesday for our first day of kindergarten in December!
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| Where our learning and growing takes place :) |
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Thankful for Friendship
Human beings were not created to live life alone. This is clear throughout scripture and it is not that hard to figure out as we live life. Do we need to be around people all the time? No. However, I think companionship is very important. Sharing life with others stretches us and causes us to grow.
As I think of the friendships I have and those that are especially dear to me, I find myself considering what about those friendships I am most thankful for. What makes a good friend?
In my life, I consider a good friend to be...
1. Someone who shares my love for Jesus.
This is crucial in my life. It's not that I cannot be friends with unbelievers, but when I don't see eye to eye with someone on something so important to my identity, it can be hard to go as deep in conversation. There are also many places in Scripture where we are given direction as to the kinds of people we should spend most of our time with and be closest to. When I think of my closest friends, I cannot think of them and my time spent with them without including our spiritual conversations. Such a sweet blessing. Ah it makes my heart happy.
2. Someone I can count on.
Now I will be the first to admit that you cannot put total dependence on anyone or anything apart from God, but I do think you should be able to count on close friends. That is not to say that they won't let you down sometimes--we are human and as such we struggle with sin and living selfishly. However, the people I consider to be my closest friends I know have my back. I know that if I needed them, they would be there for me as best as they could.
3. Someone I can be myself with.
I am a relatively shy and quiet person. I do not usually talk a lot in groups and it takes me a while to get comfortable enough to be myself. Some of this stems from self-conscious sin issues, but some of it just comes down to how much I trust the other individual. It is such a sweet blessing to feel comfortable enough around other people to be myself and be vulnerable.
4. Someone I can talk with.
Good conversation is important to sharing life with others. Good conversation can be had when both individuals are talking about something they agree about and when both individuals see a given topic differently. Both can be challenging and can lead to growth. However, I think to best have these deep conversations and grow and be encouraged, Jesus needs to be shared between the two individuals.
5. Someone who will share themselves with me.
Honesty and vulnerability are important in relationship and I think to best build trust in friendship these things need to go both ways. It is an honor to share trust with people and it leads to stronger relationships.
I love true friendship. I love that there is depth. I love that the relationships are going somewhere. I love that I don't have to wonder if they care for me in return. I love that they love Jesus. I love that we can share this life together, encouraging and challenging one another along the way.
As I think of the friendships I have and those that are especially dear to me, I find myself considering what about those friendships I am most thankful for. What makes a good friend?
In my life, I consider a good friend to be...
1. Someone who shares my love for Jesus.
This is crucial in my life. It's not that I cannot be friends with unbelievers, but when I don't see eye to eye with someone on something so important to my identity, it can be hard to go as deep in conversation. There are also many places in Scripture where we are given direction as to the kinds of people we should spend most of our time with and be closest to. When I think of my closest friends, I cannot think of them and my time spent with them without including our spiritual conversations. Such a sweet blessing. Ah it makes my heart happy.
2. Someone I can count on.
Now I will be the first to admit that you cannot put total dependence on anyone or anything apart from God, but I do think you should be able to count on close friends. That is not to say that they won't let you down sometimes--we are human and as such we struggle with sin and living selfishly. However, the people I consider to be my closest friends I know have my back. I know that if I needed them, they would be there for me as best as they could.
3. Someone I can be myself with.
I am a relatively shy and quiet person. I do not usually talk a lot in groups and it takes me a while to get comfortable enough to be myself. Some of this stems from self-conscious sin issues, but some of it just comes down to how much I trust the other individual. It is such a sweet blessing to feel comfortable enough around other people to be myself and be vulnerable.
4. Someone I can talk with.
Good conversation is important to sharing life with others. Good conversation can be had when both individuals are talking about something they agree about and when both individuals see a given topic differently. Both can be challenging and can lead to growth. However, I think to best have these deep conversations and grow and be encouraged, Jesus needs to be shared between the two individuals.
5. Someone who will share themselves with me.
Honesty and vulnerability are important in relationship and I think to best build trust in friendship these things need to go both ways. It is an honor to share trust with people and it leads to stronger relationships.
I love true friendship. I love that there is depth. I love that the relationships are going somewhere. I love that I don't have to wonder if they care for me in return. I love that they love Jesus. I love that we can share this life together, encouraging and challenging one another along the way.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Thankful for Family
This post contains summaries of my families and also specific reasons why I am thankful for each person involved in my life through family.
I love my family.
I love the little family Michael and I share together. While it is just the two of us for now, I love the foundation we are building through Christ that we will get to share with our children someday. I cannot think about it without getting excited.
Michael--his God-centered wisdom, his generosity, his sense of humor
I love the family that I come from.
My parents are wonderful. How great to have a mom and dad who love Jesus and have stressed his importance in our lives for as long as I can remember. My parents seeking to honor God with their lives has played a huge role in shaping not only myself but also my brother's and sisters. Each of us have our own faith, but our parents have been faithful witnesses to the truth. It is also awesome to have parents who love each other. Not everyone gets to witness a consistent and good marriage. Seeing my parents relationship with each other has played a role in the way I act towards Michael as his wife. Finally, I have been blessed with parents that love me and my siblings despite our imperfections. I could go on and on and on about how much I love and appreciate my parents.
Dad--his spiritual leadership in our family, his genuine heart for others, his honesty
Mom--her nurturing actions, her positive attitude and joyful heart, her encouragement
My brothers and sisters are four of my best friends. We share many things in common. We share a love for Jesus, we share a history, we share a similar sense of humor, we share some similar interests. I love spending time with them. I love sharing life with them. I love playing and laughing with them. I love singing with them. I love the freedom we have to be ourselves around each other. I love seeing their faith in their actions. I love talking about Jesus with them. I love that we can be honest with each other. I love how Shelby, Sam, Charley, and Jos each play an important and irreplaceable role in our family.
Shelb--her compassionate heart, her willingness to laugh, her honesty
Sam--his joyfulness, his silliness, his genuine love
Charley--her sense of humor, her genuine heart for others, her independence
Jos--his leadership among peers, his discipline, his good humor
I love how my family has welcomed Michael with open arms.
I love the family that I married into. I love that they love Jesus. I love that they have real relationships with one another. I appreciate that they can be honest with one another. I love how silly they can be. I love their laughter. I love their generous hearts. I love how Michael's parents love their boys, their daughters-in-law, and their grandchildren. I love having Jason and Claire as a brother-in-law and sister-in-law. I love spending time with them. I love have nephews and a niece who are cute and silly. I love being a part of this family.
Dennis--his discipline and his generosity
Denise--her silliness and her willingness to serve others
Jason--his patience and his dedication to go above and beyond to make a difference
Claire--her activeness and her intentionality in relationships
Jonas--his enjoyment of others and his interest in learning and growing
Freya--her feisty attitude and her obvious love for others
August--his attempts to keep up with his brother and sister and his quick smile and laugh
I love my extended family. I have loved growing up with grandparents and great -grandparents. I love the legacy they have left for the families. I love laughing, playing, and visiting with them. I treasure the relationships we share.
Grandma Mert--her positive attitude
Grandma Book--her happiness
Grandpa Book--his sense of humor
Grandpa Sodey--his kindness towards others
Grandma Sodey--her enjoyment of others and relationships
Grandpa Butch--his joyful heart, his purposefulness in relationships
Grandma Diane--her gentle and quiet spirit, her servant heart
Grandpa Denny--his sense of humor and his supportive attitude/actions
Grandma Karen--her laughter and her care for others
I love having aunts and uncles. I thankful for their involvement in my life. I appreciate the ways they have shaped my parents. I love having 16 cousins. I love the unique relationships that we are able to share with one another. I love laughing with them. I love remembering with them. I appreciate how our relationships have shifted and changed as we have gotten older. While the relationships I have with each aunt, uncle, and cousin are different, there is something specific I appreciate about each other them.
Uncle Scott--his enjoyment of joking with others to and his sacrificial love
Uncle Brett--his sense of humor and his genuine care of others
Uncle Kent--his joy and his thoughtfulness towards others
Uncle Bruce--his laughter and his relational heart
Uncle Mark--his acts of service and his steadiness
Aunt Cathy--her purposeful investment in others and her creativity
Aunt Kelly--her silliness and her intentional relationships
Aunt Meg--her quick laugh and her honesty in interactions
Aunt Kim-- her gentleness and her love for others
Uncle Brent--his steadiness and his loving support of others
Uncle Marc--his good memory and his appreciation for laughter
Uncle Trevor--his interest in our families' pasts and his concern for others
Aunt Shauna--her dedication towards friends and family and her heart of service
Aunt Michelle--her discipline and patience towards others
Aunt Liz--her joyful heart and her ease in conversation
Jon--his drive to work hard and his dedication
Katie--her confidence and her commitment to others
Jess--her discipline and her contribution to the lives of others
Max--his humor and his heart for others
Kristin--her genuineness and her friendliness
Jordan--his leadership and his appreciation for goofy things
Hannah--her easy-going attitude and her happy disposition
Steven--his thoughtfulness and his desire to always be the best version of himself
Jackson--his compassionate heart and his silliness
Beth--her purposeful attitude and her care for others
T.J.--his hardworking attitude and his devotion
Nathan--his sense of humor and his certainty in who he is
Noah--his consistency and his willingness to help others
Natalie--her servant heart and her sweet nature
Nolan--his sensitive heart towards others and his playfulness
Maddie--her goal-driven attitude and her ability to let loose and be herself around others
Tanner--his ability converse and his good-natured attitude
Kinz--her fun-loving disposition and her dedication towards others
Rachel--her confidence and her quick laugh
Mia--her sense of humor and her concern for others
I love my family.
I love the little family Michael and I share together. While it is just the two of us for now, I love the foundation we are building through Christ that we will get to share with our children someday. I cannot think about it without getting excited.
Michael--his God-centered wisdom, his generosity, his sense of humor
I love the family that I come from.
My parents are wonderful. How great to have a mom and dad who love Jesus and have stressed his importance in our lives for as long as I can remember. My parents seeking to honor God with their lives has played a huge role in shaping not only myself but also my brother's and sisters. Each of us have our own faith, but our parents have been faithful witnesses to the truth. It is also awesome to have parents who love each other. Not everyone gets to witness a consistent and good marriage. Seeing my parents relationship with each other has played a role in the way I act towards Michael as his wife. Finally, I have been blessed with parents that love me and my siblings despite our imperfections. I could go on and on and on about how much I love and appreciate my parents.
Dad--his spiritual leadership in our family, his genuine heart for others, his honesty
Mom--her nurturing actions, her positive attitude and joyful heart, her encouragement
My brothers and sisters are four of my best friends. We share many things in common. We share a love for Jesus, we share a history, we share a similar sense of humor, we share some similar interests. I love spending time with them. I love sharing life with them. I love playing and laughing with them. I love singing with them. I love the freedom we have to be ourselves around each other. I love seeing their faith in their actions. I love talking about Jesus with them. I love that we can be honest with each other. I love how Shelby, Sam, Charley, and Jos each play an important and irreplaceable role in our family.
Shelb--her compassionate heart, her willingness to laugh, her honesty
Sam--his joyfulness, his silliness, his genuine love
Charley--her sense of humor, her genuine heart for others, her independence
Jos--his leadership among peers, his discipline, his good humor
I love how my family has welcomed Michael with open arms.
I love the family that I married into. I love that they love Jesus. I love that they have real relationships with one another. I appreciate that they can be honest with one another. I love how silly they can be. I love their laughter. I love their generous hearts. I love how Michael's parents love their boys, their daughters-in-law, and their grandchildren. I love having Jason and Claire as a brother-in-law and sister-in-law. I love spending time with them. I love have nephews and a niece who are cute and silly. I love being a part of this family.
Dennis--his discipline and his generosity
Denise--her silliness and her willingness to serve others
Jason--his patience and his dedication to go above and beyond to make a difference
Claire--her activeness and her intentionality in relationships
Jonas--his enjoyment of others and his interest in learning and growing
Freya--her feisty attitude and her obvious love for others
August--his attempts to keep up with his brother and sister and his quick smile and laugh
I love my extended family. I have loved growing up with grandparents and great -grandparents. I love the legacy they have left for the families. I love laughing, playing, and visiting with them. I treasure the relationships we share.
Grandma Mert--her positive attitude
Grandma Book--her happiness
Grandpa Book--his sense of humor
Grandpa Sodey--his kindness towards others
Grandma Sodey--her enjoyment of others and relationships
Grandpa Butch--his joyful heart, his purposefulness in relationships
Grandma Diane--her gentle and quiet spirit, her servant heart
Grandpa Denny--his sense of humor and his supportive attitude/actions
Grandma Karen--her laughter and her care for others
I love having aunts and uncles. I thankful for their involvement in my life. I appreciate the ways they have shaped my parents. I love having 16 cousins. I love the unique relationships that we are able to share with one another. I love laughing with them. I love remembering with them. I appreciate how our relationships have shifted and changed as we have gotten older. While the relationships I have with each aunt, uncle, and cousin are different, there is something specific I appreciate about each other them.
Uncle Scott--his enjoyment of joking with others to and his sacrificial love
Uncle Brett--his sense of humor and his genuine care of others
Uncle Kent--his joy and his thoughtfulness towards others
Uncle Bruce--his laughter and his relational heart
Uncle Mark--his acts of service and his steadiness
Aunt Cathy--her purposeful investment in others and her creativity
Aunt Kelly--her silliness and her intentional relationships
Aunt Meg--her quick laugh and her honesty in interactions
Aunt Kim-- her gentleness and her love for others
Uncle Brent--his steadiness and his loving support of others
Uncle Marc--his good memory and his appreciation for laughter
Uncle Trevor--his interest in our families' pasts and his concern for others
Aunt Shauna--her dedication towards friends and family and her heart of service
Aunt Michelle--her discipline and patience towards others
Aunt Liz--her joyful heart and her ease in conversation
Jon--his drive to work hard and his dedication
Katie--her confidence and her commitment to others
Jess--her discipline and her contribution to the lives of others
Max--his humor and his heart for others
Kristin--her genuineness and her friendliness
Jordan--his leadership and his appreciation for goofy things
Hannah--her easy-going attitude and her happy disposition
Steven--his thoughtfulness and his desire to always be the best version of himself
Jackson--his compassionate heart and his silliness
Beth--her purposeful attitude and her care for others
T.J.--his hardworking attitude and his devotion
Nathan--his sense of humor and his certainty in who he is
Noah--his consistency and his willingness to help others
Natalie--her servant heart and her sweet nature
Nolan--his sensitive heart towards others and his playfulness
Maddie--her goal-driven attitude and her ability to let loose and be herself around others
Tanner--his ability converse and his good-natured attitude
Kinz--her fun-loving disposition and her dedication towards others
Rachel--her confidence and her quick laugh
Mia--her sense of humor and her concern for others
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Thankful for Truth
November is upon us and I am already feeling the excitement of the coming season. In the next two months we will have Thanksgiving, Christmas and begin a new year. I love this time of year. It is a wonderful time to cozy up and reflect and through our reflecting learn and grow. As November is the month that holds Thanksgiving, many are beginning to share their 30 days of thankfulness and I wanted to jump on the bandwagon in a way. I know I will not have time to share an elaborate post on things I am thankful every day for the next month, but every few days I hope to share something I am very thankful for.
So let us begin...
I am thankful for Truth. Truth is the triune, holy God.
Truth is a rock and a fortress. It is immovable. It is unshakable. It is unstoppable. It does not depend on anyone or anything. It has been before time began and it will remain forever.
We are only able to understand Truth through union and communion with God, and this can only occur through the Gospel.
I love the Gospel. That a holy God would choose to pursue and save sinners through crushing his blameless son on a cross is absolutely incredible. Our sermon at church last week stated that, "the cross is the great exchange of the universe," and it most certainly is. The Gospel is only dependable and possible because it is based on God alone. I am saved by HIM ALONE. I have done NOTHING to deserve grace. I did not seek him, he sought me. I did not choose him. He chose me.
That kind of absolute theology where we have no control can be scary for us as individuals as we desire to have control over things...especially control over our own lives. It is hard for us to come to grasps with the fact that God is sovereign over all things--sun and rain, life and death, sheep and goats, the elect and the cursed. I have been there and I get it. I wrestled with that for over a year in college and I cannot say that I totally understand it now ...HOWEVER, there is so much that comes from the truth of the total sovereignty of God.
There is peace. There is hope. There is confidence. There is love. There is beauty. There is adoration. There is laughter. There is crying. There is worship. There is much more.
God is I AM. He is LORD. He does not depend on anyone else. His worth is found solely in himself. He cannot be defined apart from himself because He alone is holy. He is perfect in his holiness. He is perfect in his Love. He is perfect in his judgment. He is God.
I think so often we try to put God in a box. In fact, I have heard and read that phrase several times recently but in a different context. God does not need our stamp of approval for what we think should be right and wrong. Just because God hates sin (and He most certainly does) does not mean that He is not love. God is love, but He is not a fluffy love. He is not a love that says "Ok, I love you so you can do what you think is best and I will support you in that" NO! He is a love that says "I am holy and I hate your sin. In fact, I hate it so much that because I want you for myself, I will send my perfect son to earth to live perfectly among you. He will take on your flesh. He will walk like you, He will eat like you, He will laugh like you, He will cry like you, and He will die like you. BUT in his death will be undeserved because, unlike you, He will be perfect. For this reason the grave will not be able to hold him. He will not stay dead. He will rise and conquer death and create a way for you to be with me forever. You will become new through faith in him and repentance." Sin is a HUGE deal to God. It is such a big deal that Jesus not only had to leave his throne in Heaven, but He had to die. God doesn't take any sin lightly and neither should we. God is not wishy washy, He is absolute. All sin leads to death. There is no life in a lifestyle characterized by sin. All lives are characterized by sin without Jesus.
It makes me sad when I come into contact with people who do not see and know this truth. It happens every day.
It saddens me when people criticize people who stand by God's whole word as truth. When they call us hateful and accuse us of fearing things that are different. It saddens me not because I want the approval of others, but because I see they are missing the point. They don't get it.
Because God has graciously allowed me to see and hear truth, I am confident in who He is and who I am in him. My worth is not found in another's opinion of me. How sweet to trust in Jesus. I love the song "Cornerstone" by Hillsong. I cannot listen to it without worshiping. Hallelujah! The Lord reigns forever. He is over all! He will never fail.
Listen to "Cornerstone" here...
Oh that more would come to know the true and reigning king.
The bedrock of our lives is the mercy of God. Without Christ alone, no one would believe. It is only through his grace that eyes can see truth and ears can hear truth and that hearts can respond to it.
Ah, Sweet Jesus. Make your name known in my life. May others see less of me and more of you.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
When Darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless stand before the throne.
So let us begin...
I am thankful for Truth. Truth is the triune, holy God.
Truth is a rock and a fortress. It is immovable. It is unshakable. It is unstoppable. It does not depend on anyone or anything. It has been before time began and it will remain forever.
We are only able to understand Truth through union and communion with God, and this can only occur through the Gospel.
I love the Gospel. That a holy God would choose to pursue and save sinners through crushing his blameless son on a cross is absolutely incredible. Our sermon at church last week stated that, "the cross is the great exchange of the universe," and it most certainly is. The Gospel is only dependable and possible because it is based on God alone. I am saved by HIM ALONE. I have done NOTHING to deserve grace. I did not seek him, he sought me. I did not choose him. He chose me.
That kind of absolute theology where we have no control can be scary for us as individuals as we desire to have control over things...especially control over our own lives. It is hard for us to come to grasps with the fact that God is sovereign over all things--sun and rain, life and death, sheep and goats, the elect and the cursed. I have been there and I get it. I wrestled with that for over a year in college and I cannot say that I totally understand it now ...HOWEVER, there is so much that comes from the truth of the total sovereignty of God.
There is peace. There is hope. There is confidence. There is love. There is beauty. There is adoration. There is laughter. There is crying. There is worship. There is much more.
God is I AM. He is LORD. He does not depend on anyone else. His worth is found solely in himself. He cannot be defined apart from himself because He alone is holy. He is perfect in his holiness. He is perfect in his Love. He is perfect in his judgment. He is God.
I think so often we try to put God in a box. In fact, I have heard and read that phrase several times recently but in a different context. God does not need our stamp of approval for what we think should be right and wrong. Just because God hates sin (and He most certainly does) does not mean that He is not love. God is love, but He is not a fluffy love. He is not a love that says "Ok, I love you so you can do what you think is best and I will support you in that" NO! He is a love that says "I am holy and I hate your sin. In fact, I hate it so much that because I want you for myself, I will send my perfect son to earth to live perfectly among you. He will take on your flesh. He will walk like you, He will eat like you, He will laugh like you, He will cry like you, and He will die like you. BUT in his death will be undeserved because, unlike you, He will be perfect. For this reason the grave will not be able to hold him. He will not stay dead. He will rise and conquer death and create a way for you to be with me forever. You will become new through faith in him and repentance." Sin is a HUGE deal to God. It is such a big deal that Jesus not only had to leave his throne in Heaven, but He had to die. God doesn't take any sin lightly and neither should we. God is not wishy washy, He is absolute. All sin leads to death. There is no life in a lifestyle characterized by sin. All lives are characterized by sin without Jesus.
It makes me sad when I come into contact with people who do not see and know this truth. It happens every day.
It saddens me when people criticize people who stand by God's whole word as truth. When they call us hateful and accuse us of fearing things that are different. It saddens me not because I want the approval of others, but because I see they are missing the point. They don't get it.
Because God has graciously allowed me to see and hear truth, I am confident in who He is and who I am in him. My worth is not found in another's opinion of me. How sweet to trust in Jesus. I love the song "Cornerstone" by Hillsong. I cannot listen to it without worshiping. Hallelujah! The Lord reigns forever. He is over all! He will never fail.
Listen to "Cornerstone" here...
Oh that more would come to know the true and reigning king.
The bedrock of our lives is the mercy of God. Without Christ alone, no one would believe. It is only through his grace that eyes can see truth and ears can hear truth and that hearts can respond to it.
Ah, Sweet Jesus. Make your name known in my life. May others see less of me and more of you.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
When Darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless stand before the throne.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Looking Back
I have found myself feeling quite nostalgic lately. It all began when I looked at pictures of our old house that's for sale again. We lived there until I was going into fifth grade and I have so many happy memories of living there (playing outside in the big yard and sledding down the little hill, dress up and barbies in the bedrooms, daily activities around the unique house, etc.). Looking at the pictures made me miss it, even though it looks quite different from when we lived there.
Wednesday Jos started his junior year of high school, yesterday Shelb moved to college for her final semester, and today Charley is moving into college for her freshman year. I find it hard to believe how old we are all getting. Josiah is the only one of us kids living at home now. I miss the days when all of us lived at home. I always get sad when one of us leaves home because it is another small way growing up is changing our family. The change is good and exciting, but it still makes me miss when we were younger and we were all still home together. These thoughts tend to have a domino effect to reminding me of lots of other things I miss about being younger. Things like sitting on my grandpas' laps, family walks or bike rides, watching shows like Pooh Bear, baking with my grandmas, etc.
Now don't get me wrong; I am thrilled with where I am at in life. I love being married to Michael, and I am excited for what the future holds for us.
In my reminiscing, I have also found myself rejoicing and praising God for the many ways he has been faithful to me and my family throughout the years. The Old Testament is filled with passages recounting how God has provided for his people and remained faithful to them. He has been and will continue to be faithful to his people even when they are not faithful to him. He is perfect in his faithfulness. That means we, as his children, can always trust him and his plans for us, even when it doesn't make sense. I love resting in that truth. It is so humbling to know that God knows and loves me specifically, and it is truly amazing to recognize that he also knows and loves specifically everyone else in the world who has ever lived or will ever live. What an awesome God!
Wednesday Jos started his junior year of high school, yesterday Shelb moved to college for her final semester, and today Charley is moving into college for her freshman year. I find it hard to believe how old we are all getting. Josiah is the only one of us kids living at home now. I miss the days when all of us lived at home. I always get sad when one of us leaves home because it is another small way growing up is changing our family. The change is good and exciting, but it still makes me miss when we were younger and we were all still home together. These thoughts tend to have a domino effect to reminding me of lots of other things I miss about being younger. Things like sitting on my grandpas' laps, family walks or bike rides, watching shows like Pooh Bear, baking with my grandmas, etc.
Now don't get me wrong; I am thrilled with where I am at in life. I love being married to Michael, and I am excited for what the future holds for us.
In my reminiscing, I have also found myself rejoicing and praising God for the many ways he has been faithful to me and my family throughout the years. The Old Testament is filled with passages recounting how God has provided for his people and remained faithful to them. He has been and will continue to be faithful to his people even when they are not faithful to him. He is perfect in his faithfulness. That means we, as his children, can always trust him and his plans for us, even when it doesn't make sense. I love resting in that truth. It is so humbling to know that God knows and loves me specifically, and it is truly amazing to recognize that he also knows and loves specifically everyone else in the world who has ever lived or will ever live. What an awesome God!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Summer Happenings
Wow, it's been a long time...I have been meaning to write for quite a while, but that obviously hasn't happened. A lot has happened in the last four months. Here are some of the high lights:
- I finished my last long-term subbing position of the year. It was a challenging position, but I learned a lot and really enjoyed my time with those first graders.
- Michael and I went to Italy with Matt and Amy. We visited Cinque Terre, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and Lake Como. It was such a blessing to get to spend some time with them and to see more of God's beautiful creation. We loved our time there!
- I got a job teaching kindergarten in the fall!
- We spent some time in Orange City with Michael's family. It was fun to see everyone and celebrate Jason's 30th birthday. We relaxed, played badminton, went swimming, etc.
- We have had several friends get married including Carter and Lindsey. Their wedding was definitely a high light for our summer. Carter is one of Michael's best friends and one of my favorite guys so we are thrilled that he found such a quality girl to marry and share life with. They had a beautiful, God honoring ceremony and it was absolutely wonderful to get to celebrate with them.
- I went to Colorado with my family (poor Michael had to stay home and work because he was out of vacation days). It was fun to spend time with my family and the friends we stayed with. We went to the town of Boulder, toured the Broncos Stadium, visited the zoo (the tigers, gorillas, and orangutans were the best), got up early to try to climb a mountain (and were rained out), and many other things. It was a blast!
Some truths I have found encouraging this summer:
- God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is faithful. The same God who was the God of Abraham is the same God today and He cares for individuals and loves them specifically.
- I am a trophy of grace. God used his conquering power not to crush me in my sin, but to transform me into his likeness.
Friday, April 19, 2013
A granddaughter's thoughts
Before I begin, let me just say that while this is relatively long, I could write more and still not to justice to my thoughts and feelings regarding this subject.
Last time I wrote I was preparing myself to say "goodbye for now" to someone who has been very influential in my life and who has always been very dear to me. My sweet Grandma Diane passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. Leading up to her death there were a few things I knew would be true when her life on earth ended: that she would no longer have any pain, that she would be reunited with Jesus, and that despite those wonderful things I would miss her terribly until we met again.
It has been 5 days since she has been set free from her earthly body and I rejoice greatly that she is now with Jesus and no longer has any tears or pain, but my heart aches from missing her already. It is hard to say goodbye to someone you love. My Grandpa Butch died five years ago and I still sometimes find it hard to believe that he is gone. This pain has doubled now that Grandma is gone. I imagine in some capacity I will miss both of them for the rest of my life.
In adjusting to life without Grandma, I am clinging to the hope we have in Jesus as his beloved children. I don't know how people go through times like these without him. I know his timing is best and that He loved my grandma more than anyone else in this world (even more than Grandpa Butch did, and he loved her A LOT)! How sweet to be able to trust in Jesus...
In addition I am also remembering how blessed I was to have her as a grandma and all the wonderful memories I have of her.
When I think of Grandma Diane, I think of...
Finally, my favorite song that reminds me of Grandma Diane and Grandpa Butch: "Remember When"
Last time I wrote I was preparing myself to say "goodbye for now" to someone who has been very influential in my life and who has always been very dear to me. My sweet Grandma Diane passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. Leading up to her death there were a few things I knew would be true when her life on earth ended: that she would no longer have any pain, that she would be reunited with Jesus, and that despite those wonderful things I would miss her terribly until we met again.
It has been 5 days since she has been set free from her earthly body and I rejoice greatly that she is now with Jesus and no longer has any tears or pain, but my heart aches from missing her already. It is hard to say goodbye to someone you love. My Grandpa Butch died five years ago and I still sometimes find it hard to believe that he is gone. This pain has doubled now that Grandma is gone. I imagine in some capacity I will miss both of them for the rest of my life.
In adjusting to life without Grandma, I am clinging to the hope we have in Jesus as his beloved children. I don't know how people go through times like these without him. I know his timing is best and that He loved my grandma more than anyone else in this world (even more than Grandpa Butch did, and he loved her A LOT)! How sweet to be able to trust in Jesus...
In addition I am also remembering how blessed I was to have her as a grandma and all the wonderful memories I have of her.
When I think of Grandma Diane, I think of...
- A woman who was selfless and kind
- A woman who didn't fuss or complain regardless of what life threw at her
- A woman who loved her family dearly
- A woman who was creative and made beautiful crafts
- A woman who was an excellent cook
- A woman with the most wonderful laugh and beautiful smile
- A woman who was always so easy to talk to
- A woman who was welcoming and hospitable--I will so miss being able to just walk into her house for a visit whenever
Some of my favorite memories with Grandma Diane...
- Watching her play bells growing up and then getting to play with her last spring. I loved the extra time this let me spend with her and the looks and smiles we would exchange from our different spots around the table.
- Making wedding boutonnières with her. She was so good at it, but still so humble. I loved getting to share in my wedding planning with her.
- Sunday afternoon visits. I loved going over to their house for no reason other than to just spend time with them.
- Making Kringle and other goodies. I especially remember helping get different desserts ready with her before Christmas several different times. She was always so patient and helpful.
- Family vacations when she came to a Minnesota lake house and to North Carolina with us. What a sweet time to share with her. I also loved the whole Clayberg family vacations we went on growing up.
- Listening to she and Grandpa talk...they shared such a beautiful love. I am so thankful she doesn't have to miss him anymore.
- Playing games like Boggle. My grandma was clever and quick and it was fun to see her in action--even if it meantime losing :)
- Seeing her at different events my siblings, cousins, and I have been in. One of my favorites was when she came up to my bell choir concert at Bethel. It was so kind of her to come especially since I had always admired her playing in church.
- Watching her with her children and grandchildren especially Sam. They had their own special relationship and it is easily seen in the way Sam adores looking at her picture and pointing her out to anyone sitting next to him. My favorite memory of the two of them is her always asking Sam for "two armed hugs". My aunts and uncles and cousins are proof of what a great grandmother and mother she was.
Things I most admire about Grandma Diane...
- Her selfless love
- Her strength
- Her positive attitude
Sometimes I struggle with feeling silly for missing my grandma so much because she was "only a grandma", but she wasn't "only a grandma" to me. She is big part of why I am the person I am today. She has been a positive example of what it looks like to be a godly woman. She has been one of my greatest supporters and encouragers. She has been one of my favorite people to see and visit with. She made me feel special and loved even though I was one of sixteenth grandchildren. She raised my mom and my aunts and uncles to be the people they are today which has contributed to how tightly knit the family is. She was a beautiful woman in so many ways and I could go on and on.
Final thoughts...while it is so very hard to know she is gone, I know she is with Jesus and those of us left behind will be ok.
What a blessing her life was to me and will continue to be as I continue on following her example of Christlike living. I hope to be a great wife like she was and someday be a great mother and grandmother as well.
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| Charley and I with Grandma at Easter. So thankful for this lovely picture! |
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| Loved getting this hug on our wedding day...I will miss this hug so much. |
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| Yellow rose in honor of Grandma...what a beautiful favorite flower. |
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Thinking on goodbyes
I have been thinking a lot about goodbyes lately. As humans, we say goodbye to people all the time. Last week I told my kindergartners goodbye without much chance of seeing them again. On Monday I said goodbye to a college friend with plans to see her again in a few weeks. I said goodbye to my sister Shelby who is in London, we probably won't get the chance to skype again until she is back home. I said goodbye to Michael yesterday before coming down to Iowa for the rest of the week. Goodbyes are interesting...some are before long times apart, some for short, and some are for forever. Sometimes you don't think about your goodbyes at all, while other times you spend a lot of time preparing for it. Goodbyes can be forgetful or memorable. Usually the memorable ones are the ones that are more emotional...two of my most memorable goodbyes were with people I loved.
The first was with Michael during the summer of 2011. We were engaged, but were not spending our summer together. He had come to visit me and camp and when he was leaving I was so sad to see him go. I knew I was going to miss him a lot in the next few weeks and it brought a lot of tears. That was a goodbye where I was planning to see him again in 2 or 3 weeks.
The other really memorable goodbye that is on my mind right now was my last goodbye to Grandpa Butch. It was one we had been preparing for, but I hadn't planned out what I wanted to say. In truth I don't remember much about what I said, but I remember him and what I felt and how hard it was to walk away.
Goodbyes can be painless or painful. Often when we are in pain we turn to God and ask why it has to be this way. We can get bitter or hardhearted, but that really isn't looking at Christ in the right light. When we feel we are suffering and turn to Jesus, we should remember the pain he suffered for us so that we never have to say goodbye to him. What love...to suffer so much in order to conquer death and safe sinners for himself. Easter was over a week ago, but the truth remains that we have nothing if we don't have Jesus. He didn't simply save sinners for life in Heaven, but for real life now. My heart swells with love and thankfulness when I consider the grace and love He has shown to me. Life can be hard with goodbyes and loneliness, but as a saint saved by God's sweet grace I never have to be alone.
The first was with Michael during the summer of 2011. We were engaged, but were not spending our summer together. He had come to visit me and camp and when he was leaving I was so sad to see him go. I knew I was going to miss him a lot in the next few weeks and it brought a lot of tears. That was a goodbye where I was planning to see him again in 2 or 3 weeks.
The other really memorable goodbye that is on my mind right now was my last goodbye to Grandpa Butch. It was one we had been preparing for, but I hadn't planned out what I wanted to say. In truth I don't remember much about what I said, but I remember him and what I felt and how hard it was to walk away.
Goodbyes can be painless or painful. Often when we are in pain we turn to God and ask why it has to be this way. We can get bitter or hardhearted, but that really isn't looking at Christ in the right light. When we feel we are suffering and turn to Jesus, we should remember the pain he suffered for us so that we never have to say goodbye to him. What love...to suffer so much in order to conquer death and safe sinners for himself. Easter was over a week ago, but the truth remains that we have nothing if we don't have Jesus. He didn't simply save sinners for life in Heaven, but for real life now. My heart swells with love and thankfulness when I consider the grace and love He has shown to me. Life can be hard with goodbyes and loneliness, but as a saint saved by God's sweet grace I never have to be alone.
Jesus, what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus, Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Jesus, what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.
Jesus, what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Life Lately
I can hardly believe we are halfway through February! I also find it hard to believe that Michael and I have been married for 8 months now...crazy :) We have really been enjoying 2013 so far...here is some of what we have been up to:
- We have started exercising and changing our eating habits which we both love and hate at the same time. It is such a blessing to be able to do this together though and not alone!
- We became members at our church (Bethlehem Baptist) in January. We love our church a lot and our so very excited about officially becoming members.
- We enjoyed a weekend with Michael's friend Nathan and his wife Danielle. They were up here the weekend of the Superbowl and we loved getting to hangout with another couple. We played games, went out to eat, watched the game, etc. We are very thankful for these two and always have fun when we get to see them. :)
- The weekend after that Michael's parents were up here for a visit. We hadn't seen them since Christmas so it was nice to get to spend time with them again. Our nephew also turned one that Sunday so we had a little birthday party for him. We love getting to spend time with either of our families and it was a well blessed weekend.
- Unfortunately that weekend was followed by this last week of being sick and feeling gross. I hardly ever get sick...or at least that used to be the case...but have now had the flu twice in our marriage. That was followed by having icky head colds and just feeling lousy so we spent this last week resting and trying to feel better. A week off of exercise was really nice, but it is not going to feel so nice when we start back up again after Michael gets home from work today :(
- I have had the blessing of having a long term substitute position in a kindergarten room. I work Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Friday. This has been a really good experience and I have learned a lot. I will have this job until the beginning of April and it's going to be sad to leave those kiddos when the time comes. Seeking to do my best every day between now and then and praying for grace to show them grace and love each day.
- I have been loving these two songs lately. "The Power of the Cross" and "Speak Oh Lord" . The first is the Gospel. I love when artists use their gifts to share the beauty of truth in a song. Listen and be encouraged! The second song is my prayer for my life right now. I desire for God to speak to me and through me. Pastor Jason talked yesterday at church about how we are stewards of grace. He challenged us to consider if grace was staying stagnate like a lake in our own lives or if we are allowing it to flow like a river into the lives of others through using our gifts to serve them. I want my life to be a river of grace flowing to others, blessing them, and always pointing to Christ.
- Similar to the previous bullet, I have been overwhelmed lately by the love of my God and the countless ways he has blessed me through other people. The ways he has used other people to shape me into the person I am today. I am so thankful for so many people...people I know well and people I hardly know but interacted with for a time. I am thankful for family and friends, old classmates and people I grew up with, people I went to college with, family friends, teachers, pastors and others who poured into my life, people I worked with at camp, etc. So if you are reading this, you should know that I am thankful for you. Whether you have had a big or small interaction with me and my life, you really have blessed me and played a role in teaching me something so thank you.
In closing, here are two pictures from our Valentine's Day last week...love this man and so thankful to have him to walk through life with!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Goals for 2013
It's hard to believe that it's already January 21, but it is still a new year and with a new year comes a new time to set goals. I like to post my goals on here because then at the end of the year I know where to look for them. I have decided to set 5 goals this year and wanted to make sure I had a purpose in setting them.
1. Read through the Bible in a year again.
Means: I will be using the Discipleship Journal reading plan
Purpose: As a believer this is an important part of my relationship with God. I want to become more like him every day and treasure him more every day.
2. Memorize scripture.
Means: I will begin by memorizing James and then will begin memorizing the fighter verses with our church.
Purpose: Same as the above, but along with this I want to be meditating on God's word throughout the day, not just reading it.
3. Pursue a healthier lifestyle.
Means: Exercising with Michael doing Insantiy MWF and Saturday and doing Jillian yoga on T and Th. We are working on switching our eating habits as well to more consistently have healthier meals.
Purpose: We both put on some weight as we got lazy after the wedding and we want to take care of and honor God with our bodies.
4. Learn to crochet.
Means: Practice using online tutorials. First project goal: a scarf.
Purpose: Both of my grandmothers are good with skills like sewing, knitting, quilting, and crocheting. I have always admired their skills and wanted to be able to follow them in this area. So you could say one reason I am doing this is to honor my grandmas. Another reason I want to do this is because once I have the skills down I want to be able to bless others through it.
5. Continue reading quality books...shoot for 12 this year.
Means: I am starting by working through Les Miserables. It is a big one and I want to finish it before I watch the movie.
Purpose: I want to stretch my mind and I missed reading for pleasure when I was in college.
So there you have it...my goals for 2013 :)
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