tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25752466782303338192024-02-02T05:46:24.130-08:00love, faith and a little bit of sarcasmAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-74945958949491214212015-10-08T09:23:00.001-07:002015-10-08T09:34:48.035-07:00This House...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM1jH4vfw0EVurp-wOB-B3CaOXSl_hURzSzgg-ab2YWXlr7iJ9sNhkhWM2hFtklftPOSfqq6Z1yXJ4Z_iP-51ygDojULn0q-n_YC7vsdtADew3C_czddkeN1Jfs2yJyC1n0iQ-LBnX8sF/s1600/528961_10152692170955344_2147109718_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM1jH4vfw0EVurp-wOB-B3CaOXSl_hURzSzgg-ab2YWXlr7iJ9sNhkhWM2hFtklftPOSfqq6Z1yXJ4Z_iP-51ygDojULn0q-n_YC7vsdtADew3C_czddkeN1Jfs2yJyC1n0iQ-LBnX8sF/s400/528961_10152692170955344_2147109718_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Our house is cluttered with boxes and toys and loads of messes today. We are leaving California and as I move from room to room, my heart is breaking. I've been on the West Coast for 13 years and while I feel like living in this state has really defined so much of who I am, I feel like this house has made Jarred and I who we are in so many ways. It has seen us through a lot. We moved in month nine of marriage. <br />
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<b>We've learned each other in this place.</b> We were still in the honeymoon phase when we moved in and let me tell you, this house has seen it all :) I distinctively remember the day we signed the escrow papers and the moment we walked into our first owned home. I remember the late nights debating over paint colors and which room would eventually be our nursery… someday. I remember dreaming about the little "fixes" we wanted to do to our little place and how much better it would be when we sold it. None of that happened, of course. We have laughed and cried and prayed and argued here. We have grown and taken steps backwards and we have solidified who "we want to be" in this house. <br />
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We spent many nights on the couch with a glass of wine watching "New Girl" and <b>laughing until our stomachs hurt</b>. <br />
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Monday and Tuesday mornings we cook breakfast together and linger around the table while we eat. Our kitchen has been one of our favorite places to spend time together - cooking and talking and laughing. <br />
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I will never forget <b>the 5am excited walk from our bathroom</b> to wake him up and tell him "You're going to be a DAD!" I just couldn't wait until he woke up to tell him :) No way! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp-ULQDVlY6iLUCuJgCSIqyIXR9FnoVuv5DG25xE1ph5AkCRb4dkOKI0isGoZYsursToXe8WbtrTdEXeCSw0vfUj-Rh_ls0f3TuRIlvbel8ZUXII0H0cN_XEJluWdsHaMl1L1VT_oxSHl/s1600/1424466_10153482173520344_324901805_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp-ULQDVlY6iLUCuJgCSIqyIXR9FnoVuv5DG25xE1ph5AkCRb4dkOKI0isGoZYsursToXe8WbtrTdEXeCSw0vfUj-Rh_ls0f3TuRIlvbel8ZUXII0H0cN_XEJluWdsHaMl1L1VT_oxSHl/s320/1424466_10153482173520344_324901805_n.jpg" /></a><br />
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Every Thursday night this house had a crock pot full of delicious food cooking and <b>10 college gals filling up our living room talking about Jesus</b> and real life and becoming a little family. I remember those 10 gals FREAKING OUT when we told them we were having a baby. One of my favorite moments in this house…<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqruUOG54lWqhdDgzyKKcO7VbOFF13-DYnE_6_Cs3QCXi2m73QX2zTKSuA8QsuQjddDD2sVa0_H5hJB84G-9248lTXPRuQjB_2IL0Efxq7TGOaLjeVYd2h20D53CRuLZoLroptSIsfb24/s1600/1016658_10151536505403248_2103509526_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqruUOG54lWqhdDgzyKKcO7VbOFF13-DYnE_6_Cs3QCXi2m73QX2zTKSuA8QsuQjddDD2sVa0_H5hJB84G-9248lTXPRuQjB_2IL0Efxq7TGOaLjeVYd2h20D53CRuLZoLroptSIsfb24/s320/1016658_10151536505403248_2103509526_n.jpg" /></a><br />
About six months into my pregnancy, I'll never forget the Thursday night I sat on the bottom of the stairs and wept listening to my dad tell me over the phone that my mom might have cancer. One of my college gals happened to get there early that night and she sat on the bottom of the stairs with me and just let me cry. <br />
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I remember the exact corner of the couch where I was sitting when my dad called the next day and told me <b>my mom had pancreatic cancer and I needed to come home</b>. By God's grace, my sweet friend Cheryl was right there with me. I remember feeling numb and then feeling Holland move inside my belly and thinking that I had to be strong and get through this because she was counting on me. I had no choice but to do all I could to protect that little life while we dealt with all of this from miles away. <br />
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I remember sitting on the bedroom floor with packing our suitcases and I just sobbed and sobbed knowing full-well that my mom may not make it through this battle. And will never forget Joel walking into our bedroom and just sitting on the floor with me. <b>People's presence means everything in the hardest moments</b>. <br />
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On May 26th, 2014 our little girl came into the world and <b>my mom was there</b> - the strongest woman I know looked past her own pain during chemo treatment and came to us for a week when our girl was born. I don't know what I would have done without her. I'll never forget when she and Jarred and I walked in from the hospital with our tiny tiny girl. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipc-ZTKh58qsDrYjc68zmsgDhwwMSZFqgka_2Op24Y4A3DLmpsjZqNhThz4S8SeeKHQ5qd_vO8jLHfdpkAZxNbA0Ev4DBVhhrN7mKS2jotvcOXKxL9ihiUcT9zEg1ZeFLfFv6fyrS1t1aG/s1600/10897092_10155044141120344_2872437488557213685_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipc-ZTKh58qsDrYjc68zmsgDhwwMSZFqgka_2Op24Y4A3DLmpsjZqNhThz4S8SeeKHQ5qd_vO8jLHfdpkAZxNbA0Ev4DBVhhrN7mKS2jotvcOXKxL9ihiUcT9zEg1ZeFLfFv6fyrS1t1aG/s320/10897092_10155044141120344_2872437488557213685_n.jpg" /></a><br />
My mind is laced with memories of sleepless nights in our bedroom with our newborn daughter and my in-laws tirelessly helping us around the clock for weeks because of my complications from my C-section. This little house became their second home. <br />
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Over our 3 years in this neighborhood, some of our friends have moved in and become our neighbors and some of our neighbors have become our friends. We've spent many warm evenings watching all the kiddos<strike> fight over toys</strike> play outside and have swapped dinners at each others houses. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4JLgZJLjQ_68wCoQ4ShtTteMJKRMJ6VkF1Bo09UxEnVyF0hqyPwyvEVMWx6UufSGoSTSPfTDTe2A9t7l4rVPIaOklW_EI-jXb2Ja2CWAKg27agro94pU9EBHLynhlDbRlh5W-1fw9_wi/s1600/12038405_10156100544605344_1258243477949245705_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4JLgZJLjQ_68wCoQ4ShtTteMJKRMJ6VkF1Bo09UxEnVyF0hqyPwyvEVMWx6UufSGoSTSPfTDTe2A9t7l4rVPIaOklW_EI-jXb2Ja2CWAKg27agro94pU9EBHLynhlDbRlh5W-1fw9_wi/s320/12038405_10156100544605344_1258243477949245705_n.jpg" /></a><br />
This house is where our little gal learned to say her first words, where her daddy made her giggle for the first time, where I first heard those tiny feet running down the hallway between our bedrooms, where she first "shared" all of her meals with Maggie the dog, where we spent countless hours watching netflix when sleep didn't come easily, where she learned her first words and came around the corner each morning saying "Ma-Ma" when she saw Maggie sitting downstairs. <br />
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I won't soon forget the <b>3am laughter and fun that ensues on monthly poker night</b>. We've had to move to a location where it won't wake kids up, but i'm so grateful that Jarred has had the chance to be in a community of guys who truly loves to spend time together. <br />
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It's a place where we've had the gift of hosting many overnight guests… for one night or for six months. We have loved the people who have lived and stayed with us in our little home and the coffee and wine conversations that come with it. <br />
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Walking away is hard; it always is. While there are definite things to look forward to, we know that goodbyes carry a weight that feels heavy. <b>We grew up here and became us here. My heart is grateful<i></i></b>. <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-83768970296751807512015-04-03T10:14:00.001-07:002015-04-03T10:18:27.317-07:00On ObedienceI took a job with an incredible organization called <a href="www.stint.com">Students International</a> about a year and a half ago knowing full well that part of my job was to lead mission trips - something I've been hugely passionate about for years and have done with enthusiasm. But then we had a baby. We went to Costa Rica when I was 12 weeks pregnant, but then I got a free pass for the last 16 months because, you know, pregnancy, childbirth, recovery, nursing - all the things. In November, Jarred and I made plans to take a group of college students to Nicaragua with our good friend Joel and we've been so excited about it since then. But as soon as the reality hit that I would be weaning our baby girl and leaving her for a week, I almost bailed about 1000 times, including during our layover in the Houston airport. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0XM8y2TC_yqvNwokuDJEy4OPTm_enIsiEVQ13QyvLNnAu8LYX4LCX255KhIDskQJFRfKf9eP1Nr0_bQTE7A6CCxyoccmmVoLozpI-dxCMhEQOJit_ttfoh4aBzZHl7YNZ_miLvIj_fQ7/s1600/11100161_10155373946820344_4594335715385351513_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0XM8y2TC_yqvNwokuDJEy4OPTm_enIsiEVQ13QyvLNnAu8LYX4LCX255KhIDskQJFRfKf9eP1Nr0_bQTE7A6CCxyoccmmVoLozpI-dxCMhEQOJit_ttfoh4aBzZHl7YNZ_miLvIj_fQ7/s320/11100161_10155373946820344_4594335715385351513_n.jpg" /></a><br />
I called a friend and colleague and said, "How do you leave your babies? I don't think I can do it. I'm going to back out. Talk me down." And she did. Bless her. Her advice was simple - "The first time is the hardest. I promise it will go by quickly once you get there and get busy. Give yourself permission to come home or to not go if your childcare situation isn't working out or your kid is hysterical." All of these words were helpful, but in my logical mind it just felt so wrong to leave my 10 month old and go to Central America for a week. <br />
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Here's what it came down to for me - obedience. All the mommy guilt, positive self-talk, awesome grandparents babysitting, knowledge that there's a 99% chance that it's all going to go down just fine - all of that was great, but the kicker for me was this thing that we often like to ignore called obedience. The bottom line is that God has called me to work for SI to bring people into his story across the globe. I have no doubt about that. Because of that, I am called to be obedient when he asks me to "go" - plain and simple. What I want my daughter to see is that her parents are obedient. I want that more than anything and if I were to back out because I was scared or because of her, it sends the wrong message - to her, my college gals I walk with, my friends, the students on the trip, our church community. Don't get me wrong, not a single person would have faulted me for staying home with my 10 month old baby, but I knew that I knew that I knew that we were called and I was to be obedient to that call. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxGtvsFoqJ0S_twwVF-oHOHXZgWk29l4KeXPpylGaWmsmdmXXU2hjEGNxq4oqjh7qctbmmBdSPney6jeRuTanNhKzZn1xfWWv6cdaM5EVUVcQmsKXiuvvT6iRp9Btut0mBOzTvxZv3hAE/s1600/11120544_10155373754530344_9150996760275112257_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxGtvsFoqJ0S_twwVF-oHOHXZgWk29l4KeXPpylGaWmsmdmXXU2hjEGNxq4oqjh7qctbmmBdSPney6jeRuTanNhKzZn1xfWWv6cdaM5EVUVcQmsKXiuvvT6iRp9Btut0mBOzTvxZv3hAE/s320/11120544_10155373754530344_9150996760275112257_n.jpg" /></a><br />
Jarred and I always want our kids to see our hearts for the nations, for the poor and we want them to know that God is bigger than their little world. As soon as they're big enough to wear bug spray, you bet they'll be coming with us, but for now, our job is to continue to be obedient. That's what we want them to know about their parents and see modeled. And we need to start practicing that now - not when they're 3 or 6 or 10, but now, when they're tiny. <br />
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The crazy part is that I unexpectedly got to share this with the women in Nicaragua who thought I was literally nuts for weaning and leaving my baby. The even crazier part is that despite the cultural differences and the fact that it's not something they would ever do, they understood. When I explained to them that it wasn't that I wanted to leave my baby and that my heart was torn in shreds when I put her to bed the night before I left, but that I came because I care about them and because I want my daughter to see me being obedient - somehow, they understood (and I even got baby snuggles while I was there, thanks Jesus).<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZlfy81J0L_BgMMbSIt26VdDUMDgTlnvEX6H3FTcEDs5m3yyACvS3h2IiJ6tbcTAi89DSpLmmiv2Wt2q6QBPWLqOX2XiYmPCMvVb9xdGfUauy4_3311MjzGFi7AGDF2K8FwkH2ZJWdcVh/s1600/10892014_10155366598375344_6228040439413946687_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZlfy81J0L_BgMMbSIt26VdDUMDgTlnvEX6H3FTcEDs5m3yyACvS3h2IiJ6tbcTAi89DSpLmmiv2Wt2q6QBPWLqOX2XiYmPCMvVb9xdGfUauy4_3311MjzGFi7AGDF2K8FwkH2ZJWdcVh/s320/10892014_10155366598375344_6228040439413946687_n.jpg" /></a><br />
One of my Nicaraguan colleagues spoke such truth to me the night before we left. She told me how much she respects me as a mom and how much she admires my desire for my kids to know God's heart for the world. She told me I'm a good mom and that God used me in her life last week, just when she needed me. And I knew that I was in the right place for all the right reasons. Obediently saying "yes" was the hardest part… that and getting on the plane. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-40797301119955117802015-01-03T21:37:00.002-08:002015-01-03T21:42:22.237-08:00Best of 2014 My friend, Lesley writes a similar post every year and I decided to put my own twist on it but copy her idea. She's also a very gifted writer - <a href="http://barefooton45th.com">you should read her blog</a>. <br />
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Here's my opinions about some 2014 things: <br />
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<b>10 Things I couldn't have lived without (most of these have to do with pregnancy or being a new mom, sorry…)<i></i></b><br />
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- <a href="http://www.marika.com/productinfo_item_2033-dc_659-md_512-pd_512-sn_15.htm">Marika Yoga Pants</a>, just yes<br />
- <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/buy/hand-sanitizers/johnson-s-baby-hand-face-wipes-25-ct.-102765-4237376">Johnson & Johnson hands and faces baby wipes</a><br />
- my little clutch wallet/purse thing that I can wear on my wrist and stick in my diaper bag<br />
- Parenthood (the TV show) - the amount of time spent nursing in the early days is no joke<br />
- our <a href="http://www.babyjogger.com/product/city-select/">Baby Jogger City Select stroller</a> - it pushes like it's invisible<br />
- Starbucks giftcards - thank you Jesus for the nice people who know I needed coffee<br />
- the Ergo - God bless…<br />
- a video baby monitor - the only reason our kid left our bedroom in August<br />
- Hand-Me-Down baby and Maternity clothes - I love my sisters-in-law<br />
- the Exersaucer - I can pee and cook and not watch my kid<br />
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<b>Things that just worked for me:<i></i></b><br />
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- <i>Walking to the grocery store</i> - when we had Holland, I resolved that if I needed less than 15 things (and nothing was heavier than a galling of milk) then I was going to walk to the grocery store. Amazingly, this has been a great little mile walk for us and we both LOVE it. <strike>And there's a Starbucks in the store, shhhhhh...</strike><br />
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- <i>We spent 3 weeks in Texas and we actually didn't go nuts</i> - it wasn't intentional, but Holland and I ended up spending 3 weeks in Texas in December and I'm shocked that the days went by quickly and we survived. Of course, there's no place like home, but I thought it was going to be WAY harder on both of us. <br />
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- <i>Nighttime showers</i> - it sounds like a silly thing, but I always loved to shower in the morning to start my day. When I had Holland I couldn't do that because she's a terrible napper, so there was never enough time to leave her to shower & get ready. When she was tiny, I started showering when Jarred would get home from work. It's been grab for me & is my "wind down" time when I know he's in charge of the kid if she wakes up and I can finally relax.<br />
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- <i>The CrockPot</i> - my parents got us <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Clad-Polished-Stainless-6-5-Quart-Electrics/dp/B0007SXBUQ">this All Clad Crockpot</a> when we got engaged and it's from Jesus. There's nothing better when you're cooking for 10 girls or just for two. It's quick and easy and I can put dinner in during her morning nap and know that if my day falls apart at the seams, at least dinner is already done. I just wish I could pull it together enough to use it more often than I did. <br />
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<b>Memorable Moments of 2014<i></i></b><br />
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- The birth of Miss Holland Mae Minefee on May 26th - and the crazy 2 weeks that led up to it - and the crazy 2 weeks that followed it… what a whirlwind birth experience that was, but our girl is here. <br />
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- Sitting on the bottom of the staircase when my dad called to tell me that my mom had pancreatic cancer. I will never forget it, nor the fearful yet peaceful few weeks that followed. Flying to Texas to see her the day after her diagnosis was like being in a bad movie. Some of the worst days of my life. <br />
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- Getting the text with my mom ringing the "Cancer-free" treatment bell at MD Anderson. I'm so grateful that God chose to heal my mom. <br />
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- Hanging out with my in-laws in October while we got the phone call that our friend Chuck had passed away from his battle with cancer and left sweet Holly and the twin babies behind - why was God healing my mom, but taking our friend? <br />
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- Hearing Holland laugh at her daddy for the first time in September - melted my heart into pieces. <br />
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- My first (and only to date) overnight away from my sweet girl to play with one of my besties for my birthday. So thankful to my hubby for the break and for time with Erin. <br />
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- The excruciating pain of having to let my daughter "cry it out" from time to time - I was not prepared for the torture that is for me - that and the sleep deprivation - absolute torture. <br />
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- Decorating our little house for Christmas with our college gals - including some inappropriateness, wine drinking and a baby photography session. <br />
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- Having lots of mama friends close by to do this raising kids thing with. I'm so so grateful for my gal pals. <br />
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- Seeing my mom back to "herself" when I got there in December - the best gift anyone could give me. Ever. I didn't know if we'd ever have "her" back and thank the Lord we do.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl32jjNQJzZA3YOBLHuRkKRJ09FIzIe0yrXt_tt24HD0MWqzJTeONqjlsYGrHSFcleVzDGnjVc0hS3mM-K8MoR6c5wq4P4jQulbgOlVpisfeGsiYNLCF2VET25qCP7onotfFnW3DYnXCt/s1600/IMG_3486.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl32jjNQJzZA3YOBLHuRkKRJ09FIzIe0yrXt_tt24HD0MWqzJTeONqjlsYGrHSFcleVzDGnjVc0hS3mM-K8MoR6c5wq4P4jQulbgOlVpisfeGsiYNLCF2VET25qCP7onotfFnW3DYnXCt/s320/IMG_3486.jpg" /></a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-55069895468557406182015-01-03T10:35:00.001-08:002015-01-03T10:41:27.730-08:002014 Inventory - Highest Highs and the Lowest LowsClearly I don't have much blog time at this point in my life - this whole mom thing throws all used-to-be priorities right out the window. There are things I really miss and I would say sitting down to read and write are among the top two. So just for the next few days I'm taking back a few moments because I made a commitment to myself to write this post every year - to remember and reflect. As I think about writing this for 2014 I'm a little freaked out because the highs were really high and the lows were really low - it was a bizarre year. <br />
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- <b>joy:</b> Holland Mae entering our lives was the most life-altering, joy-inducing thing, second only to our wedding day in my book. Also, the tears of joy that flowed when my mom finished her treatment CANCER FREE was one of the best moments of my life. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1-UvaD8RTDweX0MEHh_JqrTgZ-8zWNvABMNo9lJMqnaOWB_PQyXj3VzX4dmcxIxrzAalV9ys9ctTKzK1rBJd2s_g-c_4FUfNiQ4OCnOBD_-2bX9vB3PbZGPyM0oVIymNx-Xmehja3-an/s1600/IMG_3902.MOV" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1-UvaD8RTDweX0MEHh_JqrTgZ-8zWNvABMNo9lJMqnaOWB_PQyXj3VzX4dmcxIxrzAalV9ys9ctTKzK1rBJd2s_g-c_4FUfNiQ4OCnOBD_-2bX9vB3PbZGPyM0oVIymNx-Xmehja3-an/s320/IMG_3902.MOV" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVziZaGDtLAJzAEhN8_nDJ1dUFfMX-MkP0NeuTPLyB3Hyow9aM6pgDcsvXTxuDG9k837K7PXHlBjDiqZlbglBSYyRY3eBPNwUXgrEhaVjxh7GxjsZScpLbcO4EyAPWPTkLikf2Mti2MxKJ/s1600/IMG_1154+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVziZaGDtLAJzAEhN8_nDJ1dUFfMX-MkP0NeuTPLyB3Hyow9aM6pgDcsvXTxuDG9k837K7PXHlBjDiqZlbglBSYyRY3eBPNwUXgrEhaVjxh7GxjsZScpLbcO4EyAPWPTkLikf2Mti2MxKJ/s320/IMG_1154+(1).jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>peace:</b> from the moment my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer to the day she was declared "cancer free", though we were sad and it was a nasty road, we experienced such peace. To be able to still laugh and so enjoy being together while she was in the most intense, scary surgery is a peace that can't be explained without Jesus. I'm also still trying to find the balance with peace and parenting. I know that my job is to trust Jesus with my kids, but I've never had someone that I'm responsible for 24/7 and it's hard to have peace with that big of a job. If you're reading this and you have any advice, let me know ;) <br />
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- <b>grace:</b> being a mom and messing it up - every single day. Holy smokes I can't tell you how many times in just 7 months that I've already messed up royally. Thankfully kids don't have memories until they're 4 or 5 - ha! The grace that God has shown me, that my daughter shows me and that my incredible husband shows me everyday is astounding. I don't deserve it, especially from Jarred - his life and our marriage have changed tremendously this year and I'm so grateful that he over and over again chooses grace with me. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxdklbZFjMoHWmyzQX39T0_GFG6jUYoBOc9WYFzYe4IHLCjVCjb3y-kuVGGLtC1PBfclrv199ne45SIGBV2-j_iIfamidzchbo1vur5N0zvLlbv6oiY9oYZrTqdqmsTf03lFj1JGwIXV5/s1600/1908030_10154437690500344_6188669031819206203_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxdklbZFjMoHWmyzQX39T0_GFG6jUYoBOc9WYFzYe4IHLCjVCjb3y-kuVGGLtC1PBfclrv199ne45SIGBV2-j_iIfamidzchbo1vur5N0zvLlbv6oiY9oYZrTqdqmsTf03lFj1JGwIXV5/s320/1908030_10154437690500344_6188669031819206203_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>mercy:</b> We cried "mercy" over and over again this year with health issues - last year I wrote about our friend Chuck being cancer free - this year we cried mercy and continue to do so as he passed away in October and left behind his sweet wife and 18 month old twins - Mercy, Lord. We cried "mercy" over my mom as she suffered tremendous pain following one of the most intense surgeries any human could have, as she bravely entered chemo every week followed by radiation everyday - he has shown such mercy to us this year. I am crazy grateful to have my mom back. <br />
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- <b>discipline:</b> I don't know what this is anymore because my days are so unpredictable… I need more of it? I feel like that's all I can say about discipline this year - waking up early, that's taken so much discipline… or a crying infant, you choose. <br />
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- <b>growth:</b> In the past I've measured growth mostly by spiritual growth, but this year I think my personal growth trumped that and bled into my spiritual life. Becoming a mom has grown me and stretched my faith, my patience, my love more than anything. On the other hand, the fear of losing my mom while pregnant with my first child grew me leaps and bounds - it forced me to put my trust in Jesus, to ask for help from others, to know that even if that happened, I would be okay, Holland would be okay and my God is still good. My journey will always be marked by 2014's crazy season that now feels more like a bad dream than reality. Thank God it's over. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8ZD14d30VSw0TfvkVTsM3uKvIAOTqjEjmx0LqR0yH73KX7gcEo1daqcLEx5Vh8qZpYnMll1JECbPJerSfAggnbNdP-jx8d-p7BeOwnoEjLwyEdEjyMHQF14Bi3a9ufQZbpMwv96vKCmD/s1600/IMG_1826.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8ZD14d30VSw0TfvkVTsM3uKvIAOTqjEjmx0LqR0yH73KX7gcEo1daqcLEx5Vh8qZpYnMll1JECbPJerSfAggnbNdP-jx8d-p7BeOwnoEjLwyEdEjyMHQF14Bi3a9ufQZbpMwv96vKCmD/s320/IMG_1826.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>answered prayer:</b> Where do I start with this one?!?!?! Remember that time my mom got diagnosed with the most deadly form of cancer and totally beat it? - hello, answered prayer. And that time my best friend dealt with infertility and had healthy TWINS? - hello, answered prayer. And that time I got a gnarly infection after my c-section and I'm just fine now? - hello, answered prayer. And that time my brother-in-law had some REALLY crazy health issues happening that doctors couldn't' figure out and now he's perfectly healthy? - hello, answered prayer. And that time we prayed for a healthy baby girl? HELLO, ANSWERED PRAYER. I could keep writing but holy smokes God is good. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-K_zzMhSaAoofhuRMNsxf944DltjFoUZfbJ8O9BlYn0755ohFdZuofXPj4f7Ih7sqaidQNCxsBEvhfvaB66JC-D4JezHmNSxbWoiGSvD6CJtOQcQOSlhbyQ5lCetVgty9vyQE9XAPtXw/s1600/997017_10154450210175344_7720879037776500810_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-K_zzMhSaAoofhuRMNsxf944DltjFoUZfbJ8O9BlYn0755ohFdZuofXPj4f7Ih7sqaidQNCxsBEvhfvaB66JC-D4JezHmNSxbWoiGSvD6CJtOQcQOSlhbyQ5lCetVgty9vyQE9XAPtXw/s320/997017_10154450210175344_7720879037776500810_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>beauty:</b> One of the most beautiful things I've witnessed this year was watching my husband become a dad. He's incredible with our little gal and my I melt when I hear them laughing, watch him dance with her in the kitchen or see her light up when he gets home from work. And a shout out to my college gals growing up and become real life women contributing to the real life world - really a beautiful thing. I LOVE those gals and I can't talk about not seeing them almost everyday. I can't. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfN1slbsThOijt4SJIU-yoD5agkEiP0Hn1GqRdqeEbpA8DSAyUVMcbp9YUEQzPEPQVU6SI-qrwH_TRsCTguJ9cdAXpLX6WsNLPu79PxYJ6vBIZz1hoii2hUm8R3gnrqkZOuxxnGkjzQNX/s1600/IMG_4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfN1slbsThOijt4SJIU-yoD5agkEiP0Hn1GqRdqeEbpA8DSAyUVMcbp9YUEQzPEPQVU6SI-qrwH_TRsCTguJ9cdAXpLX6WsNLPu79PxYJ6vBIZz1hoii2hUm8R3gnrqkZOuxxnGkjzQNX/s320/IMG_4899.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMu0CPQsIuMbim3UMtL8xGXmmmfUFJovLEzrvGbRlN7j6KuDDa2LHS-A66PUdyx8da4HrBVzvylnaCcpByp_Kh9dwZMoJ19DEG_cE64oMlXQ4FGdOaecPkJIi_Pu__l4pKjBzCx2nCt31/s1600/10341842_10154847618430344_3256263206735629190_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMu0CPQsIuMbim3UMtL8xGXmmmfUFJovLEzrvGbRlN7j6KuDDa2LHS-A66PUdyx8da4HrBVzvylnaCcpByp_Kh9dwZMoJ19DEG_cE64oMlXQ4FGdOaecPkJIi_Pu__l4pKjBzCx2nCt31/s320/10341842_10154847618430344_3256263206735629190_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>rest:</b> what's that? 2015, can we get some more of that, please? <br />
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- <b>perseverance:</b> A newborn requires the most intense amount of perseverance - sleepless nights, c-section recovery with sleepless nights, pressing on with all of that while my mom was going through chemo and trusting that all the details would work out for her to be here when Holland was born - of course they did, because Jesus.<br />
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- <b>pura vida (true, full life):</b> My daughter's laugh, my whole family together at Christmas with a whole, healed mom & two more nieces/nephews on the way (not mine, don't worry), hiking and beach days with my little family in SLO, the community of women my college gals have become, friendships that have deepened as the result of a tough year - such good life. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6u95Ird1VrOTlkDDyLWxXu8qV-qebKlbl8LwGv6Ai9UxVYGoEPRsHZRZSo-CzLpfxtlPJSLjVBRC9n3HZC7cCGK62CS_tiVxalQFRGc_Y_EOInaycfO7fqb0mJczqHOSoqDVsXufyY2I/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6u95Ird1VrOTlkDDyLWxXu8qV-qebKlbl8LwGv6Ai9UxVYGoEPRsHZRZSo-CzLpfxtlPJSLjVBRC9n3HZC7cCGK62CS_tiVxalQFRGc_Y_EOInaycfO7fqb0mJczqHOSoqDVsXufyY2I/s320/IMG_0161.JPG" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeyVRL-ekWcCSwNj4u3xyLIwkiadwG4-RmQb1gR731RirhyphenhyphentQNgP7KAzzqExm63bC3XAv-zqbYVvF5G6ldm4E9mL1XvTUWxm3gO4fanYE_00NYhMwapAa362YNayRAw5-aTLS6eQ5_HW2/s1600/10295728_10154102912715344_1577433069601922474_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeyVRL-ekWcCSwNj4u3xyLIwkiadwG4-RmQb1gR731RirhyphenhyphentQNgP7KAzzqExm63bC3XAv-zqbYVvF5G6ldm4E9mL1XvTUWxm3gO4fanYE_00NYhMwapAa362YNayRAw5-aTLS6eQ5_HW2/s320/10295728_10154102912715344_1577433069601922474_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>love:</b> Love took on a whole new meaning when we became parents, I couldn't have imagined how I would literally think about a tiny human almost 24 hours a day, but I do. When I look at her, I can't help but be overwhelmed with love and thankfulness for her little life. She's incredible. Also, my love for my mom is changing - when you almost lose your mom and become a mom during the same year, something in you shifts. I love her differently, appreciate her more and want so badly for her to know my daughter intimately. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9wKThuZ2F9h0tb281xMr2Gz_a25Ygy5w31OwsuIeyklCvO_auJPs9QxZEo_5keqwCWoyzZ9OiAjL6hiFVgmdcikUywJvtyiFVupB4DXJdS7_0dt6n5p1-7bdF1Ztj8wnQBHndgJglujk/s1600/1526760_10154895148520344_2036983637152960903_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9wKThuZ2F9h0tb281xMr2Gz_a25Ygy5w31OwsuIeyklCvO_auJPs9QxZEo_5keqwCWoyzZ9OiAjL6hiFVgmdcikUywJvtyiFVupB4DXJdS7_0dt6n5p1-7bdF1Ztj8wnQBHndgJglujk/s320/1526760_10154895148520344_2036983637152960903_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmzHxjCtcS7OhBubIBpQcT0QJo_NO88-iV4CdtaOTjFd9pWZn3Vo3YCFW9e4P3330CYd3mhyphenhyphencAE5gKIFhk54XhxQTV0kt2s3LKZAILP64CrazE0f_seA4E2Y3sgUUp5cdL-S1mWwyBDJL/s1600/10850296_10154885510030344_8851226180757556242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmzHxjCtcS7OhBubIBpQcT0QJo_NO88-iV4CdtaOTjFd9pWZn3Vo3YCFW9e4P3330CYd3mhyphenhyphencAE5gKIFhk54XhxQTV0kt2s3LKZAILP64CrazE0f_seA4E2Y3sgUUp5cdL-S1mWwyBDJL/s320/10850296_10154885510030344_8851226180757556242_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>the Gospel:</b> There was much solace this year in knowing that God was good and nothing about Him changed even if my mom didn't survive this year with pancreatic cancer. We knew that if she went to be with Jesus, she would win - even more so than if she had to live her life on earth with a terrible form of cancer. I'm crazy grateful that didn't happen, but the assurance that Jesus gives is worth it all. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk4z0QwzX8ZANLoWibMhNdKGYgHVfjJdt6RncqBi15ArUbQyeRbveMw0KkasMDzJMrCc8U7QLh7jCkdfrZwqbKNFAt-1v_0j38rVu-MW-pC61a1eIqJ6PvigpYqDfrWAh8TD-kn91iCh7/s1600/Minefee+Family+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk4z0QwzX8ZANLoWibMhNdKGYgHVfjJdt6RncqBi15ArUbQyeRbveMw0KkasMDzJMrCc8U7QLh7jCkdfrZwqbKNFAt-1v_0j38rVu-MW-pC61a1eIqJ6PvigpYqDfrWAh8TD-kn91iCh7/s320/Minefee+Family+037.jpg" /></a><br />
I can honestly say there's never been a year where I've experienced more joy or more sorrow than 2014. Cancer and your first born child… <i>but I have a richer, deeper soul because of it all and for that, I'm grateful.<b></b></i><br />
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2015, let's be REALLY boring and relaxing, ok? Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-75290867164456337782014-08-29T14:32:00.000-07:002014-08-29T14:35:55.412-07:00On Being a Working MomConfession (always a great way to begin): I haven't written since I became a mom. The days are long and the nights are short and my brain is foggy, so I haven't been able to pull it together enough to write. Incase you haven't seen her, God's given us the cutest, sweetest baby on the planet - I kid you not. But here I am… at the end of my maternity leave, needing some think space. <br />
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You see, the idea of going back to work has been exciting for me from weeks 8-13 of maternity leave. The first 8 weeks, I was hardly physically functional and had no desire to return to work, but these last 5 weeks, it's seemed more doable. I've seen a few friends brave the work world again and I've been anticipating that day for myself. Well this past week was week 14, my last week of leave and I now feel differently about going back to work. <br />
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<b>I'm guessing this is normal, but to me it feels so unnatural to be leaving my kid with someone else.</b> I didn't think I would have this problem because I'm not a "homebody" kind of a person. Not at all. I LOVE people, love being out of the house and I'm a big fan of contributing to society and the Kingdom of God. Big fan. Because of this, I thought I'd be excited to go back to my part time job that I really enjoy. But I have this sadness in my heart and a fear in my mind as I prepare to leave my girl next week. <br />
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It's not that her daddy and our amazing friend Julia aren't going to love her and care for her well. That's not it at all. I completely trust them and I know she'll have delightful days ahead, but I just have this gut wrenching feeling of "They won't love her in the ways I love her." And they won't. <b>They will love her in their own ways and it will be just great for her… and for them.</b> But as her primary care taker for the 14 weeks of her life, I feel like somehow I'm neglecting her and she's going to struggle when I'm gone. And it just feels wrong for her mama to walk away from her twice a week to go and work. <br />
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But I've also hit a wall and am beginning to dislike being in my own house (even though we get out pretty often). So I know it's time. I know the hours I spend away from sweet Holland will make me a better mama when I get home and I've had time to miss her. I know that having purpose in my job and making a difference in the world will make me feel more human and less crazy. And I know the time that my husband and our friend Julia spend with our girl will be awesome for them and for her. But this mama may cry on Monday morning when I walk out the door… and that's okay.<br />
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<i><b>I think this is just the beginning of the motherhood tension of letting go but wanting to hang on at the same time.</b> </i> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusbW2bmcV7zGzlJGIXmcT1NRp87z4-2Z-iZk3HXmMb_E-M1y45AH6sn5zyK3aC27MZrXOt6hQhyphenhyphenIhClPHxK3PKIgw_02IyLRMRGu_r3RFyH2eGPhIxPmk3muoTtgcuaA6cyfjxVQ5TQxN/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusbW2bmcV7zGzlJGIXmcT1NRp87z4-2Z-iZk3HXmMb_E-M1y45AH6sn5zyK3aC27MZrXOt6hQhyphenhyphenIhClPHxK3PKIgw_02IyLRMRGu_r3RFyH2eGPhIxPmk3muoTtgcuaA6cyfjxVQ5TQxN/s320/photo+4.JPG" /></a> <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-66129868188976400062014-03-15T14:01:00.001-07:002014-03-15T14:03:56.039-07:00In Oceans DeepI wrote a few weeks ago about story - how our story matters and that I was committing to share more of my own story - to write, because that's how God uses us, when we are willing to share our lives. Well, that just got real… so real and the ocean is deep. <br />
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Three weeks ago I got a phone call that rocked my world and threw us into the deep place where we are now - where all we can see is waves. My mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Literally the worst words… especially to her daughter who is 6 months pregnant with her first daughter. My heart is shattered. I wept. For five days - the day we found out, the entire travel day to get to Texas, the day we went to church and all of us prayed over her, the day we dropped her off to get on a plane to meet with the surgeon, the day of her surgery - all I did was cry. I wept for her, for my dad, for my grandma, for my brothers and sisters-in-law, for my nieces and nephews, for my husband, for myself, for my daughter. I wept for the dreams I have of my mom being at my daughter's wedding, for how this will wreck her body and make a very strong woman weak, for the dreams she has of years of being "YaYa" and loving her grandkids. When cancer is involved, the ocean gets deep and the waves quickly rise high around you. <br />
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We sat together as a family, waiting for the surgeon. Four and a half hours later, he came out to say that the tumor was self-contained and he was able to remove all traces of cancer. If you know anything about pancreatic cancer, you know this is not normal, not even close to normal. Sweet Jesus, we can see the lifeboat. It's coming. My mom has been given the gift of life - the chance to fight, many do not and we recognize how fortunate we are. We see the hand of God in so much of this story, but we still feel a bit like we're drowning. <br />
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This road is long - my mom had a major surgery where half of her stomach, two-thirds of her pancreas and her bile duct were removed. She was in the hospital for two weeks. Her recovery just from this surgery is no joke let alone the daunting road through chemo and radiation. When I think about the next 8 months of my mom's life, I weep. She knows she's not alone, but in the same breath, none of us can take this away from her or physically go through it for her. Just 3 weeks ago we were making plans for her to come the end of this month and help with our baby girl's room - and then plans two months later for her to come and stay for a bit when she's born. There's no one else I would rather have here when my daughter comes than my incredible mom. And now, we're deep in the waves not knowing much about two weeks from now, let alone two months from now. For now, she's home, she's recovering, she is handling this with so much grace and determination and she's loving being with family. But the journey is long. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaH34zzc0RWRt1C56kOLPHBh-KjhHLhQLdAaWjNcsCe8KvKrdmRmRE5Dj4JTNgz71o1kyPa-_TrII8p3aqGSDREojsLiwfSwWJJq2GRx0bU7Nay_05LseWek95Nty-Gc7ii37B36l8QL0/s1600/IMG_8920.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaH34zzc0RWRt1C56kOLPHBh-KjhHLhQLdAaWjNcsCe8KvKrdmRmRE5Dj4JTNgz71o1kyPa-_TrII8p3aqGSDREojsLiwfSwWJJq2GRx0bU7Nay_05LseWek95Nty-Gc7ii37B36l8QL0/s320/IMG_8920.JPG" /></a><br />
There's a song called "Oceans" by Hillsong. This has been our anthem. My mom has been living in these truths for the last year as she's undergone numerous surgeries to prevent other types of cancer (ironically enough). I printed this and framed it for her - it's next to her bed. On the rough nights, the early mornings, during the times where sleep isn't coming, she can look at it and remember…<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigO1FAVnljyKijU6WVZdRGIXrrA1Y1pSUs0cpWiug-ie1GBA1AN2Qx6hMTKBTZkR_NaeK8Lk7SH5bFisQNixi5N2jIzyi7I4oSNl4nNSA525Vf_kS91fVSPZjH-5Ot9VrKKOEzTRH44skz/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigO1FAVnljyKijU6WVZdRGIXrrA1Y1pSUs0cpWiug-ie1GBA1AN2Qx6hMTKBTZkR_NaeK8Lk7SH5bFisQNixi5N2jIzyi7I4oSNl4nNSA525Vf_kS91fVSPZjH-5Ot9VrKKOEzTRH44skz/s400/photo.JPG" /></a><br />
It's the wallpaper on my computer because I need the reminder multiple times a day that my faith will stand. God is for us, He is with us and this road is not being walked alone and everyday we choose to believe that He is Healer, He is Sustainer, He is Able, He is. And that He is all we need. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-71692887744335446422014-02-07T11:23:00.001-08:002014-02-07T11:23:50.562-08:00Write… because your story matters<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" alt="Five Minute Friday" title="Five Minute Friday" style="border:none;" /></a><br />
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Since I was a little girl, I've had the "itch" - you know… where it feels like that's what comes natural to you, where you feel like your thoughts are best expressed. It used to be made up stories about the lives of fake characters who I probably wished were me - living a much cooler life than the already awesome life I lived at the time :) I remember literally writing books in notebooks, complete with magazine pictures of the characters so that everyone had a face, an identity, a story. <br />
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In high school it turned into essay writing and mandatory writing, but I still loved it. In college, it became my outlet. I journaled my way through really hard dating relationships and girly friendships, through figuring out who I was 8 hours from my family, through finding my wings and learning who I was supposed to become. <br />
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Shortly after college, I started a blog. It wasn't because I thought my story mattered at the time; in fact, I was convinced I didn't have much of a story. <b>Funny how our young selves can't see truth sometimes</b>. I blogged for me… because life was moving fast and I wanted to remember. <br />
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Now I am just learning, at 33, to blog because my story matters. I'm not very good at it yet, but in reading other people's blogs, I've learned that them sharing their story has done something for me. What I've been through, how I've learned things, how God has changed me - those things can do something for a reader or a friend. <b>And so with boldness and a little bit of trepidation, I am entering a season where I am choosing to blog - life, marriage, missions, soon-to-be-motherhood, friendships, family and mess - because I know my story matters. </b> Yours does to, so don't be afraid to write. <br />
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P.S. - <a href="http://www.theveryworstmissionary.com/2014/02/grace-waits.html">this is a post from a gal who inspires me to write more with transparency</a> - her story is changing me<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXcJyF1Qh7fwIiFuyKEhVQvpj_XcxXFaoiaU8-LNQ9ueBCWgZUcWGAN-9IlnT59on8QXSZumXScRWdcfKzFD1sx2n2mnA7mphg6odQpJG7Mrh0y0h3gMCpRveDHiUAD5cw9maMCyeluiO/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXcJyF1Qh7fwIiFuyKEhVQvpj_XcxXFaoiaU8-LNQ9ueBCWgZUcWGAN-9IlnT59on8QXSZumXScRWdcfKzFD1sx2n2mnA7mphg6odQpJG7Mrh0y0h3gMCpRveDHiUAD5cw9maMCyeluiO/s320/photo.PNG" /></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-44384764379580515252014-01-05T11:30:00.000-08:002014-01-05T11:40:07.698-08:002013 InventoryI started doing this post last year and resolved to make it an annual tradition. I think it's important (more for me than for you), but I do think it matters to recall, count blessings, take inventory and look forward. A few days late, but better late than never…<br />
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- <b>joy:</b> finding out WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCHdOR93HgpdN-zP4L3c58VZPAd9PZQTP1R51Nyh8TagTfXrZya_fgdy4ZQA5xJz9m1M0No8z-vbJGTcGc-zkZ9hgRun-1u5easiBQgq4gVTRuPFrM9UjssWL1NByfh75LyYoDKffHydq/s1600/1470120_10153498140880344_1646575720_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCHdOR93HgpdN-zP4L3c58VZPAd9PZQTP1R51Nyh8TagTfXrZya_fgdy4ZQA5xJz9m1M0No8z-vbJGTcGc-zkZ9hgRun-1u5easiBQgq4gVTRuPFrM9UjssWL1NByfh75LyYoDKffHydq/s320/1470120_10153498140880344_1646575720_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>peace:</b> knowing that during a really yucky season of crazy migraines and a bit of a health scare, God never, ever left us. He was our peace during a hard season with work and health. We weathered the storm knowing we were in good hands - with our doctors, our community and our God. <br />
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- <b>grace: </b> marriage is still the greatest picture of grace I've experienced. How and why he keeps loving and forgiving is beyond me. Grace upon grace upon grace. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOdcq0JrhTY5-AeNClBPKJDTyFuH3N-aAFGWlmYN0o2YivgeHF0BcTuQ_BkgW_fjvI41p5rxPUB1jUYaGcq_JqzebtMwKHRy_0VlT1B63xul4NaNbGXKaZUAFt0L-BwlFYxW4bUVbHiEE/s1600/1375817_10153357125795344_977476052_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOdcq0JrhTY5-AeNClBPKJDTyFuH3N-aAFGWlmYN0o2YivgeHF0BcTuQ_BkgW_fjvI41p5rxPUB1jUYaGcq_JqzebtMwKHRy_0VlT1B63xul4NaNbGXKaZUAFt0L-BwlFYxW4bUVbHiEE/s320/1375817_10153357125795344_977476052_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>mercy:</b> a new job that I said yes to this fall. So much mercy. The timing was perfect, the need for change was evident, the schedule is so fitting for having a baby on the way and I get to do what I'm passionate about - a combination of student ministry and missions - nothing better. Thankful for God's mercy in a job with <a href="http://stint.com">Students International </a>and all that this season of ministry will bring for our little family. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0VQO4Q1COyxSwbqzAeenxZ4wX161xFJ0R0z5fUQmjWYAVMxBidkI8HpK37is9Or2GgWQS7XMdOL9f8F6dfeFh5Mh4ORdFNtNSbVzQPLqV1oNmGVQH5fjyyJq5OJLW1hok7ftyh_cHk8X/s1600/1463713_10153466141115344_125630335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0VQO4Q1COyxSwbqzAeenxZ4wX161xFJ0R0z5fUQmjWYAVMxBidkI8HpK37is9Or2GgWQS7XMdOL9f8F6dfeFh5Mh4ORdFNtNSbVzQPLqV1oNmGVQH5fjyyJq5OJLW1hok7ftyh_cHk8X/s320/1463713_10153466141115344_125630335_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>discipline:</b> this is kind of funny, but I actually think my best discipline was in the kitchen. :) I love to bake, but I don't love to cook and this year I've learned the discipline of cooking and the importance of providing nourishment for people I love. I'm hoping that 2014 makes this more of a joy and less of a discipline… wishful thinking. <br />
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- <b>growth:</b> holy leaps and bounds… leaving my job with IMPACT and the crazy process that involved for me - mentally, spiritually and physically challenged me and grew me. So much. I also saw HUGE amounts of growth in the college gals that I do life with. We learned to follow Jesus with more integrity, to become a family, to be real and genuine and to love each other unconditionally. It was phenomenal and I can't even deal with the fact that 1/2 of these gems will graduate in June. Can't talk about it. Tears. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uDyeUQwrxxNjMCTb3-54Gcp_8HdKiyvOZkqhdLKxFHVzwUYn61_D53Xz8-9pwdbd7b5Ki6UKY6U8vG9mSEsJUER6icVwnWSgVPD8fx6WLATNF96U5vqXFhWpLMQ-7nQTXnbVeiJtlBVK/s1600/1017268_10152916483780344_1896752216_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uDyeUQwrxxNjMCTb3-54Gcp_8HdKiyvOZkqhdLKxFHVzwUYn61_D53Xz8-9pwdbd7b5Ki6UKY6U8vG9mSEsJUER6icVwnWSgVPD8fx6WLATNF96U5vqXFhWpLMQ-7nQTXnbVeiJtlBVK/s320/1017268_10152916483780344_1896752216_n.jpg" /></a><br />
also… <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153491383225344&l=4774617128063565083">this is what happened</a> when we told the gals we were preggo :) <br />
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- <b>answered prayer:</b> our friends Chuck and Holly have been battling what was said to be terminal cancer in his body for the last year. We fervently prayed for them and for healing every single night. We got news right before Christmas that CHUCK IS CANCER FREE!!! This is such a sweet gift for them and their twin babies. We love it. <br />
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- <b>friendship:</b> I alluded to this in my last post, but good gracious, Jesus brought us friends this year -he literally just plopped this incredible group of friends into our lives and our town and we are so grateful. I needed a solid group of girlfriends so so badly and I sit here amazed at the answer to prayer in Cheryl, April, Nicole, Kristi and Blair to name a few. So thankful. <br />
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- <b>beauty:</b> I think that new life is such a beautiful thing. Because I'm pregnant, I may be appreciating it more these days, but we got 2 new nieces - Ellie and Liza and a new nephew - Jack this year. They are little miracles and such delightful tiny humans. Three of my closest friends had babies this year too and sweet Jesus that is beautiful. Bringing life into this world is beautiful. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs315s75HtD4L3KD3jOCt6AzWgOv7dUICNvQRVLAOF6uziInavdIlZcv2bkxwODdugyfIVWSxaKqn6LYpBlv6WxKm7e9LEydTmQgDGYQRTqSRm-mAOslzuR6N0jmU71m26VfO2eCp4n7xv/s1600/1005761_10153062103765344_102564042_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs315s75HtD4L3KD3jOCt6AzWgOv7dUICNvQRVLAOF6uziInavdIlZcv2bkxwODdugyfIVWSxaKqn6LYpBlv6WxKm7e9LEydTmQgDGYQRTqSRm-mAOslzuR6N0jmU71m26VfO2eCp4n7xv/s320/1005761_10153062103765344_102564042_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>rest:</b> rest for us this year came in the form of little getaways. We LOVE living on the central coast where it's easy to take mini-vacations and have a life time-out. A few of our favorites this year were Napa in January, Sonoma in February, Vegas in March, Palm Desert in May, Carpinteria in June, San Diego in July, Carmel in October, and Solvang in December. Just a few :) These much-needed breaks provided rest - for our bodies, our souls, our brains and our marriage. We are so grateful. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagNxq4MRm0gy_n6FBC-5yjo0FYS8inXzQlW6Q1VzX8vcZCTLlmbM90XZbVLMndUAFCK9YMaVpzMXj_C-u_XRSPGHMHW0IaEd8iDBuv8Ly2EJWeULHgcv7JqZfCZLghu4Bp4J-0nHsnoQy/s1600/1425525_10153401371830344_1710665012_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagNxq4MRm0gy_n6FBC-5yjo0FYS8inXzQlW6Q1VzX8vcZCTLlmbM90XZbVLMndUAFCK9YMaVpzMXj_C-u_XRSPGHMHW0IaEd8iDBuv8Ly2EJWeULHgcv7JqZfCZLghu4Bp4J-0nHsnoQy/s400/1425525_10153401371830344_1710665012_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>perseverance:</b> I saw more resolve in myself during the hard months of July and August than I've ever seen in my 33 years of life. All I will say is that it was hard, I wanted to quit, I wanted answers, I wanted to wake up and have it all be over with. God saw me through it. Life is so different now. So much redemption came from persevering through the suffering. <br />
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- <b>pura vida (true, full life):</b> I think Jarred and I find this most on mission. Whether local mission with Young Life, our church plant crew, the homeless shelter or overseas. This year for us, we found "pure vida" in our church community here - people knowing us well and loving us anyways. We also found it in our trips to Haiti and Costa Rica - beautiful pure life. We have much to learn. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtk95rxGbkDevEB3tG_BWIXe0bjDJiOjiV0hfuCoym8IglWxfo45OkyotafUv2utsFYKT0HTX9ew-bCgg8-_x7H9RGrhVMKIeGkWRfvnIPFZmFtQXECaYsDREXVpC5-YTb_tub-ZUgNSy/s1600/44281_10152768955270344_586558005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtk95rxGbkDevEB3tG_BWIXe0bjDJiOjiV0hfuCoym8IglWxfo45OkyotafUv2utsFYKT0HTX9ew-bCgg8-_x7H9RGrhVMKIeGkWRfvnIPFZmFtQXECaYsDREXVpC5-YTb_tub-ZUgNSy/s320/44281_10152768955270344_586558005_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmGgAJ2H_ExPlSg_tnD5gFYxoBba8sdRZ1FzPM7PlJykXKhd1HpTRyCGnNRihscZzpqWuUPRj3bX7LCK1hC5EC-yo6wIJ83icOzSZ3lv_UZX3Xm5pPp6MChEPXg0PnCdVHYa7xuu5oGpm/s1600/923235_10152768947980344_1469462602_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmGgAJ2H_ExPlSg_tnD5gFYxoBba8sdRZ1FzPM7PlJykXKhd1HpTRyCGnNRihscZzpqWuUPRj3bX7LCK1hC5EC-yo6wIJ83icOzSZ3lv_UZX3Xm5pPp6MChEPXg0PnCdVHYa7xuu5oGpm/s320/923235_10152768947980344_1469462602_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>love:</b> my sweet husband has gone above and beyond this year. From my health issues in August to getting pregnant in September, his job has not been easy for the last 5 months. This man is a rockstar. I can't tell you how many pesto chicken sandwiches he's delivered to the couch. I see Jesus in how he loves me unconditionally and without cost. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCXPoJumJmGRYTFMWm8sAPS3D7HEks16sc9BtbAYkqWTFCgeEafLOrqYfpjqOLFEB-D0wddIZtu33lktS0VKF_cVHvjRi_20_SxRUzpLuKT95BU1Nh7U2yeQy9IMrweh1XRVVAr6G5GCY/s1600/1175706_10153141081765344_1392952667_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCXPoJumJmGRYTFMWm8sAPS3D7HEks16sc9BtbAYkqWTFCgeEafLOrqYfpjqOLFEB-D0wddIZtu33lktS0VKF_cVHvjRi_20_SxRUzpLuKT95BU1Nh7U2yeQy9IMrweh1XRVVAr6G5GCY/s320/1175706_10153141081765344_1392952667_n.jpg" /></a><br />
- <b>the Gospel:</b> our new "church" community has been the living, breathing gospel. The time we spend with them is real and honest and full of both grace and truth. These people have become our family here in town and we know that life with them around makes sense. God is present and revealing himself through this beautiful community. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZhiRDLZdd41pChi0xYEMcKAjJ71n1aBs3u6WJXfu4rd-PQmMc-9cJMNb0pnIaf2McRANkBXXXWGMhIsbSn4U6b2AyGXLp5KGsNd_TBAcYFdLpvgTrbLdC80d5D8iR0LCmS0egO6A67DV/s1600/1506407_10152114995221788_1742740521_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZhiRDLZdd41pChi0xYEMcKAjJ71n1aBs3u6WJXfu4rd-PQmMc-9cJMNb0pnIaf2McRANkBXXXWGMhIsbSn4U6b2AyGXLp5KGsNd_TBAcYFdLpvgTrbLdC80d5D8iR0LCmS0egO6A67DV/s320/1506407_10152114995221788_1742740521_n.jpg" /></a><br />
2014 is about to bring SO much change - more than we could ever dream up. While we have NO idea what we're getting ourselves into with this little one, we have so much excitement and anticipation of how this year will go and are thankful for each day that this baby continues to grow healthy and strong. Bring it on… we expect great things. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-1494858459976297762013-11-27T19:40:00.001-08:002013-11-27T19:41:32.087-08:00Top 10This year I decided it would be best to mark tomorrow's holiday with the top 10 things I'm thankful for. It's hard for us to not be with family tomorrow (nor on Christmas Day this year), so I've found myself complaining about that instead of being thankful. I need help. Ha. <br />
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Bree's Top 10 for Thanksgiving<br />
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I'm thankful for…<br />
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- this crazy, amazing, beautiful, real group of college gals I get to do life with on Thursday nights and beyond. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KroPvMnMGTC8N0s67N0ZMKPYvY2O_2n2L_B6Jqv3nT_tLhhBWRkYMyarOqyEejzdamtaiNYek2SIy0Gq7xnZrThqBaL1yNN_HBsgK9vuQUqYoX4YJy1ahw6_LNyy-O7zeaoi9zH0OblY/s1600/IMG_8038.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KroPvMnMGTC8N0s67N0ZMKPYvY2O_2n2L_B6Jqv3nT_tLhhBWRkYMyarOqyEejzdamtaiNYek2SIy0Gq7xnZrThqBaL1yNN_HBsgK9vuQUqYoX4YJy1ahw6_LNyy-O7zeaoi9zH0OblY/s320/IMG_8038.JPG" /></a><br />
- Maggie - the sweetest golden retriever that we somehow are lucky enough to have in our little family. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_xD96I6bFPLwYvJC1HmiO41NFM8KhyGoo2AkXKm_ayUbo5uvkK0l9gxrIcr1cE5wYLSxJDo9h1zC1jOsJFtVoZSPNGGULi1EZy3suXf_ElNYJiIgMfRwxLOBe0utezftjcdS96jqS53w/s1600/IMG_3824.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_xD96I6bFPLwYvJC1HmiO41NFM8KhyGoo2AkXKm_ayUbo5uvkK0l9gxrIcr1cE5wYLSxJDo9h1zC1jOsJFtVoZSPNGGULi1EZy3suXf_ElNYJiIgMfRwxLOBe0utezftjcdS96jqS53w/s320/IMG_3824.JPG" /></a><br />
- my grandpas - I know that may seem strange, but I think being pregnant makes you think about the relationships you treasured growing up - my grandpas were great men. I miss them. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fIz5BB2fl8qTfXuzbkNqGjH1KUS0EkDtgwzhllopbLV9uQDd68-GMvzx3U_RpGD2pKSxv7R3nqwNcm0_-Mx5bvhDXdjO4qwO-vnFDr8mElLiYLCBk5omVINsmE3AcQAwHLjFVvRwRReh/s1600/bmb+-+83+w.gramp+cowboy+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fIz5BB2fl8qTfXuzbkNqGjH1KUS0EkDtgwzhllopbLV9uQDd68-GMvzx3U_RpGD2pKSxv7R3nqwNcm0_-Mx5bvhDXdjO4qwO-vnFDr8mElLiYLCBk5omVINsmE3AcQAwHLjFVvRwRReh/s320/bmb+-+83+w.gramp+cowboy+hat.jpg" /></a><br />
- my friends & family - if you know me at all, you know I love my people. I am so rich in relationships it's ridiculous and I'm crazy grateful. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d7a0v3zogTi33DOWBsHuBT0M6UNEgqwKY2G1kHcI3kh-wPaufuwOLBueOlbAnP3QfpPoCK0cEENDYoJA53JcRU8mUzYzFFDcqv7U6e-kpafQfgSxcpc-cz2cv5c5qq6ayi0xIgybswKh/s1600/Bre+Jared+Wedding_0511.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d7a0v3zogTi33DOWBsHuBT0M6UNEgqwKY2G1kHcI3kh-wPaufuwOLBueOlbAnP3QfpPoCK0cEENDYoJA53JcRU8mUzYzFFDcqv7U6e-kpafQfgSxcpc-cz2cv5c5qq6ayi0xIgybswKh/s320/Bre+Jared+Wedding_0511.jpg" /></a><br />
- my health - I had a bit of a strange summer with my health and I can tell you I've never been more thankful for it than I have this year. <br />
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- new friendships in SLO - it's hard to be "new in town" and we really made some awesome friends this year, I don't take that for granted. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6BHhAaasprGa2aEy5PQyBMqwytQvxgqmGIiY7jgQ8kJb30c5y9qZJ_T6KdxWiE-mz36cmJABLPFvV00_47hNepjwI38rBDS8ZEqjccNB40UCoPEeO9FH4xTs_SlN7N_CtLncJHyclE9W/s1600/IMG_6470.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6BHhAaasprGa2aEy5PQyBMqwytQvxgqmGIiY7jgQ8kJb30c5y9qZJ_T6KdxWiE-mz36cmJABLPFvV00_47hNepjwI38rBDS8ZEqjccNB40UCoPEeO9FH4xTs_SlN7N_CtLncJHyclE9W/s320/IMG_6470.JPG" /></a><br />
- my new job - I LOVED working for IMPACT. It challenged me and grew me beyond my imagination, but I am equally as thankful for my new job with Students International that allows me to do something I'm passionate about, but gives me the flexibility to be home much of the time with my family. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaqFXKwf_kxoVE-QmtnzFEGYOUFWwEOdtnH_p6GpyFEFlKvhSBf_kaNq_yDRttgJey7q4WEzKezzwZB08Y3DgECHqKse9WiQEphTrrHbDWWdvfTcuSP603xfLG2T8jQjm6ekA8b0ZYeRC/s1600/IMG_8001.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaqFXKwf_kxoVE-QmtnzFEGYOUFWwEOdtnH_p6GpyFEFlKvhSBf_kaNq_yDRttgJey7q4WEzKezzwZB08Y3DgECHqKse9WiQEphTrrHbDWWdvfTcuSP603xfLG2T8jQjm6ekA8b0ZYeRC/s320/IMG_8001.JPG" /></a><br />
- God's grace - I've learned this year that He is so gracious with us to let us be where we are, where we need to be, His expectations of us are often different than our expectations of ourselves, so glad about that. <br />
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- Jarred - he is a loyal, faithful, hard-working, tender-hearted, loving, care-taking, delightful husband and I'm so thankful for the gift it is to be his wife. Crazy how much we've become a family these last few years. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp1lauSg9HFP1fXW5XmdvawMerWlBsmC6eReCnKbFnYCbRapK6GPXzpKPrBzaoNCJEdRT13RFjF_xxssD1LJ8WJlbAyQh60xDX1Vg3J_SHW4M_QqO7CPS4E09AF-a_QSo_zaOYl1SLPuE/s1600/IMG_7980.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp1lauSg9HFP1fXW5XmdvawMerWlBsmC6eReCnKbFnYCbRapK6GPXzpKPrBzaoNCJEdRT13RFjF_xxssD1LJ8WJlbAyQh60xDX1Vg3J_SHW4M_QqO7CPS4E09AF-a_QSo_zaOYl1SLPuE/s320/IMG_7980.JPG" /></a><br />
- the life growing inside of me - wow. This is the #1 thing we are crazy grateful for this year. We see God's handprint all over this little life - the timing, how it's changed us, how loved this kid will be - and we could not be more excited or thankful… for life and for this next season. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbe1ToI40xejpzDrBvN5UaiPL0lY6pCqd42Ezg-jwyJAbrHg58iZ512OMRYQl1ruJJ7WYDRFp14cxAnomiz8ZjKwTUd1oiMSf3md-6HW3buGIKGaC0Ndo28BkKwvz6JU_ArU95yJlOPVN/s1600/IMG_8012.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbe1ToI40xejpzDrBvN5UaiPL0lY6pCqd42Ezg-jwyJAbrHg58iZ512OMRYQl1ruJJ7WYDRFp14cxAnomiz8ZjKwTUd1oiMSf3md-6HW3buGIKGaC0Ndo28BkKwvz6JU_ArU95yJlOPVN/s320/IMG_8012.JPG" /></a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-73588841525480839462013-10-26T11:54:00.000-07:002013-10-26T11:55:46.736-07:00Seven: Food - Day 18Welp, we're almost there - 20 days will be here in 48 hours. Before you get excited and think that we did it, I have (yet again) to confess. There were a few days last week - say maybe days 15-16 that I didn't give a rip about the fast we were doing. You may ask me to define "I didn't give a rip," okay - 2 sugar cookies with buttercream frosting (breaking more than one rule, maybe 3), a piece of apple raspberry pie (also multiple rule-breakers), pizza and tortilla chips - all in 2 days. Wow. I mean if you're gonna cheat, go all in, right? That's my philosophy - make it good. And boy I did. <br />
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Of course that night, Jarred and I are sitting on the couch talking about our day and he asks, "How you doing with Seven this week?" Why? Why when there's something to confess does someone always ask the hard question?!?!?! Ugh… The ugly truth came spilling out. I told him I'd stopped caring. He asked me if I'd be willing to jump back on the bandwagon for the last few days and pony up. Maybe? was my reply. People, something is wrong with me! I've lost all self-control. So I thought about it and saw how much he didn't want to do it alone and I agreed. <br />
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So until Monday, we are back in the saddle - making good choices and doing our dang best to stick with the program. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - it's birthday celebration time and I don't give a rip - with GREAT reason. No rules on birthdays people. <br />
<br />
We will do our best to be really spiritual on Monday and give you some great grand finale to what we've learned this month. Wish us luck :) <br />
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A little glimpse of something I've been really convicted about this month is inviting Jesus into my challenges. I have found over and over again this month that I forget to ask for help. I think I can do it on my own so I try and I try and I try and I fail, every stinkin' time. I still haven't quite mastered the art of stopping before I start my day and asking Jesus to give me the strength to fast that day, the strength to do what's best that day, the discipline to say no that day. Maybe I've got 2 days left to practice… sweet Jesus, give me grace. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-50894274427474864772013-10-18T15:07:00.003-07:002013-10-18T15:33:17.393-07:00Seven: Food - Day 10Here I am again to tell you that we're failing at Food Month ;) <br />
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This month is really hard (even after we fell off the bandwagon and changed it up) - it's really, really hard. It's been amazing to me how much our society and our friend groups revolve around food and drinks. I mean, I guess that's been true for hundreds of years in many cultures - food and gathering around the table are a defining piece of the culture. When you deny yourself seven categories of food, you learn much about your dependence on those things. It's so good and so bad all in the same breath. <br />
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You know what I want? Lemonade... and wine... and some cookie dough... and a loaf of sourdough bread. The sad part is I can't stop thinking about it. The phrase, "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone" has been ringing through my head the last 10 days. <br />
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But our bodies are truly amazing creations. They are built to survive, built to find an alternative, built to work together with all their oodles of parts and figure out what to tell you to substitute when you can't have lemonade or bread or wine. It's unreal how lemonade has turned into afternoon cantaloupe snacking and cookie dough has found it's supplement in energy balls made of peanut butter, oats, coconut and honey. And wine? Well, let's get real - there's really no substitute for a good glass of wine... It's been awesome to see my body "figure it out" and give my brain the signal to tell me what to substitute. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjz5IjBOVetoAVfvJqGes-TGOKC6gWXM3Q4CkFcbKRR0JaQkzrC_jle9WuqjQ8J-lUWMXaZmOjPoQrgz6bYxCIUW7mLJ_0ni4w3PGhsbXvhq-Z38nf8WqaXra0g1dBBpjJ8GANamC8QHN/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjz5IjBOVetoAVfvJqGes-TGOKC6gWXM3Q4CkFcbKRR0JaQkzrC_jle9WuqjQ8J-lUWMXaZmOjPoQrgz6bYxCIUW7mLJ_0ni4w3PGhsbXvhq-Z38nf8WqaXra0g1dBBpjJ8GANamC8QHN/s320/photo.JPG" /></a></div>Some of our not-so-finest moments this month you'll catch us arguing over whether certain cereal has too much sweetness in it to be qualified as consuming sugar or whether or not it's okay to eat bread with mostly wheat flour. But some of our finer moments have been the look across the table when all we want is a bite of homemade pie and we tell each other without words that it's worth it. <br />
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My evil temptress college gals tried to convince me to sneak a glass of wine with them after Jarred went to bed... it's those moments where I say "no" and then I feel like <strike>I'd pay them $100 to open the wine and pour it in my mouth</strike> like I've won the battle. :) But seriously, it's been cool to do this for something bigger than ourselves - to be an example to college students, medical professionals, our friends and family of people who are willing to sacrifice so that we might learn something. <b>We want this to somehow bring us closer to the God who created food as nourishment... and not to be an idol. And somehow I think that's working. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-66499739934454904132013-10-12T13:26:00.000-07:002013-10-12T13:27:17.071-07:00Seven: Food Day 3 (Spoiler Alert: We Fell Off the Bandwagon)I'm sitting at the table eating some whole wheat pasta with pesto and chicken for lunch. People, we couldn't do it. For a variety of reasons and the season we're in, we just couldn't do a small amount of foods. Our excuses are many and I'll spare them, but the hardest thing is Jarred's 13 hour work days and me starting a new job in 3 days and being gone for that next week. The transition and long days are hard when your options are limited - as is travel. <br />
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We didn't fail, we modified. I like to think of it as a Day 2 restart, that works right? :) Instead of only eating seven things, we decided to give up seven things. I know it's no NEAR the sacrifice that Jen made, but we've decided we're not quite up to par with the Hatmaker crew yet. Baby steps. But the things we decided to quit are still a sacrifice. <br />
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So here's our confession: we are at this point in time incapable of eating only seven foods for 3 weeks. But here's what you can keep us accountable to giving up...<br />
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1) coffee<br />
2) sweets/sugar<br />
3) alcohol<br />
4) white flour (or anything containing it)<br />
5) chips<br />
6) full-fat dairy (we can only eat low fat or fat-free)<br />
7) hummus (SADDDDDD)<br />
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We recognize that some of you may not eat these things regularly and BRAVO for you. None of these are bad things to sacrifice, but these are things that we <strike>regularly</strike> sometimes consume and they're hard things for us to give up. <br />
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A few examples of the torture the last few days: at lunch with some friends at a Mexican restaurant - they bring out chips and salsa - BUMMER, a friend has a bowl of Halloween candy and I naturally pull out a mini Hershey's bar and then put it back - BUMMER, we are celebrating some friends' birthdays tonight and I've been nominated to go pick up apple and boysenberry pie (apple pie is my love language) - HUGE BUMMER! See, not as easy as it sounds. I also have a husband suffering from caffeine withdrawal headaches. Now that's a bummer - for both of us.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp0hnilT3wfoAnebQ3i7bdz0s6QWj6pjSrHjgDj3WbDcYpH2Jlo93NLEYwZpdud0-bJMn5c8qzUaWmEFs3mqWHgF7dfDj9Im5iWK1RN5GkE8pUUffrkGXcagPsC_yBAqgmICKtCdaNLuH/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp0hnilT3wfoAnebQ3i7bdz0s6QWj6pjSrHjgDj3WbDcYpH2Jlo93NLEYwZpdud0-bJMn5c8qzUaWmEFs3mqWHgF7dfDj9Im5iWK1RN5GkE8pUUffrkGXcagPsC_yBAqgmICKtCdaNLuH/s320/photo.JPG" /></a></div><br />
What are we learning? Nothing yet, just that deprivation makes us both more crabby. We'll keep you posted as the weeks go on. Do we feel like we failed? No, we just feel like this time around, that wasn't the best solution and we're good with that and a teensy bit happier. Thanks for joining us on the journey. If you see us right now, you may encounter some crazies - sorry bout it. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-19655986880362583642013-10-09T21:38:00.000-07:002013-10-12T13:05:36.799-07:00Seven: Food - Day 1People, we're doing this. This month is scary. Media month seems daunting, but when you mess with my food choices - oh watch the heck out. It's day one at 6:30pm and I am hangry (hungry + angry = hangry). For serious though, this one will mess with me to the core, I can already tell. <br />
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I got this text from the hubs at 3pm: "I just ate my last meal I brought to work and I'm still so hungry." On a global scale, we are clearly overfed because with what we've eaten today, any kid in Haiti or Africa would be stuffed to the brim and praising Jesus for so much food... and we're both hungry and can't stop talking/thinking about it. Wow. Reality check #1. <br />
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<a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog.htm">Jen</a> picked seven foods and ate them for the entire month (minus the tortillas she categorized as bread, don't blame her one bit). We are trying 10 foods because 7 seemed mentally insane to us, but trust me - it's very different from what we normally do (tortilla chips, ice cream, wine, cookie dough, etc). All I can say is the amount of chicken, beans avocados and sweet potatoes we're about to consume is intense. Our bodies will be oh-so-clean by October 30 - just in time to ruin all we worked for by celebrating the heck out of my birthday :)<br />
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Here's been my epiphany with food month while preparing for it: we have friends that live in other countries, lots of them. They eat differently than us, particularly our friends who live in Haiti. <a href="http://kelseacaswell.weebly.com">Sweet Kelsea</a> was here visiting us 2 weeks ago and she and I were sitting at the kitchen table over breakfast talking about Seven, about the monthly sacrifices and we got stuck on food. We got stuck because Kelsea started thinking about she and her husband's life in Haiti and told me that she thinks they really truly eat no more than seven foods in their house, give or take a few. She has no running water right now, no electricity and the outdoor market is a 30 minute walk down the hill. Kelsea is American - she's lived in Colorado and California and since her move to Haiti, she's literally paired down her eating to about seven things. Things that can be purchased at a low price and cooked on the stove. That and fruit are really their only options. Holy smokes... But you know what? She may have never put that together had I not mentioned it - she's content, she's satisfied and she's the healthiest I've ever seen her, <strike>minus a recent bout with dengue fever</strike>.<br />
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This was so convicting for me. What makes me think that I can't live on seven(ish) foods for one month if Kelsea, who grew up just as privileged as I did can live on seven foods everyday of her life. Not to mention the kids who live down the street from her who eat three - porridge, beans and rice. And they're all alive, happy and completely satisfied. <b>This want versus need thing is really ripping me apart these days.</b> God is stripping us down to the basics of humanity and we've already learned that we don't need media and we only need a very minimal amount of food. But sweet Jesus, I'd give my right pinky toe for a Chipotle burrito right now. Wish us luck! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-60021428822299221272013-10-02T05:50:00.001-07:002013-10-02T05:50:57.104-07:00Seven: Media Day 28 - We Did It! Someone asked me recently, “What is God teaching you right now?” My almost-immediate response surprised me as I usually think through answers to those types of questions – maybe wanting to sound pious or mature. My answer exited my mouth before I even had time to think about it: “God has been working on teaching me what is important – loving Him and loving people and not worrying so much about my to-do list.” <br />
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I tell you this because I think that media month had EVERYTHING to do with this. Headed into media month, I was coming off some of the worst weeks of my life with intense stroke-like atypical migraines… every 4 days. During the “down days” we’ll call them, I had much time to spend with God. He showed up and reminded me of words that I needed to turn into action – like “be” and “abide,” like “grace” and “rest.” As much as my type A personality pushes against that, it was exactly the season I needed. Enter the inspiration to FINALLY read and do “Seven.” I knew this was what my life needed in this season. <br />
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During my “down days” I spent much time on Facebook and allowing movie stars to entertain me while I laid on the couch recovering, most faithful golden retriever by my side. When Jarred and I had to choose which month of “Seven” to begin with, media month was a no brainer for the girl who was so over screen time. <br />
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So it began… 28 days ago. It’s been a journey – one of peace, quiet, reconnecting, being, abiding, relating and praying. In so many ways, it’s changed us. We may be more present, more likely to pick up the phone, more apt to want to hang out, more excited about going for walks and more in touch. A $12 book can’t buy you that, but a sacrificial experience in your faith journey can do that. We are so grateful – so much so that we want the remnants media month to be ingrained into the fabric of our home. <br />
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We have decided that our family will celebrate Sabbath once a week – probably on Mondays – our Sabbath will be media-free. So no media Mondays will be happening in our house. We will laugh, we will talk, we will cry if we need to, we will be together. One night a week will also be media-free. We don’t like the habit of coming home from work just to open computers and not be present. While we learned that sometimes we need to decompress by reading blogs, news, etc., it does not need to happen every night. So one night a week will be set aside for quiet, for connecting, for family. We want this to be a pattern in our house so that when kids come they know that’s just what “we do” and we want them to value it as well. <br />
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Jen says this: “Perhaps this is why Scripture calls us to the practice of fasting – from food, from greed, from selfishness, from luxuries. It isn’t just the experience; it’s the discipline. It changes us. Fasting helps us develop mastery over the competing voices in our heads that urge us toward more, toward indulgence, toward emotional volatility.” - pg. 219<br />
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<b>Media month did just that for us –it taught us discipline and it has changed us. We recognized that being unplugged warred against the competing voices in our heads<i></i></b> saying, “Go read this blog. You HAVE to see what so and so posted on Instagram today. You have 17 Facebook notifications and 30 emails – they must be attended to immediately, especially the ones about Farmville and Male Enhancement ;).” But seriously, it’s so good for your soul, your marriage, your friendships and your busy mind to shut down and just “be.” God asks that of us a few times and the more you practice it, the easier it gets. Discipline changes us. <br />
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We love “Seven” – we want more. <b>We are coming to believe that sacrificial living for the purpose of teaching ourselves what we don’t need and learning to depend on Jesus is important. Not only that; it’s scriptural and it’s transforming.</b> We are stoked for month two, which will be… FOOD MONTH! More details to come with a start date of October 9. Thanks for joining us on the journey. <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-50883870290873769632013-09-26T15:31:00.001-07:002013-09-26T15:34:53.484-07:00Seven: Media Fast Day 26Holy smokes, the closer we get to the end, the more I'd like to just cheat and say I did it. It's just two days early, right? I've learned through this experience that my husband is a rule follower of all rule followers. Therefore, cheating is not worth it if I feel the need to confess, which I usually do. <br />
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So here's my confession for today... I looked on Facebook, but only for like 5 seconds after looking up what I needed to (one of my friends from Haiti is in the hospital and the best updates on how she's doing are on Facebook - merited...). But after I saw how she's doing, I just browsed like the top 5 posts on my news feed today. Like I said, I'm over it. And I don't really feel guilty - I only will when I have to confess tonight. <br />
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Something great I'm learning through this - there's no way in heck I could do this without community. Jen said it in the book and I thought I could do it alone, no problem, but people - a month is a LONG time. For real. And having Jarred do this with me has been a game changer because it reminds me that People magazines are media and YouTube links in a text message are media and it's worth it to power through the last two days. So very worth it. I've needed him. Without him I would totally have cheated more than once or twice by now. He's been my person and it's made us more of a team; for that I'm incredibly thankful. Truly. <br />
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A sad thing that's happened during media month? I COMPLETELY forgot to call not one, but BOTH of my grandmas on their birthdays. I blame Facebook, but seriously I do. Facebook reminds me of those things and my iPhone update didn't transfer all of my birthdays and then my grandma's felt unloved and forgotten. Yuck. So ready for those reminders to be back in my world. And it's ended up costing a pretty penny to send something nice with an "I'm sorry" card to make up for my brain fart(s). This part made me really sad and even maybe made me say, "It's not worth it." But I can't blame media month - only myself. <br />
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One of the greatest things we've learned is what Jen's husband Brandon says in the book about their experience: <i><blockquote>"The dangerous part of our social media and technologically saturated world is not it's existence, but what it distracts us from." pg. 116</blockquote></i> We are loving learning things we've never known about each other - going for walks, talking more, watching each other's personalities, spending time with our pup - all because the distractions have been removed. <br />
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This is decidedly good for us - more distraction free lives and more time with people we love. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. <br />
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Stay tuned for the grand finale post for media month. I'll talk about our plan to implement this beyond one month as well as what challenge we've chosen for October. This whole Seven thing is really hard. And good. And hard. But we love it. <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-7279452037511794332013-09-12T22:26:00.000-07:002013-09-26T09:15:13.360-07:00Seven: Media Fast Day 12Tell the truth Thursday night...<br />
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I'm getting tired of it, I cheated to watch a football game today and I could never be a nun. There, I said it. <br />
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It's funny how the silence (something we all long for in the chaos) will drive you batty after a while. I do fine on days when we're both off work - the chatter, mindless and/or meaningful, continues throughout the day, we have a to-do list to keep each other motivated with and we will go find something to do together if we're bored. But sweet Jesus, when he's working 13 hour days and I have no human interaction, no radio, no blogs, Facebook or Instagram, I. GO. NUTS. Straight nuts. And then I know I drive him CRAZY as soon as he gets home. It's not fair - he's been around people all day and I've been stuck in this house. <br />
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So this week, while he works 7 days in a row, I will be more intentional about time away with friends, making phone calls, being present with humans. It will benefit everyone, I promise. <br />
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This is getting difficult, I tell you. I think the hardest thing about it is finding another outlet. It's not that we want to fill our time with media ish, but the problem is that it's how we wind down. We read blogs or yahoo stories or watch YouTube videos to wind down. And now we exchange antsy glances and wonder how to kill that time. <br />
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So we had a come to Jesus Day-12 conversation tonight (where one of us got defensive, I'll let you guess who) and we made some decisions about the next 16 days and how we'd like to make media month really worth our sacrifice. <br />
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So here are some goals for the next 16 days: <br />
<br />
- We'd like to spend more of that unstructured antsy time with Jesus instead of knocking more things off of our to-do lists. While we love productivity, we're pretty sure that's not what this month is about. <br />
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- We are not going to TV cheat anymore - even for really important college football games where our alma maters are playing each other for the only time this year. <br />
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- One of us needs to use a little less sarcastic banter and useless verbage in text conversations (I'll also let you guess which one that is)<br />
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- We want to be more intentional about our time together and how we spend that while we have extra space. <br />
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- We want to come up with a plan for a less media rhythm once we are done with this month. <br />
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So these are the things you can ask us about if you see us. Feel free. I'm still over it and I still could never be a nun, but I'm attempting to jump back on the bandwagon and be more hard core these next 16 days... pray for our 5 days in Chicago at a REALLY amazing wedding where I'll want to Instagram everything. Self control. That's what to pray for. <br />
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This is good for me. This is good for me. This is good for me... Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-57569954645326439052013-09-05T13:47:00.001-07:002013-09-05T13:50:40.748-07:00Seven: Media Fast Day 5 BulletsIt's Day 5 without media in our house. Here are some things we're learning:<br />
<br />
- I love facebook, instagram and blogs<br />
<br />
- Jarred loves yahoo news and this new money mustache blog(?!?!?)<br />
<br />
- our house is typically pretty quiet, so the no tv thing isn't really affecting us<br />
<br />
- we are SO productive without our computers in front of our faces! we got SO much done this weekend - like so much<br />
<br />
- I am a more present friend - I had three solid long catch-up phone calls yesterday and I felt like I was being a good friend<br />
<br />
- when we're productive & distraction-free, we actually have time to go for walks on the beach! <br />
<br />
- we have NO IDEA what's going on in the world. Jarred went to work today to hopefully someone will tell him and he can relay to me what's happening out there<br />
<br />
- most of the time, we don't care what's going on in the world :) <br />
<br />
- I actually only left laundry unfolded for one day instead of 8! <br />
<br />
- I enjoy reading books - I had forgotten about that hobby, nice to see you again paper pages<br />
<br />
- a month feels like forever<br />
<br />
- I miss seeing people's pictures, so I can't help but cheat and have people show me the pictures they've been posting when they come over. I see it as them personally sharing their lives...nothing wrong with that. <br />
<br />
- Facebook is a TEASE - this just wrong and I WILL NOT click the button<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRV6O3uCnSBv5KrEJlIGmxSOTT9TeH5c640HN7UT7tiLrV6wTnr0-2Q9Fk3YltJHdNk2H4-efAtsiry9ET_jDqcD83q7RST4q7G8FBgJYp6ZlL-5HFU5pzH7pW4OwEbvwoKbZxqb4wDo8Q/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRV6O3uCnSBv5KrEJlIGmxSOTT9TeH5c640HN7UT7tiLrV6wTnr0-2Q9Fk3YltJHdNk2H4-efAtsiry9ET_jDqcD83q7RST4q7G8FBgJYp6ZlL-5HFU5pzH7pW4OwEbvwoKbZxqb4wDo8Q/s320/photo.PNG" /></a><br />
- I miss sharing the celebratory and funny moments of my life via instagram and Jarred is sick of hearing what I would have posted<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall, we're LOVING this media fast thing. In some ways, I think it's turned us into hermits - we feel like because we can't see what everyone is doing, they must be doing nothing, so we'll just stay home and make homemade bread, fold laundry and count coins. Kidding...kind of. But it's been a gift - we've given each other more time and attention, we've made phone calls, played with the dog, been less rushed, been more productive and been so much less distracted by "urgent" status updates and blog posts. <b>We've found lots of freedom these last 5 days - freedom from what America says is important and freedom to do with our time what we think is important.</b> We are genuinely excited about the rest of the month and already anticipating some changes in our daily rhythm following this media fast. So good. Stay tuned. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-91636812695299041152013-09-01T13:35:00.000-07:002013-09-01T13:35:04.665-07:00Seven: Month 1 - MediaAs I mentioned in <a href="http://breannemichelle.blogspot.com/2013/08/seven.html">this post</a>, we are embarking on a journey called <a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/12/26/an-experimental-mutiny-against-excess">"Seven"</a> - a book by Jen Hatmaker who is real, honest, messy, awesome and determined to live a life worthy of the gospel. I try to resonate with all of those things and so I brought the idea up to my husband. I was SHOCKED when he said he wanted to do it with me. He said, "If you're going to do it, then I should do - we need to do this as a family." Well, all I have to say to that is that it's a darned good thing we don't have kids because I would not want to be 7-month depriving them of things while doing the same myself - disaster. <br />
<br />
Needless to say - here we go. I will try to blog every few days about the experience because I don't want to forget <strike>how desperate I am for facebook and insta</strike> how much Jesus is teaching me. :) <br />
<br />
But really... the first thing I do every morning when I wake up (way earlier than I'd like - still adjusting to this "husband with a real job" thing), I look at Facebook and Instagram. Literally, I'll sit there for 30 minutes and just see what in the world happened while I was sleeping. It's glorious. This morning I was sad. I went so far last night as to delete those two apps from my phone so I would not be tempted when I woke up and I literally sat up and thought, "(GASP) Someone deleted my apps!" Yes, I'm that special. Then I remembered it was September 1st and I'd made a commitment. <br />
<br />
It's Day 1, I. CAN. DO. THIS. This is where it gets good. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWxYyOysRSC2zFd7PUlfTD8CE86hD08b9PWz76zu3W3CSEdtdoG1-VsvYOlP_crgvmKRbAuCtDdKOiMIr3ZbDEJmZuP7eKzSOFAw2OCmrhfAMkeXqkAbmt5hIPosMQkSZLGkVNKWs8Ima/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWxYyOysRSC2zFd7PUlfTD8CE86hD08b9PWz76zu3W3CSEdtdoG1-VsvYOlP_crgvmKRbAuCtDdKOiMIr3ZbDEJmZuP7eKzSOFAw2OCmrhfAMkeXqkAbmt5hIPosMQkSZLGkVNKWs8Ima/s320/photo.JPG" /></a><br />
I actually went to the bookshelf (!) and pulled out a book we're reading for a leadership team called, <i>Leading Kingdom Movements </i> - good stuff in there, better than Instagram even. And what happened next was really incredible. I started reading and came across a page or two that literally spoke straight to where I am right now in some leadership stuff and some Jesus stuff. Over and over again, the phrase <b>"Pray that you will have the grace to respond with faith,"</b> kept popping up when they were talking about failures and frustrations and breakthroughs. It was a FLOODGATE people, a floodgate that led me to stay in bed with that book and a journal for an hour. So sweet. <br />
<br />
And you know what, I went to church after that and I even forgot my phone because without FB and Insta, my iphone is a waste - who needs it?!?! <br />
<br />
Day 1 and I already feel more free. I feel like God was really gracious this morning and gave me a huge nugget right away which makes me a little nervous about the next 29, but hey, I'll take it. <br />
<br />
P.S. Something I wished and begged for just ONE teensy insta post was this - I backed out of the garage. The garage door decided to stop about 5/6 of the way open, I didn't notice and literally ejected my antenna from the top of my car - garage door took it out, no problem. Sweet Jesus, I so wish for the opportunity to have shared that with the rest of humanity - the pictures, my husband's reaction, the laughter... October is too far away for those of you who enjoy a good shitshow. Onward...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-17662765407447524162013-08-31T22:14:00.000-07:002013-08-31T22:14:48.323-07:00SevenAs single people and as a married couple, we have spent a good amount of the last few years with people who live on less than $2 a day. We feel in alot of ways that we have too much, we live too extravagantly, we are wasteful and do and have so much that isn't necessary. It's the American way - we know that it's all we know and it's what we've grown up it. But we don't necessarily want to live the American dream, we want to live globally; to consume less and give more. We have to live counter-culturally and that won't be easy, but we want to try. We feel compelled to do some fasting so that God will meet us here, teach us, grow us and reveal to us more of his globe and how we can be part of that story. <br />
<br />
Here we go... Jarred and I have decided to embark on this journey - we're scared, we want to curse, we want to laugh at the thought of us actually being able to do this for seven months, but we're in. <br />
<br />
This is basically the gig: <br />
"A seven-month experimental mutiny against excess, tackling seven areas of overconsumption in the spirit of a fast; a fast from greed, irresponsibility, apathy, and insatiability. Each area boiled down to just seven choices for a month:<br />
<br />
Food.<br />
Clothes.<br />
Possessions.<br />
Media.<br />
Waste.<br />
Spending.<br />
Stress." <br />
<br />
read the rest here - <a href="
http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/12/26/an-experimental-mutiny-against-excess">http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/12/26/an-experimental-mutiny-against-excess</a><br />
<br />
Jen Hatmaker wrote this book called <i>Seven</i>. When she talks about herself, I see myself in her and I think that maybe, just maybe, we can do this. So we'll do our best. Ask us how we're doing, keep us accountable, basically what I'm saying is HELP! Ha. <br />
<br />
I'll be blogging about it (and other things) here (yes, even during media month - I can write blogs but not read them). So follow along on our journey! It'll be a shitshow to be sure, nothing new around here, but we can't wait to see how God changes us. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Ebwzc_DG-Q0JgQJF0NH9HULih-pmzSQqbo7A9eENfwFALD6pDeTEB_H5WbUbpks8DIPsNbJGb42Smnr6yLL28bP279gJoXC2W2p_xfRAuTc6gIjRMIMBAo4JXIESoVZ2gPJLiIAdTyA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Ebwzc_DG-Q0JgQJF0NH9HULih-pmzSQqbo7A9eENfwFALD6pDeTEB_H5WbUbpks8DIPsNbJGb42Smnr6yLL28bP279gJoXC2W2p_xfRAuTc6gIjRMIMBAo4JXIESoVZ2gPJLiIAdTyA/s400/photo.JPG" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-16348845127969159432013-08-31T12:51:00.001-07:002013-08-31T12:51:53.161-07:00For Posterity...I don't have children, but I hope someday we will. And if we have them and there happens to be a boy or two in there, they will read this letter. I'm posting it so you'll read it too, but more than that, so that I have it kept in place where I'll remember to have my sons read it when they need to. Good gracious, that's good stuff. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/08/28/dear-son-dont-let-robin-thicke-be-a-lesson-to-you/">http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/08/28/dear-son-dont-let-robin-thicke-be-a-lesson-to-you/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-91585609574203168662013-08-27T15:38:00.000-07:002013-08-29T13:39:20.491-07:00BravoFriends, there is a milestone here this week... these are the last few days of this job I've had for almost four years. Four long years where I've learned more than a blog post could ever summarize. I will do my best to debrief it here later so that you can have the gift of seeing all that God has done and is doing in my life. It's been ugly and beautiful, frustrating and gratifying, convicting and redeeming, but one of the biggest things this job has been for me is healing. A healing that began in my years on Young Life staff when I was young and fresh out of Texas. A healing that continued in graduate school where the most incredible professors spoke amazing truth over my life and told me I could... A healing that has continued to grow and plopped me in a place of confidence I never thought I'd have - one that's still growing, but one that I definitely didn't think was possible for me. <br />
<br />
It's best described here... thank you Jen for speaking my feelings so well:<br />
<a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2013/05/08/wherever-it-rises">http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2013/05/08/wherever-it-rises</a><br />
<br />
Thank you to the pastors I've interacted with, the friends I've made and mostly the incredible boss I've been given the chance to work under - you have all changed me for the better and given me a gift no one can ever take back from me... confidence to know that I can be used and I have a voice. Thank you, from the bottom of this Texas girl's heart.<br />
<br />
Bravo, Jesus, Bravo. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAoSzl9KQT6Mat3qJQdEvyuOoF_K1JkepgNlll4FHAgpW6b5KrBp13V8ScAEoJgL32Bk2RdxfITYSHFRgBjtYkO3mCDqwuvu0rP0KoySXTPzKNWgGcQKl9e36EZCXDaPBwEeFQPxtBpbW/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-03-09+at+9.16.46+AM.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAoSzl9KQT6Mat3qJQdEvyuOoF_K1JkepgNlll4FHAgpW6b5KrBp13V8ScAEoJgL32Bk2RdxfITYSHFRgBjtYkO3mCDqwuvu0rP0KoySXTPzKNWgGcQKl9e36EZCXDaPBwEeFQPxtBpbW/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-03-09+at+9.16.46+AM.png" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-75740898586906106902013-08-16T17:31:00.001-07:002013-08-16T17:34:58.980-07:00Small... FMFPicture this: a 32 year old professional woman with a graduate level education not being able to speak not even a word, losing feeling in her extremities and being so dizzy she falls over. <br />
<br />
This is something that's happening to me during migraine episodes as of late. You know how it makes me feel? Small. Incapable. Scared. Frustrated. Anxious. <br />
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But here's the thing I'm learning. I think that's exactly where God wants me. By nature I am a Type A, take on loads of projects, fill my schedule, got it all under control kind of gal. I get it from both of my parents. It's all I've ever seen or known. These last few weeks, I think my stress level and my life's circumstances are demanding that I learn to slow down. But to me, that feels weak - like I need help (and I do), like I need to let go of my work responsibilities (and I do), like I am back in a place of dependency and in turn like I'm not contributing to society. <br />
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In all of this I feel like God is calling me back to him. He is jealous for his time with me. He knows what will fill me back up. This has sunk me on my butt on the couch, dependent on the community around me in this new little town we live in. And I think he's smiling - he's healing me while I rest. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvl6bRTVw5ICueHcakdFkAAi23DlHY7bZjWmYznrAOVgPM6P_WnwBmYBIoj6w-A1HtgEqzRZ-biUGIqw-2HJ4uFfauorrBzusJl6qnx_YGofn57VZIyXClM-2PhKvbkLUKM8ycNQH0BiY/s1600/IMG_6921.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvl6bRTVw5ICueHcakdFkAAi23DlHY7bZjWmYznrAOVgPM6P_WnwBmYBIoj6w-A1HtgEqzRZ-biUGIqw-2HJ4uFfauorrBzusJl6qnx_YGofn57VZIyXClM-2PhKvbkLUKM8ycNQH0BiY/s320/IMG_6921.JPG" /></a><br />
He's making me whole again starting with the inside of me. His word has become the air I breathe in and out; I'm living on these words, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." - Exodus 14:14. I've needed his presence to calm my soul and remember to be thankful for each moment I don't have a migraine with whacky symptoms and to ask for more. <br />
<br />
I feel so small, so useless, so over it, but then I look at who God likes to use - he used the tiniest soldier to defeat a giant, he used nimrod disciples to spread his name, he used harlots and liars and cheaters and murderers to bring people to him. And then I'm thankful that even in this yucky season where I feel useless, I am not a misfit, I belong to him and<b> Jesus is using my life, possibly even more so because I'm small and broken. <i></i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXRf4yYPCamXH-U_vMg3vbS9m7UQlfOVdo1IeB_e9VB3J1kJD2f4Irt4RWB62wv8wdrgt80_auyTmC8YCJ4EcsAG7IDFMPDVt-AMv5chdayd6UIfATMR3yt9WQ9P8BKf4vT-em1NORmHJ/s1600/IMG_7145.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXRf4yYPCamXH-U_vMg3vbS9m7UQlfOVdo1IeB_e9VB3J1kJD2f4Irt4RWB62wv8wdrgt80_auyTmC8YCJ4EcsAG7IDFMPDVt-AMv5chdayd6UIfATMR3yt9WQ9P8BKf4vT-em1NORmHJ/s320/IMG_7145.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" alt="Five Minute Friday" title="Five Minute Friday" style="border:none;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-89065841178155841872013-08-09T09:49:00.001-07:002013-08-09T09:52:30.649-07:00Lonely...FMFAs I woke her up at 1:00 am to tell her that my Opa had just breathed is last in the living room, I saw the anguish on her face. The anguish of knowing what her life now was - lonely. <br />
<br />
I helped her out of bed, put her robe on her and we walked into the living room where the hospice nurses, my sister-in-law, my aunt and uncle were standing around him, secretly hoping he'd start breathing again. My Oma calmly walked over to his bed side and sat next to him the chair, holding his hand as other family members that were staying down the street walked in the door. Soon after, she crawled onto the bed with him and started weeping softly. We all knew without a doubt that this was the most horrific day of her life. As we all wept, I sat in the corner and wept for her because I knew that the next week, all of us would go home with spouses, siblings, parents, significant others and she would be left in that house alone - with just 58 years of memories. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgCMeEBpR3j6-xZ_0fGyeCIMTccPQeksd2iIBjw_6geHTh2VqtT-SaaphUlgfr7xjNPFcfNo7NFPRnreJ2KR_-2QIGpL9JVPlw82kyv3_CdgSS7wex7v7JxYaJq8MsFSn8yePOxIozW_1/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgCMeEBpR3j6-xZ_0fGyeCIMTccPQeksd2iIBjw_6geHTh2VqtT-SaaphUlgfr7xjNPFcfNo7NFPRnreJ2KR_-2QIGpL9JVPlw82kyv3_CdgSS7wex7v7JxYaJq8MsFSn8yePOxIozW_1/s320/photo+1.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYbWbdRpLPRtqxlJqNampT3wga_ZxXfthSvbJZo6w1cQCIwC-iXib-hs22yC3HQyl9W20s-7a-iMMHliQZjlXc1Rdh9002Ddqya9tDXozYQS1u-2MpWTBlMAPCVTkkpefJ2iiTx9et6YS/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYbWbdRpLPRtqxlJqNampT3wga_ZxXfthSvbJZo6w1cQCIwC-iXib-hs22yC3HQyl9W20s-7a-iMMHliQZjlXc1Rdh9002Ddqya9tDXozYQS1u-2MpWTBlMAPCVTkkpefJ2iiTx9et6YS/s320/photo+2.JPG" /></a><br />
But in some strange way, I knew I could feel it deeper than anyone else in the room - I had just gotten out of a relationship that did not end well. I was 30 and so ready to be married, because I too (on a much smaller scale) had my fair share of lonely years. Of the 32 family members there, I was the only one with no one to go home to that night, my single cousins had yet to get to town. So after we finished having a family toast with buttermilk (gross, I know, but it was Opa's favorite), singing worship songs, reading scripture, recounting memories and praying for this beautiful widowed woman, I decided to stay with Oma. We laid there and held hands and wept. Neither of us slept much. <br />
<br />
For the next 5 nights, I stayed with Oma -<b> we found a way to peace and at least a bit of companionship, even if we still felt alone.</b> Because of those hard weeks: my night in the hospital with Opa where I prayed with him, sang with him and listened to him cry out for Jesus to take him home while I sobbed on my little hospital couch and my hard nights with Oma, my eyes have been opened to what lonely really means. <b>My compassion for the suffering, the broken and the lonely has been a gift. <br />
</b><br />
Love someone who's lonely this week - bless them with the gift of your presence and a listening ear. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" alt="Five Minute Friday" title="Five Minute Friday" style="border:none;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-75168188886124189142013-07-26T18:24:00.001-07:002013-07-26T18:25:05.858-07:00Broken... FMFWe watch the commercials on the tv - you know, the ones with the kids who are malnourished and literally starving to death. Those commercials are designed to break our hearts for those in need - to get off our entitled, over-fed American booties and at the very least right a check. But to me what that communicates is, "See these kids? They're broken. They need help. Since you've got it together, why don't you fix their problem with just a little bit of money?" <br />
<br />
But you know what? I've met those kids. I've seen their faces and heard their laughter. I've also seen their tears and watched them be in the middle of a field all alone, with literally no one who cares if they live or die. It's there, in our world and it's very very broken.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6iakvio_NbmLwh_tlYxvVgNFdTMvUzeLGwiOv8SJH8E9FAmkIMEsYqqjoL_WlDCy8fv95nVV2cAo5ddbxA-K36JBCGo6bBsx2-bWM1xHRwu_-SwsVuBGwkGVsjCwElrkyubz91tsS2l2/s1600/6409_220363940343_7056263_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6iakvio_NbmLwh_tlYxvVgNFdTMvUzeLGwiOv8SJH8E9FAmkIMEsYqqjoL_WlDCy8fv95nVV2cAo5ddbxA-K36JBCGo6bBsx2-bWM1xHRwu_-SwsVuBGwkGVsjCwElrkyubz91tsS2l2/s320/6409_220363940343_7056263_n.jpg" /></a><br />
But you know what else? <b> So am I. I am broken.<i></i></b> My poverty may not look like theirs - I may not need clothes, food or a job, but I am also in need. My brokenness is just all covered up in a pretty layer of American pride, self-reliance and entitlement. As much as I try to not be these things and think this way, it's true... and it's ugly. <br />
<br />
Today I'm reminded that being broken is beautiful. It's beautiful because it's something that unites all humans - <i>our imperfection makes us one</i>. Our need for each other makes us one. Our ability be with someone else in their brokenness and let someone enter into ours is what makes ashes turn to beauty. Embracing brokenness today...<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575246678230333819.post-91571881878098202162013-07-13T16:51:00.000-07:002013-07-13T16:55:56.963-07:00Present - FMFThe greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of being present. <br />
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Life is hard, we need each other. Gifts, flowers, cards - those things are not needs, they are extras. What we need is someone's presence. When I am truly present with someone, there's nowhere else in the world I would rather be than with that person. <br />
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Here's a secret... <b>I never, ever regret being present with someone. Ever.<i></i></b> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOpLjs9kjJ7UQxmQlJPIxAcWRbuagCL9HlmWUQXeYYsgx5O1OWKYWF1trYXpCjkSvmav3KMUSQaTvnfnWQIH_zytZAQGiyLlUusE0rwUFFgucnZNLVHNccpXFv4c-Vr9Im5dlxSO37O0C/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOpLjs9kjJ7UQxmQlJPIxAcWRbuagCL9HlmWUQXeYYsgx5O1OWKYWF1trYXpCjkSvmav3KMUSQaTvnfnWQIH_zytZAQGiyLlUusE0rwUFFgucnZNLVHNccpXFv4c-Vr9Im5dlxSO37O0C/s320/IMG_1201.JPG" /></a></div>I can't help today but think of one of girls in my first Bible study; this week she got diagnosed with inoperable cancer. The doctors are doing everything they can, but they're quickly realizing it's too late to save her life. She has weeks to months left in her short 27-year-old life. ALL THAT MATTERS to her, in these last weeks and months is the presence of those she loves... and the presence of God. That's it. There is nothing that matters more. <br />
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During hard seasons of my own life, you know what I remember now? I remember who was there, who sat and cried with me, prayed with me, asked me questions, tried to cheer me up. I remember Cecilia walking in my room with a glass of wine for each of us, plopping herself on my bed and asking how I was today. I remember Lizzy faithfully texting me every single day asking how I was and how she could pray. I remember Alisha helping me do the simple things - like get groceries and tie my shoes and get dressed when my body was in too much pain to do those things. I remember Emily showing up at my house uninvited, with food, knowing that if she didn't, I probably wouldn't have eaten that night. I remember my husband walking in, long before I expected him because he knew his presence mattered. <br />
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The "things" we buy for those we love are great, but they will be soon forgotten. The hours you give, the tears you cry, the hugging, the showing up - that's what sticks. That's what's worth it. So this weekend, I challenge you to think of someone who needs your presence and grab a latte or a glass of wine and <b>go be present. <i></i></b> <br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" alt="Five Minute Friday" title="Five Minute Friday" style="border:none;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08226364414795826846noreply@blogger.com4