Taking on the Challenge

Hi.

So, once upon a time there was a boy and a girl who didn't have lots of money.  They didn't want to pay for cable because it was an added expense, and after scanning for channels with the antenna, they were able to pick up the main channels they watched anyway.

One day, the boy decided he wanted to try scanning again so they could try to find one more channel.  "What happened," you ask.  "Was he successful?"

No.  The boy's inability to be content led to the couple only having two channels instead of the ten they had before.

It's a good thing he's pretty.

The moral of this story is be content with what you have.

The happy part to this story, and the reason the boy is not in the dog house, is that the girl is now a huge fan of hulu and can catch up with all of her shows online instead.  And, oh the catching up she has done this week.

Yes, now I have New Girl, The Mindy Project, Master Chef, Revenge, Big Brother (I only got sucked into this one season- I swear!), Scandal, and most importantly, Grey's Anatomy at my fingertips.

So, what's a girl to do on a rainy Saturday morning?  Why yes, I think that watching the first Grey's of the season was a great idea!  And to my surprise, two episodes were waiting for me already!  Maybe it was a two hour premiere or something.

As always, tears flowed.  NOTHING like last year's premiere though.  (Yes, I am a proud addict of this one.)

Anyway, the chief said something that stayed with me.  Basically, he said that you don't get any say in how you die, but you can decide how you want to live.

Various forms of this thought have been on my mind a lot lately, but on Saturday morning, his words struck a chord.  Then, wouldn't you know it- I was tested with that challenge.  And I failed, miserably.

I won't tell you the details, just suffice it to say that I was a rotten person to be around Saturday.

Luckily, I'm blessed with a forgiving husband who unlike myself, is able to sleep off anger and annoyance.  (And that's all I'll tell you about that because I've been scolded for talking about him so much in my letters.)

I feel as though I've been constantly challenged to be a better me recently.  Everywhere I look or listen, I'm am bombarded with thoughts of being more aware of the kind of person I am.  Even when I was looking through a book by Mary Kate and Ashley yesterday, called Influence, I felt convicted over each of their notes in it.

They were each praising each other: one had the ability to stay true to herself no matter what most people were doing, and the other was a self-motivated and dedicated worker.  Both attributes, I'd like to claim for myself.

The book wasn't really about them even.  It was a collection of interviews they had with other designers and artists that had influenced them.  But somehow, I came across those two little letters from the sisters.

It seems like God is screaming at me though any channel He can.  Which makes me wonder how bad of a listener I am being, if it's still popping up so much in so many different places.

Anyway, I was glad that our weekend ended with some sunshine.  Was yesterday not one of the most beautiful days?  Jered and I went on a walk by the river and played catch with a ball we found.  He shakes his head at my athleticism and hopes that someday our children will inherit his instead of mine.  So do I.

Well, until next time, my friend,

Aim

Article Frenzy

Hey.

Wow- so many interesting articles posted on Facebook recently!  It seems that lots of good conversations are happening these days about real life issues.  (Maybe I'm just paying more attention.)  Whatever the case may be, I read three intriguing articles today.  Thought I'd share them with you, and maybe a little bit of my thought processes as I read them.

First:  Modesty Wars

Ok, this is really nothing new, but it seems that a recent blog post by some teenage boys' mom sparked a fire on this topic.  People have been battling both ways: thanking the mom for speaking up or shaming her for being judgmental instead of loving towards the girls she called out.

I thought that this article was "fair and balanced" and looked at the heart of the issue.  I resonated with the point the writer made about many Christian girls feeling shame toward their bodies- I can attest to that!  Growing up, I understood why we had dress codes at youth group swimming events.  I was ok with that.

But, when I was in a situation where it was appropriate for me to wear a bikini, like our family vacations, or even my honeymoon, I felt insecure because it had been ingrained in my head as a no-no for so long.  And I just refuse to believe that God intended me to feel that way when I was with my brand spankin' new husband.

Anyway, maybe check out that article if you have any interest on the subject.

Next: Why you are teaching your daughter to be a mean girl

Bullying has had significant time in the headlines over the past few years.  With social media taking out the face-to-face aspect of it, it's easier than ever.  This writer talks about bullying she received in high school.  Several years later, she passed one of the bullies in the grocery store, both of them with their daughters, and thinking it was all behind them, said hello, only to find that nothing had changed at all.

Growing up with a two daughter, no son family, I always envisioned the same for myself when I was a mom.  I wanted two girls, just like Katie and me.  I wanted them to be best friends.  However, more and more, I'm thinking this is not the best scenario.  I think back to high school and all the insecurities that came along with it, all the heartache that awaits girls, that boys don't really have to deal with.  (I have very specific memories of crying about my body.)

And I didn't even get bullied.  Now with it being so rampant, I'm a little nervous to send a daughter into that world.

Back to the article though, she talked about how she wondered where those girls' moms were.  And as a teacher, listening to her students, she realized that the moms were teaching the behavior.  She pointed out that whether or not parents think they are being listened to, their kids are picking up on their actions, their words, their attitudes and become just like them.

So basically, I finished reading this article with a little fear, and an intense desire to start being more self aware, confident, and kind so that someday, my children will pick up on that.

Lastly: Confronting the lie: God won't give you more than you can handle

I was skeptical going into this one.  I thought it was just a whiner complaining about life and how God's not there.  I was wrong.  Turns out, when the Bible mentions not giving us more than we can handle, it's talking about temptation.

This is what I found incredibly interesting.  This guy knew what he was talking about, and backed it up with scripture:

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead (2 Cor 1:8,9, emphasis his).

No wonder it feels so hard sometimes.  Because we are "burdened beyond our strength."  And for good reason- so that we can learn to fully rely on God.  The only... "problem" seems like the wrong word... is that it's still so hard to do.

Well friend, I hope you find time to check out these articles, and that you find them as interesting as I did.  

On a completely fun note, if you are into sewing at all, or fashion, or art, you should check out Merricks Art.

I found this blog, oh... probably two years ago, when I first started getting into Pinterest and got the sewing bug.  Stupidly, I just now started to actually follow the blog.  It's great, and she has a link to her art gallery on there too- she's a painter!  

Also, as promised:

And with those darling faces, I leave you for now.  Have a wonderful Friday, friend!

Aim

Bared Soul

Hi,

I told you I'd probably be back sometime today.

So, as I caught up on my blog reading list, I came across a couple posts by one writer that were quite interesting.  She discussed her experience with God and faith, and it hadn't been very positive.

Apparently she grew up in a church environment where she felt that she was being told she had to make herself perfect and was constantly repenting for the smallest mistakes, and consequently was always terrified that she would miss the rapture or was going to hell because of a forgotten or overlooked snide comment, selfish thought, you name it.

Oh, I just thought to myself, "Some people have it so mixed up that it's no wonder they end up turning people away from God and Christianity.  They've got it all wrong!"

This poor woman, whom I admire for her transparency, was taught only about the wrath of God.  Her teachers forgot about the loving, merciful, gracious God.

Note:  I do not believe in doing whatever my sinful heart fancies with the belief that God will forgive me for it anyway.

I don't think the Bible teaches either of those things.  Yes, we are supposed to be striving to live in a way that would glorify God, a way that would draw people to Jesus.  But that doesn't come from being hard-nosed Bible thumpers, who are literally trying to scare the Hell out of people.  And it certainly doesn't come from living like the world so that we can relate.

I just felt so bad for this woman, and countless others who miss out on the real deal, and can only hope that I'm living my life in a way that just might steer them toward the Truth.  Or maybe just glance toward the road signs heading that way.

Now, let me be transparent.  Another topic I came across, by this same writer coincidentally, that I felt incredibly convicted about, is the "I'm not good enough" feelings.  She talked about how she's usually happy in life, but every once in awhile she finds herself in a slump.

Oh, how I resonate with that.  It's really easy to think about all the things I've not done my best at, or where I haven't been thoughtful enough, or am not doing the most with my life.  But it doesn't stop there.  No sir; it's not just about me feeling bad about myself.

I've had serious moments where I've wondered if I am depressed.  And not the "What a crappy day; I'm so depressed."   Not normal bad day, bad mood stuff.  I've been told before that I have some tendencies toward it, and I need to fight against it.  I have had days where it felt like things were falling apart.  Like things were really bad.  In reality, were they?  Probably not.  But it sure felt like it.

In those moments, I feel guilty.  I must not reading my Bible or praying enough.  This isn't how a Christian should feel.  We are supposed to have this incredible source of joy that outshines the darkness in the world.  

Even as someone who knows she has an eternal hope, I struggle with this.  So I know what people would say.  "Don't worry; trust in God...  Lean not on your own understanding...  Rest in His peace...  Remember the joy of your salvation," and so many other things we hear in church.

So here is where I bare my soul to you:  Sometimes it still hurts. Sometimes I feel like I'm not "doing Christianity right," I guess.  Sometimes I feel like the only option is to ride it out til it passes.

And it always does.  Somehow it passes and things go back to normal.

I don't really know where to go with this confession of mine...  I just felt compelled to give it.  I guess I'm thinking of that woman, and others like her.  Wondering how they go through tough moments like that without having an eternal hope when it's hard enough with it.

So here I sit, struggling with my pride as I tell you this because I don't want you to have the wrong idea about me.  I don't hate my life; I quite love it as a matter of a fact.  I don't think that God is smaller than this.  I think He is way bigger than any problem I think I have.  And I don't know what conclusions to draw from these thoughts, except for I guess that's just part of life.  Dealing with internal struggles and pulling through.

Well, friend, thanks for listening.  I'll talk to you later.  On a lighter note, promise.

Aim

I'm Baaack

Hello friend!

Goodness, a few months ago, it would have been nothing for me not to write to you for a week!  But now that I've been a better pen pal lately, a week seems like an eternity!

Unfortunately, I haven't uploaded my pictures from the week yet, so I can't show you just how cute my little guys are.  Don't worry- I will show you later.  Pinky swear.

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things from this week:

Hearing, "Ainee!!!" when I walked in the door.

The big hug I got when I picked up my favorite 6 year old from school.

The snuggles and giggles I got from a speedy little crawler.

Kicking around the soccer ball with my favorite "fow yeow owd" on a beautiful fall day.

Winding down with Christine while watching Revenge (and totally getting hooked on it) or New Girl.

Getting to watch a TIU win and spending time with my much missed friends and family.

(I stole this picture from Myriam, AKA: Mrs. Coach Bamberger: The rescuer of the TIU football team.  Myr- this is your new nickname.  It is how all future TIU students will remember you!)

Having two little boys sitting on my lap for a TV show.

Being enlisted to draw more superheroes.

Seeing my little guy dressed up in his Iron Man costume, and pulling his mask off and on saying, "Now I'm Tony Stawk, I'm Iown Man, Tony Stawk, Iown Man, Tony Stawk, Iown Man."

Reading bedtime stories.

Chasing ornery little guys around the house to tickle them.

Watching the little one stand up without any help from surrounding furniture.

Chatting and catching up with Christine.

Making plans to see my most beloved nanny family again.

Hearing my husband walk in the door last night.

Snuggling up on the couch to watch the premiere of Hostages with him.

And after not getting online for a week, having so many posts from the blogs I follow to catch up on!

It was such a wonderful week, friend.  I felt so blessed.  I had some other stuff I was going to write about, but I think that can wait for a future letter.  (Future meaning possibly this afternoon.)  We'll see.

Anyway, Happy Tuesday!

Aim

Jumping for Joy

Hiiii.

Guess what day tomorrow is. Guess what day it is!

Well, yes, it is going to be hump day, but more importantly: Tadaaaaa!  Look who I get to see!

That's right!  I get to go back to Chicago and watch my favorite little buddies for a week!  I'm beyond excited.  Back to their sweet little faces and days of playing with Legos, superheroes, coloring, and probably hanging out at a playground somewhere.  

That's really all I have to share with you today, dear friend.  Just that I am over the moon about visiting my sweethearts. (Maybe after I get back next week, we'll chat about The Giver.)

A Pinterest Win!

Hi guys!

I made my first meal of my "one new meal a week" goal.  If everyone was honest, it was a hit!

Fish Taco Bowl

Thank you, Pinterest, for a win!  Finally.  Jered always tells me that I should stick with the recipe and not wander... Sometimes I might try to change it up a bit to suit my taste buds a little more, and it doesn't always work out.  So I stuck with the recipe... except for I used brown rice... And I used extra fish.  Personally, I would have liked it a little spicier, so I would have added a little more cayenne pepper.  But overall, I was happy it turned out.

Jered was pumped about the healthiness of a meal that I had prepared.  (He thinks I like sweets and carbs or something like that.  I don't know where he would get that idea.)

Now onto the search for the next new meal!

Talk to you later!

Aim

Lies and The Truth

Hello there.

It is officially here!  My first paycheck from my new job!

God has really blessed me by providing it, and by putting wonderful, thoughtful people in my life to help me get connected with it.  I am so grateful.

Well, I walked outside this morning and smelled something delicious.

Fall.

Yes, I caught my first scent of fall this morning, and it was glorious.  I couldn't breathe in deeply enough.

So, like I told you earlier this week, I am rereading The Giver.  The whole premise of the book is interesting, but I came across a passage today that struck me as fascinating.

A little background: children in the community are given assignments for the "career" they will have for the rest of their lives.  They each receive a set of rules that goes along with their assignment, and the main character is the only one chosen for his assignment.  He reads his list of rules, and finds himself in a moral conflict.

For as long as he has been alive, he has been instructed not to utter the simplest lie.  He was even reprimanded for saying, "I'm starving" because no one in the community had ever or would ever starve.  His rules, however, say he is now allowed to do so.

He thinks to himself that he still would never tell a lie, and then is struck with the horrifying realization that maybe, if he was told he could lie, other people, after receiving their assignment rules, were given the same option.  He then thinks he could ask someone, but he would never know if they were telling the truth or not.  The implications are that everything he knows about his community, or everything he has been told by his parents, could in fact, be false.

Obviously, I cannot retell his story as well as he did in the book (so you should read it), but I'm telling you- it gave me goosebumps when he came to his conclusion.  It was kind of terrifying.  

It made me think that we don't really consider that because all we know is a sinful world.  We've never lived in an innocent one.  Sure, lying is not encouraged, and sometimes illegal.  But just imagine, coming from a world where that was unthinkable, and then finding out that maybe you were being lied to the entire time.  Yikes.

You know, there have been moments, I would guess (maybe hope, so that I'm not the only one), in all Christian lives, where we have had the brief thought, "What if it's all made up?  What if atheists are right?  What if there's nothing after death?"

But that's where faith comes in.  Not to mention fulfilled prophecies, miracles, and seeing the way God answers prayers.

Now faith is the substance of what is hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1    

              

Anyway, I quickly gulped my coffee this morning because I stayed up late last night to wait up for Jered.  I told him it was the end of our fifth year together, and (in the most adorably genuine way that made me smile) his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "Yeah!  You're right!"  We settled into watching the second half of Mission Impossible 2, and just after midnight he wished me an official happy five years.

He's pretty fantastic, I tell ya.

Well friends, happy Friday!  I hope you had a delightful week and that you're enjoying this weather.  Have a great weekend!  (I'm starting mine off tonight with some much needed business attire shopping!)

Aim

Half a Decade

Hi friends.

Today is a special day.  Maybe I've told you about it before.  I don't remember, so I will tell you again.

Let me take you back to five years ago today.  Right about this time, I was either halfway, or just getting home.  You're wondering why that's so special.  Allow me to explain: it was the first time Jered came home with me.

We had been spending alot of our free time together over the previous two weeks.  As I know I've told you before, I was completely giddy and starstruck because of this boy.  So I asked him the week before if he would like to go with me to a wedding in my hometown.  He said he would, but he'd have to check with his coaches.

(The coaches said it was alright, but they were thinking he would be there for Friday afternoon practice... He got a call when we were halfway home and had to tell them he wouldn't be there... This would be the first of a couple run ins with the football coaches.  We also got sent home after buying tickets to a James Bond flick once because it was after the strict football curfew.  Didn't even make it into the movie.  Not a happy moment.)

Anyway, we made it home, and I couldn't wait for my family to meet him.  I remember him leaving the room for something, and exclaiming to Katie, "Isn't he hot?!"  I was smitten.

That night we stayed up late watching TV and talking, and as I watched him, I thought, "I adore this guy.  I absolutely do want to be his girlfriend."  (He had asked me, "So, are we gonna make this official, or what?" a week earlier, and I told him "not yet" at the time.)

So I looked into those perfect green eyes and told him I was looking for something serious, something real.  Not something casual.  And I asked him to be my boyfriend.

I was all smiles the next day as I got ready for the wedding with my mom and sister.  I was officially "Jered Flinkman's girlfriend."  We went to the wedding, and I was excited to introduce him as "my boyfriend, Jered."

And of course, Jered impressed with his fabulous style, as per usual:

But friend,  as wonderful as being "Jered Flinkman's girlfriend" was, it was nothing compared to being "Jered Flinkman's betrothed."  (That was our title of choice during our engagement.)

And being "Jered Flinkman's betrothed" has got nothing on being "Mrs. Jered Flinkman."

Talk to you later friend.

Aim

Who and Where We Were

Hi.

Has it really been twelve years?  Twelve?

It seems impossible, but here we are, twelve years later, going about our lives.

When I first heard news of the attack, I was a freshman, standing on one of my marching band poker chips on the practice field.  We were rehearsing our formations for The Beatles' Penny Lane.  I remember my section leader telling someone what had happened.  I don't know how she found out.  I don't know if our teacher knew yet.

I remember feeling really silly because I didn't know what she was talking about.  I didn't know what the World Trade Center even was.  I certainly didn't know the extent of the story, or how serious it was for that matter... Until I went to Mrs. Beam's Rhetoric class.

She had the TV on, and we watched in stunned silence.  That seems to be the phrase everyone uses, doesn't it?  Stunned silence?  But how else could we watch it?  The hallways were unusually quite.  Just worried, anxious murmurings among classmates.

What I remember most was wondering if it truly was the start of the end of the world.  I thought, "This is it.  I'm not going to have a chance to do anything.  I'm never going to get married.  Or have kids."  I suppose that was selfish, but I was a frightened fourteen year old.

Soon after, I would realize the real weight of what had happened.  The immense number of lives lost.  The war that ensued.  Since then, each 9/11, I've felt almost sacrilegious going on with life as usual on the anniversary of such destruction.

Each year, as I watch the televised tribute specials, waves of chills go down my spine when the footage of the day is played.  Disbelief at the decisions some of the people in the buildings and planes had to make.  Sorrow as I see the photos of the victims and think, "To so many of us, all they will ever be is a photograph.  That seems wrong."

One day I hope to visit the museum.  On 60 Minutes this week they previewed some of the memorials being created for it.  A huge hallway will be filled with photos of every known victim.  They will also have a place where family members of each victim have recorded something about their loved one.  I feel compelled, like it's the least I could do, to try and know a little bit about some of them.

I remember the bond of unity our country adopted after this event.  And I see the state we are in now.  How quickly we lose sight of what's important.  I guess it's in our human nature.  Even Peter denied Christ after claiming he would die for him.

I guess, today, I pray that God would instill a piece of that unity in us again.

Talk to you later.

Aim

How good and pleasant it is 

when God's people live together in unity!

                                        Psalm 133:1

Books, Goals, and Annoying Footwear

Hey there.

It occurred to me that I usually tell you about the books I've been reading, and it's been a long time since I've done just that.  With all the moving excitement (can I still use that as an excuse a month and a half later?) my reading productivity was minuscule for awhile, but we're back on track now.

First, I checked out The Mysterious Benedict Society from Molly's classroom.  (I still need to return it!)  In short, it is about four gifted children who are selected for "special opportunities."  I don't really want to tell you more than that because it's a bit of a mystery story and I don't want to spoil it for you.  Quick and easy read, very enjoyable.  I highly recommend it to you.  Plus- if you are like me and love a good series, you are in luck because three more books await you!

After finishing that one I moved on to The Fault in Our Stars, the book Jered got for my birthday.  Yes, I finally got around to reading it.  This one is a tear-jerker, as Molly aptly warned me.  Quite simply, it is the love story of two teenagers who meet in a cancer support group.  Again- quick read, excellent book, and don't forget your tissues.  (Another reason to add it to your reading list ASAP is that it's being made into a movie!)

Next I finished The Great Gatsby.  I had never read it.  (And I call myself an English major...)  Truthfully, I wanted to read it before I saw the movie, so now I am scouring RedBoxes for it.  I didn't know if I would really like it.  (Partly because it was another novel from high school.  We were split up into groups according to the classic novel we chose.  I evidently chose poorly, taking The Scarlet Letter over this- No offense Mr. Hawthorne- I do enjoy your short stories...)

Anyway, I digress; I feel like I might be the only one who didn't know the plot of this one.  Did you?  Nick tells the story of moving to New England, meeting the mysterious Mr. Gatsby, and basically has a heck of a time trying to decide who to trust and finding himself wrapped up in someone else's romantic mess.  I actually really enjoyed the novel, although it took me a solid chapter and a half before I got hooked.

Side note:  I've heard Carey Mulligan is a great Daisy, but throughout the entire book, the person I kept seeing as Daisy was the wife from Finding Neverland.  Try as I might- I could not get her face out of my reading imagination.

(Although, admittedly, I kept picturing her with the same ringlets as in Finding Neverland, and let's be real- those just wouldn't be time appropriate for Gatsby.)

Today I started The Giver.  I read it back in Mrs. Wheeler's sixth grade class, but I've honestly forgotten most of it.  I read three chapters during my lunch break.  By the second page I wished I was more like Jonas.  He talks about how he feels the need to find the perfect word for whatever he's trying to describe.  I may not show it, but I would rather have a few excellent words strung together than a long slew of boring ones.

In other news, I have found hundreds (maybe hyperbole... probably not, though) of recipes, crafts, and projects that I want to try.  You may have noticed: not many have been finished.  Last night, in an effort to get some things accomplished, Jered and I made three goals each to try to reach by the end of the year.  

For instance, I want to make one new meal each week.  (That might not seem like a big deal, but remember who you're talking to.  I don't cook much, and once I find something I can do, I stick with it.  Plus, Jered and I don't really have many nights per week when we can have dinner together.)  I think my first meal will be a tasty-looking fish taco bowl I found on Pinterest.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Well friend, that's all I have to tell you today.  Except for this: when I buy new heels for work, they will not be sans backs.  Today I wore sandal heels and I am driving myself crazy with the sound of them slapping my heels as I walk.  I feel sorry for everyone else in the office when I walk around.  Oh well, c'est la vie; they are all I have in brown for now.

Ok, for real, I'm out of here.  Talk to you later.

Aim

I Really Don't Have ADD

Hello there.

If you follow me on Pinterest, you may notice a sudden influx of work attire from yours truly.  Let it be known, that upon that first paycheck, someone is going shopping.  (Don't worry, Dad, just the essentials.)

Right now, partly because I don't want to wear the same two pencil skirts all the time, and partly because I have zero dress pants in my closet, I have been wearing lots of dresses and cardigans and such.  I would like some more "business-y" pieces though, so I have been gathering ideas.   Am I the only one surprised that when I looked up "office appropriate"  I found all kinds of shorts to wear to the office?  Maybe I have just worked in strict offices?  I didn't think I had, but maybe I did because I never would have dreamed of wearing shorts.  (And still don't.)

Also, we have some sad news.  Our miraculous internet connection in the apartment has parted ways with us.  It is quite the disappointment.  I think Jered is calling our local internet provider today.

Let's see, I had several random things to tell you about, but I seem to have forgotten them.

Anyway, I was reading Ephesians today.  I used the New English Translation; it was an interesting way to read things I've read several times in a different translation.  I am still grappling with this idea of predestination.  It seems unjust.  Maybe it's just the word choice?  I don't know.

I also don't remember ever understanding the Holy Spirit in this way: our down payment on our inheritance from God.  I think that's such an interesting concept.

Then I was reminded that a nice big chunk of Ephesians is on unity and peace.  It says to live a life worthy of our calling.  To live in humility, gentleness, patience.  To bear with one another in love.  To make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

(Side note:  This is the English nerd in me, I'm sure, but I just accidentally put a space in between re and minded, and thought, well isn't that interesting?  It gave me a completely different look at what it means to be reminded.  Maybe I'm just slow on the uptake.)

Sorry, I'm getting tangential.  Anyway, I thought to myself as I was reading this, "I can't even act that way in my marriage.  How am I supposed to act that way to people I don't know, or maybe don't care for too much?  But it tells me how:  I am to put off my old self, and put on my new self that has been created in God's image.  I am an image bearer for Christ, am I not?  I am to be clothed in "righteousness and holiness that comes from truth."  But gosh, how often do I forget to finish dressing with that?

Another main point that stuck out to me today was how easy it will be for the antichrist to deceive us whenever he comes.  After all, the Bible tells us that Jesus brought peace and unity to the Jews and Gentiles and he taught about it often.  And that's exactly the stand the antichrist is going to claim.  I wonder if we will be able to discern right away when he rises to "fame."

So much of life is that way though, isn't it?  Ephesians 4:14 says, "So we are no longer children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes."

See, I think the problem is that when I think of these sneaky people, I believe that I'll see they are sneaky.  But that's the whole point right?  That you can't tell?  Otherwise it would be, in fact, not sneaky.  I also think that it comes into our lives in the most mundane and every day kinds of ways to the extent that we don't even notice sometimes that there could be something much bigger behind it.

I'm sure this is nothing new to you, but sometimes I just need to re-mind myself.  You know, try to stay ahead of the game if I can.

Last bit, I promise.  Something in Sunday's sermon brought this string of thoughts into my head.  "Am I using my whole potential in whatever way God would like?  Probably not.  Why not?  I don't feel like I can accomplish it.  Or maybe I don't know what He would like yet.  Well then, why don't you pray about it.  He will probably show you the way or open doors for you.  Gosh, Aimee, 'How thick can you get?'"

For real, that's almost exactly how it went down in my head as I sat in the service; movie quote included.  I kid you not.

Well, friend, I will not drag this out and contemplate the meaning of my life for you.  I'm sure you have better things to do that follow my stream of consciousness.  Maybe when I get a better idea about His plan, I'll let you know.

Until next time, have a lovely Monday afternoon.  Yes, Monday's almost over- we can do it!

Aim

Stuff

Hi there.

I've come to the definite conclusion that Des Moines-ians do not know how to drive.  I'm starting to think that everyone should move to Chicago to learn, and then the world would be a better place.

Oh, I should mention that I'm doing alot more driving now because I have a job!  I am working as a secretary/assistant at a law firm downtown. 

Maybe you wonder why I'm thinking about driving at this moment though, as I have done none of it today.  It's because, since Jered has been gone all afternoon, I watched two hours of Seinfeld.  A remarkable number of the episodes include plots revolving around driving, which led me to think about my driving experiences since I've been here.

We borrowed seasons one, two, and three from some friends, and I have been watching it alooot.  (I used to hate the show with a passion... I don't know why, except for it was always the show my dad wanted to watch, and there's just an innate stubbornness in children that makes them want to watch only what they want and to hate everything else on principle.) 

Do you ever watch a show so much, that in your head, or even aloud I guess, you start to hear the characters in your voice?  Obviously, I'm not talking out loud right now, but in my head I sound like three of the Seinfeld characters.

Anyway, here's a look at what I've been working on lately:

I got the idea for this from Pinterest, but tried to put a bit of my own spin on it.  I'm rather pleased in the new representation of our first home.

 

 Also inspired by Pinterest: a burlap covered coffee can, turned "vase" for some of the flowers from our wedding.

I think the following are my favorites so far.  Eventually they will be part of a large collection of canvases above our couch.  I took the bird picture from Pinterest, but decided I wanted to add color to them and then decided to keep going with the animals.  Can you tell who picked out the subjects for the next two?

 

 

 And here's what we've been up to lately:

For his birthday, I gave Jered a giftcard to be spent specifically on harmonica backing tracks.  We went to a music store and found a book with the sheet music to go along with the songs on a CD.  The CD has each song, complete with the harmonica player, and then without so that Jered can just play along with the background music.  He's very dedicated to his craft.

 

That was actually right before my interview last week.  Jered was sweet enough to drive me downtown for two interviews last week, so I didn't have to go myself (I can get a bit nervous) and took me out for lunch afterwards each time. 

 I guess I'll keep him around...  Just because he's "soo good lookin."  (Seinfeld reference in case you were wondering.)

 

A Few Memories

Hello dear friend.

I hope you had a nice Labor Day weekend.  Mine was... bittersweet to say the least.

Friend, I've never truly felt like I've shared something with you that was too personal.  Nothing that I regretted writing or decided to take back after posting.  I've never really even hesitated before diving into a single letter, wondering, "Is it ok for me to write this?  Is it too much?"

For some reason, however, what I want to tell you about the most, seems too much.  It's too personal, too painful, too precious to share the details of what's going on in my heart these days. 

What I will tell you, is that I love my Grandpa Bill and Grandma Robbie.  I will tell you that Grandpa's health is currently not the best.  I will tell you I got to see them this weekend.  And that is all I will tell you right now.

 

(This was taken a few years back... Right after I graduated from TIU I think.)

What I can tell you, is that Mississippi, or more specifically, Grandma and Grandpa's house, is still one of my most favorite places in the world.  I wish I could explain the smell to you.  It's impossible though.  Please, if you get the chance, drive through Mississippi and smell the air sometime.  Maybe it's the red mud, or the humidity, but it's wonderful.

I can totally see that scent is the sense most strongly tied to memory.  When I walk into my grandparents' country home, I am instantaneously taken back to my childhood.  I remember playing with My Little Ponies in the bathtub with Katie, listening to our Sesame Street cassette tape in the cactus bedroom during nap time, sloshing around on the waterbed, reading Golden Books (specifically the one where Barbie's trying to find a missing wedding dress) in the front bedroom on the green comforter that is still there, and I remember delicious food. 

As I looked around the house this time, I noticed all the things that are still there from years and years of my memories.  Grandpa's Caterpillar hats are still on top of the dresser, the blue and yellow glazed dogs are still there, there's a trinket shadow box with some E.T. toys in it is still hanging up in the hallway, the bottle with hot peppers can still be found on the turn table next to the stove, Apache's old kennel is still in the backyard, the shelves of plants still sits behind the dining room table, and there's still that strangely shaped wooden clock about the TV, which still resides next to the large, dark brick fire place.

Now that I'm writing this, I wonder if maybe I've told you these memories before, but I don't care.  They are so precious, I like reliving them.  I felt like I was soaking them all up this weekend.

I would tell you more, friend, but you should know how I am by now...

I'll talk to you later.

Aim