Sunday, December 27, 2009

Aaand...we're done!

I believe we have successfully navigated yet another holiday season. We did a couple things this year that made it easier on us, so we'll probably continue them in subsequent years:

1. Online shopping. It is mucho wonderful. We bought only one last minute gift; the rest were purchased and arrived a week (or more) before the 25th.

2. We spent Christmas morning at home. We woke up without alarms (which, for us, is still pretty early as neither of us naturally sleep late), then exchanged gifts and cooked a big breakfast. The only noise in the house was the Christmas music playing lowly on the radio. I guess from now on we'll have the noise of Baby Bean as she putters around, but of course we are super excited about those noises. :) It was a wonderfully peaceful morning in the midst of family time and the plague floods of Christmas Eve.

The Hunk's family came up from Lower Arkansas yesterday, to have our Christmas together and celebrate his sister's birthday. We loved having them in our home and hope to do that more in the future. We also spent a fair amount of time with some very special friends. As we said our final goodbyes last night, and closed the door...I realized that we had made it! One huge sigh of relief. It was not a chore to see all of those people - quite a joy actually - but an accomplishment nonetheless that we attended all the events of the last week or so with minimal stress and maximum enjoyment.

Now...what about New Year's Eve...? ;)

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Levity

So many blessings for which to be grateful during this Christmas season, and I have named some of them here. But this week I can't entirely shake a somber mood that descended upon me several days ago. Because we have received some blessings this year, and we've also received some sorrows.

Rachel's Tough Lesson for 2009: People can disappoint you, even if you really love them. Sometimes they can hold in their hands a wonderful gift, and study it, and then throw it on the ground and walk away. And sometimes they are so weighed down by what they bring to the relationship, that they cannot deal with the relationship.

So I'm listening a lot to Brandi, and Emmylou, and Lucinda...and reminding myself that the things I put my hope in will never change. Thank God for that, because even my own heart seems to change with the passing of the seasons or even the rising and setting of the sun. I am vascillating these days between two philosophical extremes: total exposure, and hibernation. This-is-me-and-you-should-just-deal-with-it, or screw-the-world-and-leave-me-alone. But instead of acting on these ideas that could wreak havoc on my personal life, I am trying just to focus on loving God first and letting the rest fall into place. Sweet solace.


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

10 Weeks...

Until my due date.

How will our life change? Let me count the ways. Except I can't, because every time I try, I just get overwhelmed.

It has been my dream to have a baby for so long.

It feels like I'm dreaming right now, in a way, and that I will only wake when she finally arrives here, and into these arms.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

An Open Letter to a Friend

The last time I saw you, you were already different. You were already getting colder, and I saw your disdain for my words slip past that thin, collected surface a couple times. I was startled by this. I knew it was possible you would choose this path, but I didn't expect it so suddenly. So, why? What's the allure for you?

Our meetings used to be filled with chatter and laughter and heart-opening. Warmth. But this one felt more like a chess match, dry and strategic. And while I was not anxious, I was unsure of my next move, and of why I was being forced to strategize instead of just talk. I should have overturned the table. I should have told you that you were full of shit.

You asked me if I thought someone had to be selfish in order to be successful. I asked you if you were willing to give it up if it started to destroy your life. Neither of us gave a straight answer: you, because you really wanted to say "no" but didn't want to say it to my face; and me, because I was still hoping against hope that it wasn't as bad as it already was. So does someone have to be selfish to be successful? Of course not. Is it easier to win kitschy trophies and stand on little platforms waving at crowds of dying people, than to labor unnoticed for a yet unseen eternal reward? Absolutely.

So, why? What's the allure for you?

I have some ideas of what you would say, if you could look me in the eye instead of studying the ground in front of you. If you would answer when I call. If you would show up. I have some ideas because I gave up what mattered for what felt good once. I was hurting, like you are. I was weak, like you are. I was like a diabetic eating cake for every meal. I was born sick, but I was making myself sicker.

You left suddenly that day, after a brief smirk at something I had said. I saw it for what it was - the flailing of a child who was taught to perform for love, and is terrified by anything else - and it didn't hurt me. I asked you when I'd see you again, and the look on your face finally confirmed what I had been denying. We would never talk openly again. I don't remember your words. They didn't matter. I sat down and cried when you walked away.

You can still come back, my friend. My heart would be filled with laughter and my eyes with tears of joy. Do you want me to say that I'm giving up on you? Do you want me to believe it's hopeless? Would that be easier for you? Well, I will not. Peace and healing await you here.

In the movie "Catch Me If You Can," the main character is writing home to his father after initiating a life of crime in a desperate attempt to reunite his estranged family and regain some sense of home. "Dad, you always said that an honest man has nothing to fear. So I'm trying really hard not to be afraid."

Quit trying not to be afraid. Try being honest.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Bigger By the Day

I can't believe it, but my due date is less than three months away! Until now, and outside of first trimester yuckiness, I have barely "felt" pregnant in the physical sense. Had TONS of emotional symptoms which isn't really surprising given my natural tendencies, but only recently is this little belly growing at alien baby pace into a pretty formidable consideration.

Yesterday I strategized a way to pick several things up off the floor by only bending down once.

I also felt the wind on the underside of my belly while I was walking outside. I was wearing a normal t-shirt, but a size larger than I would ever wear when not pregnant. And it still didn't cover. Oh, my.

I have announced it on FB, but not here, that we are having a baby girl bean. Her nursery is coming together rather nicely, complete with my bedroom suit from childhood. And it seems my anticipation of meeting her and holding her grows with my belly. Simply, words do not suffice.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

I Will

by Brandi Carlile

It's not the end of the world, it's not even over
But it will be soon
I never learned my lesson, I just changed my tune
And no one seems to notice
But you will, you will

It's no big deal
But the last thing I think of when I close my eyes
And the first thing on my mind when I arise
It is a day and you're not really in my life

You can try and you won't find it where you're looking
You can hold it 'til it's putty in your hands
And you can't break a heart that wasn't even yours to break
You can never be there for me in the end
And i will do the right thing
I will, I will, I will

You're not fooling me
I'm not the sort of girl that can't see reason
But it's nothing that a little bit of time won't heal
I know it don't come easy but I love you, I do

Coming clean means never closing curtains
I just changed my scene
Oh but you know what I mean and I will learn throughout my life
To never believe what will have been

I can try and I won't find it where I'm looking
I can hold it 'til it's putty in my hands
You can't break a heart that wasn't even yours to break
You can never be there for me in the end
But I will do the right thing
I will, I will, I will

I don't think you ever learned a thing from me
But I'm sure that you want me to learn from you
And you've drawn heavy-handed lines around morality
About yourself and I don't share your point of view

It's about time to let you go and I thought it's time to let you know
And it has to be the one that you'd regret
I have to say that I'm proud to know you
And I'll never be the same because we met
You might not miss this
I will, I will, I will

Monday, October 12, 2009

Satisfaction

I judged jr high all-region tryouts on Saturday. When I was a choir director, judging tryouts was one of the necessary drudgeries of the job, and honestly, one of the things I was looking forward to NOT doing again. (The directors reading this may disagree. You may love sitting for ten hours and listening to 200 different students sing the same 2 minutes of music over and over, and over. But not me.) So, why did I do it?

Well, I've been missing my kids. And I knew I would get to see some of them. And it was wonderful! I loved even the few minutes I got with them before I had to run to a meeting, seeing how they are growing into the adults they will be one day. That was one of my favorite parts of teaching -- witnessing the process of growth.

Also, I love their new director. When I decided in Sep of '08 that 08-09 would be my last year of teaching, I started praying then for the new director. We had made some major progress in the three years I had been there, foundational stuff, and I wanted the kids to have a director of some experience and achievement to help them further tap into their potential. Well, they didn't get a director with just some experience -- they got a director with loads of experience and achievement! And to top it off, she really loves them.

That was such an encouragement for me, personally, to know the work would continue. And again, because of her immense expertise, Mrs. Dunavan will grow that program at a much quicker rate and to a deeper level than I could have if I had stayed. She's just awesome.

The first major indicator of this is that TEN of her jr high kids made the all-region choir! I am so happy for those kiddos, each of them! And I will see you guys at the all-region concert!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Baby Bean

...is kicking. Most of the time it feels like a few little popcorn pops...and every once in awhile, I'll get a pretty firm, "Hey! I'm down here!" It's so sweet. I can't wait until the Hunk can put his hand on my belly and experience this with me.

We will have an ultrasound tomorrow to find out the gender of Baby Bean! We have absolutely no idea, and ironically, the peanut gallery is split about 50/50 with their opinions. Not that it matters what any of us thinks, you know. :) It's kinda already decided; however, I do enjoy hearing what makes people decide something like this. Most say, "I just have a feeling..." as their eyes trail off into the distance mysteriously.

So. I guess about 50% of my friends and family will be rewarded this weekend with the knowledge that their feelings were correct. And the Hunk and I will be 100% elated, no matter what. He said that I'll probably cry. I said, yes, either that or laugh from pure joy.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

In Honor of Fall

White Bean Chicken Chili

(There are a thousand versions of this dish out there, and I've probably made about a dozen of them. I am happy to present here, however, the version that I have enjoyed most of all. I got the basic recipe from allrecipes.com, then snazzed it up with a few more ingredients and spices.)

1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp cooking oil
1 lb diced chicken (cooked or uncooked)
2 cans chicken broth
1 can northern beans, not drained
1 can garbanzo beans (aka chick peas), drained
1 can corn, drained
1 7oz can green chiles, not drained
1 tsp whole cumin, toasted for a few minutes then ground (or 1 tsp ground if that's all you have)
1/2 tsp coriander (same here, whole/toasted/ground is better, but ground is fine)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
sour cream and shredded jack cheese for garnish

1. In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil. If chicken is uncooked, saute that as well. Cook until onions are translucent and chicken is opaque.

2. Dump in the broth, chicken (if using already cooked chicken), beans, corn, green chiles, spices, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling.

3. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream and shredded cheese. Also those Jiffy brand corn muffins are like 89 cents at the grocery store - PERFECT as a compliment, and you can make them up while the chili is simmering.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Procrastination

I guess my trend for blogging has been a sparse, if regular, creation of new entries. I do read your blogs almost daily, however, and get much enjoyment from them.

I started grad school, and that has required much of me in terms of motivation for writing. Others who have attended grad school would maybe agree with me that it is not necessarily more difficult than undergrad in terms of the intelligence required to succeed...but in terms of the sheer volume of work, it's just off the charts. I have read and written more in the last five weeks than perhaps in 6-9 hours of undergrad work.

That said, I am enjoying myself immensely! I feel like I've already learned so much, and can't wait to get started with the fall semester. But first I need to knock out what promises to be a pretty lengthy literature review paper on Borderline Personality Disorder. Like, this weekend. Because it's due Tuesday. And I haven't even started gathering sources. Oh, my.

And it seems that, just like during my undergrad work, I still believe that there is no motivator like procrastination.

Total change of subject...

Can I just say that I REALLY dislike politics? Or maybe I just dislike the talking heads that endlessly parse and spin every political event, even the most insignificant ones, ad nauseum. Can somebody PA-LEEEAASSEE just tell us what happened, without this compulsive need to tell us what they think about it or what this-or-that expert thinks about it or - worse yet - what I apparently think about it.

It goes like this..."Today, this amazing thing happened in so-and-so with whodilywho and what's-his-face..." And then they'll report verifiable facts (what used to be called news reporting) for 45-60 seconds...and then they'll go to their panel of experts. "Dr. Ambiguously-Qualified, what do you think this means for the American people?" or some other opinion-inducing question will begin a 4-5 minute discussion that is best described as a mini-episode of "The Real World: Washington D.C." And as I see it, this is just the beginning of a chain reaction...

The Right complains about how the Left distorts the facts.

The Left complains about how the Right distorts the facts.

(They BOTH distort the facts, by the way.)

And then we have otherwise civilized people yelling elected officials off of stages in high school gymnasiums...

And the non-yellers complain about the yellers...

Until, as I heard a Republican strategist say on NPR the other day, "This is no worse than the abuse President Bush took at his town hall meetings a few years ago."

That's awesome. The they-started-it defense.

When it comes to politics, I question EVERYTHING. I am uber-skeptical of every single sentence that anyone says about politics. And the more confident someone seems in their own position, the more skeptical I become. "How can you be so sure," I think, "when we possess a cultural disinterest in what actually is?" Maybe that's why I can't really land anywhere philosophically speaking. But can you blame a girl, after she has witnessed this massive comedy of errors for so long?

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Coming Soon...

...to a multi-ethnic church near you! If you live in Little Rock, that is.


Monday, June 8, 2009

Redirect

The Hunk and I have bought a house. We will be moving into this house at the end of the month, and our roommates have rented/bought dwellings of their own. Thus ends the (current) community living experiment. I am going to maintain this blog, however, because: 1) I expect and hope to remain intimately involved in our current roommates lives, and 2) I am still very, very interested in growing into greater community with the other believers the Father has put in our life.

I am also in transition professionally speaking. Last Tuesday was my last day as a public school teacher, and I will begin work on a master's degree in marriage and family therapy next month. It was bittersweet leaving that campus for the last time, the campus where I spent three years developing a foundation for a solid choir program...where I often sat staring at the walls at 4pm completely overwhelmed by the emotional and social issues of my students and the hefty workload of teaching...where I more than once threw up my hands at the futility of my fledgling classroom management skills...where I saw some kids fall in love with music, and in the process believe in themselves a little more...where I saw others battle their demons, and sometimes lose...but then sometimes they won. I lived for the winning moments. And, oh yeah, we made good music with increasing frequency.

But now, if the Lord wills, I will very shortly be connecting with other kids like these about those emotional and social issues...and not about the issues through the vehicle of Latin pronunciation or lyrical interpretation or music theory. Because while I love teaching and I absolutely love my subject, I have discovered that I love people more. So why not cut out the middle man, so to speak?...And even now my demons of inadequacy and rejection peek around the corner at me. It is obvious they are scheming. They would perhaps even manipulate the mouths of other people to speak lies and condemnation. Salt water from a fresh spring. They are persistent, I'll give 'em that. But they are also foolish, because they're fighting a losing battle.

There's this old hymn we used to sing growing up, I think probably from the Heavenly Highways hymnal, at that country church in El Paso. It's taken directly from:

2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV): "I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

2 Tim. 1:12 (ISV): "I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I'm convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes."

And here's the hymn text of I Know Whom I Have Believed, by Daniel W. Whittle:
1. I know not why God's wondrous grace
to me he hath made known,
nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
redeemed me for his own.

Refrain:
But I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day.

2. I know not how this saving faith
to me he did impart,
nor how believing in his word
wrought peace within my heart.

3. I know not how the Spirit moves,
convincing us of sin,
revealing Jesus through the word,
creating faith in him.

4. I know not when my Lord may come,
at night or noonday fair,
nor if I'll walk the vale with him,
or meet him in the air.

But I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day.


Sunday, May 17, 2009

Emergent/C - An Invitation from Karen Sloan


Hey friends! I received this in an email from a friend who knows of my interest in intentional community. I thought I would post it here for those who are also interested. Grace and peace...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Formation House:
a place for folks considering intentional community

By Karen Sloan

In conversations about the church emerging some participants have an inescapable tug to life in community, for purposes of announcing the Kingdom of God is near. But there is often a gaping hole between folks' visions and sustainable lived reality. I was one of these people. Then, six months ago, a few week stay in Pittsburgh led into a structured commitment of intentional community training, which I am excited to invite others to join me in.

As the author of Flirting with Monasticism: Finding God on Ancient Paths, I have met countless people seeking ways to embody missional faith in intentional communities. And my ears have perked up when Emergent leaders validate this part of emerging Christianity (see quotes below). Yet, after a multi-year search of knocking on community doors, I failed in finding long-term new monastic training.

What I gained was a number of formative pieces, which equip me for living out a blend of prayer and work with a community. Now in God's unexpected ways I find myself organizing a foundational year, for others to become leaders with intentional Christian communities, sharing rhythms of prayer and work: Formation House.

A hope of the diverse team working to get this dream launched in the next six months is to serve monastic stirrings within friends of Emergent Village. If you are this flavor of emergence, it would be a joy to have you check out the information on our website and consider applying to enter an annual cycle (and perhaps join our facebook page?). A key distinctive for participants in Formation House is not only sharing daily rhythms of prayer and work, but also receiving substantial support through a growth process of becoming a well-formed intentional community member.

Apply now for this year's cycle beginning at the end of August!

Pray. Work. Grow.

Phyllis Tickle: "I don't think anybody knows exactly where the Great Emergence is going, much less where the Christianity, emerging/emergent, coming out of it is going to go exactly, but there are some contours that are clearly visible right now and can be described. ... It is definitely communal, even to point that about a quarter of it is probably engaged in a form of monasticism."

Brian McLaren: "What's needed is a profound reorganization of our way of life, not a squeeze- another-hour-for-'community' into the week. ... I expect that this thirst for community will lead to a lot of experimentation in the years ahead. Perhaps many of our churches will become more like Catholic churches in the past, where the ideal parish had a few households where monks or nuns lived in community, practicing radical hospitality that would overflow to the community at large."

This week's TheOoze.TV segment is an interview with Karen all about flirting with monasticism, living in intentional communities, and Formation House.

Karen Sloan is a PC(USA) minister and an Emergent leader. She often hosts conversations about monastic life and leads groups in ancient practices like the Liturgy of the Hours.

Upcoming Events: 2009 Emergent Village Theological Conversation with Jürgen Moltmann

email: newsletter@emergentvillage.com
web: http://www.emergentvillage.com

Emergent Village | P.O. Box 390104 | Minneapolis | MN | 55439-0104

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Long Way Home

Well I stumbled in the darkness
I'm lost and alone
Though I said I'd go before us
And show the way back home
Is there a light up ahead
I can't hold onto very long
Forgive me pretty baby but I always take the long way home

Money's just something you throw
Off the back of a train
Got a handful of lightning
A hat full of rain
And I know that I said I'd never do it again
And I love you pretty baby but I always take the long way home

I put food on the table
And roof overhead
But I'd trade it all tomorrow
For The highway instead
Watch your back if I should tell you love's the only thing I've ever known
One thing for sure pretty baby I always take the long way home

You know I love you baby
More than the whole wide world
I'm your woman
You know you are my pearl
Let's go out past the party lights
We can finally be alone
Come with me and we can take the long way home
Come with me, together we can take the long way home
Come with me, together we can take the long way home

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Knowing

I'm in a Lucinda Williams mood lately, and truth be told, often. I just love her voice and her songwriting ability. And I can think when I listen to her.


Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Accepting

By Me, April 18, 2009

You are the answer to my loneliness
But you elude my touch, my eyes, my ears
I can't hold you
I can't look at you
I can't listen to you

But you can hold me (up)
You can see (all of) me
You hear my (unformed) thoughts

I rest in the utter fullness of
The knowing of me and
The accepting

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

John Mark McMillan

I have found another great listen that I want to share with you all. Last Sunday at church, we sang "How He Loves" by John Mark McMillan -- an amazing song which prompted me to research Mr. McMillan on the interweb. I have since downloaded his album, The Song Inside the Sounds of Breaking Down, and will most definitely download The Medicine in a few weeks.

Here is a short video of "How He Loves":



And here is another, slightly longer, video which explains the circumstances surrounding the writing of "How He Loves". Have some tissues handy, because it's pretty heavy.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Time flies...


...when you're having fun.



Wednesday, March 18th, will mark the three year anniversary to my marriage to Mr. Jeffrey Carl Pinto. We've been through a lot over the past three years, some good and some bad, and all of it a grand adventure. We have definitely learned a lot. Maybe Jeff will tell you someday what he has learned, but I won't speak for him. I'll share a few things I have learned.

1. God's plan for my marriage is not to make me happy; it's to make me holy. This was God's plan for my life in singleness, too, by the way. I am still tempted to look to Jeff (or coerce him, on my really bad days) to be the source of my satisfaction or peace. Long story short, it doesn't work. He feels stepped on and manipulated, and I feel greater frustration as a result of the coercion process. When I remember to let Jeff be himself, and let me be myself, and let God be God...things go easier for me. And then guess what happens? I'm happier! Funny how that works, huh? For a more detailed conversation on this topic, please see The DNA of Relationships by Gary Smalley.

2. I decide how I view my differences with my partner. My pastor's wife shared this bit of wisdom with us during pre-engagement counseling (back in the day, I was a little freaked by the idea of marriage, and pre-engagement counseling was one extra step we took). This is basically it: character traits are neutral; they are neither good nor evil. We sometimes unconsciously attribute moral judgments to them, but they are just simply that - our judgements. The biggest difference Jeff and I have is how we make decisions. He prefers to take his time, think/talk through every option, and sometimes even make the decision in such a way that it can be reversed if he wants to explore another option. I prefer to quickly survey available information, maybe consult one or two other people, and then make a decision based primarily on my gut feeling. We are both pretty successful and sane people, so our individual decision-making processes helped us just fine when we were single. But we're not single; we're married.

Now. This is where I decide how to view Jeff. There is always a positive light and a negative light. The positive light is that he is methodical, thorough, and very concerned with being a wise steward of what God gave him. The negative light involves words like passive, indecisive, distractible. It's obvious which perspective will support my marriage, and which perspective will harm it. Conversely, Jeff could say that I am impulsive, reckless, or even foolish for making such quick decisions. Instead, he sees (we both see) the Lord's hand in us being put on the same team. And we strive to find balance and to help each other grow into more well-rounded people. I am thankful for such an amazing friend!

I am also thankful for God giving us that wisdom via our pastor's wife before we even got married.

3. I really am more in love today than I was three years ago. And not in the way I would expect. It's like now I have more data to support the feelings I had then (we're great for each other; he's always so kind; we have so much fun). Those feelings/thoughts were true then, but after three years, I can tell you I believe them all the more.

I love you, Jeff, and I can't think of anyone else with whom I would want to share this life more than you. You are my rock, and I admire you more than you know.

I love you, stud!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Fiction Family


...is my new favorite listen. Comprised of Jon Foreman, frontman for Switchfoot, and Sean Watkins of the now-defunct Nickel Creek. Songwriting at its best, and as this album was recorded during gaps in traveling and other obligations over the course of a few years, it offers much variety in style and orchestration. If you like that sort of thing. And why would you NOT?! :)

Here are lyrics for one of my favorites, which reminds me (a little bit) of Don McLean or early Billy Joel:





Please Don't Call It Love

you were indifferent
i was young
we were both drinking fiction with greedy tounges
you were waiting for someone
something to happen
something irrational
climbing the walls and falling in love

how do you find me here my dove
where my sun also rises sure enough
i was waiting for someone
something to happen
something ridiculous
climbing the walls and falling to what i now would call your bluff

please don't call it love

screaming like screen play off the cuff
we were both stuck pretending our dreams were enough
i will walk in the morning worn in the day
i thought i could i have you miles away from falling in love

truth finds time sweet enough
please don't call it love


Sunday, February 1, 2009

Caffeine

I can't sleep. I have to be at church in six and a half hours.

Lucinda Williams...




Cat Power...




And finally, the queen...

Sunday, January 25, 2009

LOST

We had a little party last night to watch the season premiere of LOST. I am a huge LOST fan, thanks to our friends A and J, who loaned me season one on DVD last Christmas. Since then I have watched the rest of the seasons and was caught up and ready for season five to start last week. And actually, my roommate Kim and I stayed up on Wednesday night for the very first, 12:30am premiere (and didn't discover until 1:30am that it was a two hour premiere!).

So at our party, I served pulled pork (in honor of Locke), stir-fried veggies and rice (in honor of Jin and Sun), peanut sauce (Claire's pregnancy craving for peanut butter) and...poppyseed muffins (for Charlie). I think a good time was had by all. At least, I really enjoyed having everyone over and swapping theories. We think we know who Faraday's mom is. But that's all I'm gonna say about that.

My favorite quote from last night...

"Maybe if you ate more comfort food, you wouldn't have to go around killing people all the time." -- Hurley

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Earmuffs!

I don't make New Year's Resolutions. I don't make resolutions as a general rule, in fact. I think they are a scheme of the enemy to bring shame into my life. Okay, I'm being a little dramatic. Resolutions have a place in one's life if s/he must resolve to do something very needful...like stop cussing around his/her 16 month old niece. Not that I or anyone I know has that problem around their 16 month old niece...But even then, one would rather put forth a very serious effort on a daily basis, than to make promises or declarations that cannot be kept perfectly (especially given one's propensity to VENT at home, and to sometimes curse while venting). Okay, it's me. I cuss around my niece. I'm trying to stop. But I'm not resolving to stop. I'm just...stopping...

The good ol' college try.

My hubby is starting RN school on Monday. Lord willing, he will finish in a year. I just know he's going to do a great job - he's such a hard worker and loves helping people. I'm so blessed to be his wife. I just enjoy being around him so much! We have such silly times.

I think I'm going back to school too. As a student, I mean. The decision-making process on this one has been pretty long, but it boils down to this nagging inner desire to get a graduate degree and an increasing interest in the counseling ministry. I think we have decided upon John Brown University, as they have a well known program and the schedule is very workable around my other responsibilities. I'm taking the GRE on Feb 7, and I'll start the program either in the summer or the fall! I'm super, super excited about this new adventure and everything I will learn.

Life at the house is always fun and interesting. We've had lots of people over lately, which I LOVE, and I have been acutely aware of how blessed we are to know so many great people. Oh, and we bought a Wii. That was our Christmas present to ourselves (hubby and me), and let me tell you -- it is a BLAST!! A big part of the fun is just sitting and watching other people play, but I must confess I am a pretty good Wii Tennis player. :) I stink at boxing. Absolutely stink.

So I guess that's about all that's going on. Or the major stuff anyway. I'll try to update sometime before spring break, but who knows how things will go with this semester. It looks to be a busy one. Grace and peace to you.