L: simple.
Posted: November 30, 2011 | Author: L | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »Life is quiet right now. I’m enjoying it’s silence, it’s peacefulness.
The days in the office may be long but they are good hours. It’s a good busy and the quiet that fills the office — literally — is almost a healing quiet. For the first time in my whole life I’m alone for hours a day. It’s a new experience for me, this being alone thing. I go home to a house filled with people I love, people I love being around but this building I’m in for 8 hours a day shares a lot of my secrets. My secret goals, hopes, dreams and thoughts.
You see, I talk to myself all the time. All the time. I think it’s probably a result of growing up with so many people to talk to all the time and now being alone a large part of the time and some of it’s just my personality. Thus, these walls “know” all my thoughts and feelings from the last two months. Because I know I have talked a lot. A lot.
That’s all. I’ve got another hour of work to do then I’m heading home. This is my life. It may be boring, but isn’t there such comfort in knowing that there are seasons of consistency with God? That there’s routine, time to work on diligence and faithfulness, and learning through the “mundane” in life? I think there is.
C: Our Thanksgiving
Posted: November 25, 2011 | Author: C | Filed under: Holidays, Uncategorized | Leave a comment »It started with coffee. But I’m sure you could have guessed that.
Then we finished writing a Christmas song that we started last Thanksgiving. Little brother was sad that we didn’t watch the parade with him, but finishing the song was top priority… We be serious about our song writin’ skillz.
Then we had some breakfast, where we each had turns squeezing the babe.
Little Brother has been creating those “Elf-Yourself” videos, and was eager to show Sister #4 all of his creations.
Sister #4 also cut all of the Brussels Sprouts — YUM.
More baby holding.
Nephews helped make some place cards.
Then the table was slowly decorated.
J played the piano… It was — lovely?
A place card.
Getting ready to eat.
L’s plate of food.
The cute little table in the sitting room with Little Brother, Jameson-Boy, and William-Bo-Dilliam.
After eating it was cleanup time, so the beautiful table was disassembled.
J helping clean up… sort of… It almost looks like she has TS.
L was cleaning, but I guess that’s a little passe.
After the first round of cleaning was done, we all snuggled up in the Family Room.
Best part? Brother-in-law #4 built us a fire. OH YES, you heard me. A nice, cozy fire.
Games were played, pies were eaten, and we even had our own family “hymn sing”. But finishing it all with a fire was the best (thanks new brother-in-law).
Goodbye Thanksgiving.
And hello Christmas.
J: The Normal Christian Life (Watchman Nee)
Posted: November 23, 2011 | Author: J | Filed under: Faith, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »I know, I know. I’ve been horrible at keeping you all updated with my life. Actually – horrible is an understatement. I haven’t kept you updated at all. And no, I’m not going to write a blog right now about what my weeks look like, and what I do when I work in the office, or fun photos of my room that none of you have seen yet. You’ve all been waiting for them, but this isn’t that post – sorry Charlie. (not really. you’ll read this and then probably be over it.)
I will post about one cool thing I’ve done since moving to New Haven – Read and discussed this book with a group of friends. (if you haven’t read it, you should)
To “bring some closer” to it, we’re supposed to: ”write 1 full page describing one thing. point. nugget. idea. scripture. in The Normal Christian Life that has impacted you/made you think differently - also explain how this will/has applied to your life.” And I thought, “Hmmm. I should Just blog it.”
So – I will.
——————————————————————–
I’ve realized something recently -
I try so hard to squeeze myself into the will of God. It sounds funny, but it’s true.
Here’s what happens: I look at my life, and all the things I do, and say, “what will this next season look like?” Then I make my best attempt to plot/plan/map it out the way I think it will/should happen. You may have gotten know me pretty well (or have seen us in the past post photos of the my messy side of the cavern. #jisalwayspacking) and never once thought I would be the type of girl to have a ten-year plan.
Well, I fooled you. Not only do I have a ten year plan, but – I also have multiple fall back plans just in case something goes wrong. (just ask L&C…)
I’m not sure what part of my little human brain thinks that I have any right to plan my life out, because in fact – I don’t. When I claimed Jesus as my Savior, I laid that right down, and willingingly too. It’s not my life to plan. It’s not my job to know what I have to do when, or where I need to go next, or how on earth I’ll pull any of it off. My only job is to wait on Him. Watchman Nee says it this way,
I don’t have to strive to find God’s love and I don’t have to worry about/try to figure out everything I need to do with my life.
James 4:14 says, “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
God has not promised us tomorrow. All I have is today, and what good is that if I spend all today planning all the tomorrows?
Just like Mary broke the alabaster box and poured it all over Jesus’ head, I need to break my plots, plans, and maps, and pour them out on Jesus. I need to give them to Him to mess up. Jeremiah 1:5, “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
His will is far better than mine, He knew me before I was even formed, and His plan to get me there [to His will] is far better than mine. He’ll lead me. And direct me. And teach me. And even sometimes (or most of the time) leave me plan-less.
In exchange? I get to stop trying, and stop struggling – and start trusting, and start resting. He promises to work all things for our good because we love Him (Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”). And all I have to do is trust and rest in Him.
Though it’s sometimes harder than it sounds – It certainly sounds like a good deal to me!
C: location, location, location.
Posted: November 18, 2011 | Author: C | Filed under: Travel? Yes, we do., Uncategorized | Leave a comment »Location 1: Williamsburg, VA = check
Location 2: Roanoke, VA = check
Location 3: Washington, DC = we’re workin’ on it
(FYI: This isn’t the ‘real deal’ update yet… Sorry. You’ll be waiting until I’m home again — hope you have the patience.)
SO, we’re in Washington, DC. Well, we are actually staying with someone that lives outside of the city (Reston, VA to be specific), but it’s a perfect place to reside for the remainder of our trip.
I’m in my room (you can tell that I make myself quite at home — already saying “MY room”), all cozy with my thick sweater, yoga pants, and slippers… And I shut the door so that the room stays extra warm — L would love it.
(cozy slippers and comfy clothes)
I took a picture of this ‘lil guy but forgot to share it with you all. He’s going to help make our cavern festive (get ready, L)!
I randomly played this song tonight which is very strange because I’ve been in a Christmas music rut for a while now. Huh. Who knows.
L: happy winds-day
Posted: November 16, 2011 | Author: L | Filed under: That's Dumb Wednesday | 3 Comments »Good morning! I, like, just woke up. I may or may not have rolled out of bed at 9:05, grabbed my friend/roommate/sister’s car and ran to the post office and then rushed to the office. I was here by 9:20 AND I had gotten my morning coffee. That’s the way to do it. I mean, com’on, I made it to work and got my morning coffee all within the time that I absolutely need to. That’s pretty awesome.
My dear friend and co-worker says I document everything with my photobooth. I say yes. Why? Because two years from now if I no longer work here, somebody else can look through these photos and see the changes in my life. And they can see me on the mornings that I barely make it to work. Hat days, anyone? And I’m semi-smiling even in my state of semi-awakeness. Oh. You know it’s going to be a good day and they’ll know it was a good day.
But you really wanna know why it’s going to be a good day? Well, I am still getting my Bible time in today (audio Bible rocks yo’ socks off, girl!), I already laughed a couple times today, it’s a really pretty fall day, and the Lord is faithful.
Beat that (last one). Just try.
P.S. It’s pretty dumb that I still can’t wake up to my alarm clock. I mean, really? It’s just dumb.
P.P.S. Jophish, I’m not clocking in right now. Just FYI.
L: monday night
Posted: November 15, 2011 | Author: L | Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »I’ve got the cavern all by myself right now. I’m laying on the cold hard wood floor and listening to my some of my favorite music.
Or, well, my favorite musician. And I’m just going to assume that by this point I don’t really need to remind you of who that is. It’s just THAT obvious by now. Anyway. Evenings in a quiet, comfortable place are lovely, aren’t they?
C: brief overview
Posted: November 13, 2011 | Author: C | Filed under: Travel? Yes, we do., Uncategorized | Leave a comment »Soon I’ll have time to share more in depth about the trip so far, but this is all you really need to know for right now… I think.
I do things like poke Brother #2′s face (that’s what real loving sisters do).
We eat Gingerbread Cookies (my one official request for the entirety of our visit to Colonial Williamsburg…Yes, to eat cookies — don’t judge).
We all wear snazzy shoes — gotta prove that Northern New Yorkers really can be class-ay looking.
And of course locking up my mother and brother IS a necessity.
And there’s the brief overview.
Toot-a-loo.
L: things.
Posted: November 11, 2011 | Author: L | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »Would you like to know some of the things I’m doing or thinking about?
I’m listening to lots of my favorite sixties inspired music today. Hello, She & Him, The Generationals, Modest Mouse, and Sloan. That Grooveshark playlist increases the amount of happiness in my day. It surely does.
I’m finishing up some officey things because I’m heading out of town. Have I ever told you that I love leaving and going places? One of my favorite things about leaving is coming home.
I’m sitting in an office with my brother-in-law who is finishing his notes for his sermon this Sunday. He has been the source of a lot of laughter this last week (and, no, it’s not because he’s doing stupid things; it’s because he says funny things). Have I ever told you that I love my family, my whole family? Every. Single. Person. Love them.
I’m really missing C and J this week. They’re both gone. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I know. But I think I can be just as fond of them when they’re in the cavern. I really do.
I’m blessed. Super blessed. Beyond my comprehension blessed. There’s a lot of good stuff in my life. You wanna know a secret? I have this blog that I’ve had since I was 13. It holds years of strange blogposts. This November and last November I did a thankfulness thingamajigger. Everyday, I wrote something I was thankful for. I am pretty successful at recognizing different things but really? I can’t get past a couple of things my heart is so thankful for. Like, “hello Jesus Christ. Don’t think I’ll ever say thank You enough.” Yep. Don’t think I can.
I’m thinking about winter. It’s coming. And I don’t love it. But without it we wouldn’t have spring and the rebirth of so many beautiful trees and flowers. So I guess it’s just another thing to be thankful for, right?
J: The Civil Wars – Forget Me Not
Posted: November 9, 2011 | Author: J | Filed under: Music, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »C: [subject here]
Posted: November 9, 2011 | Author: C | Filed under: Travel? Yes, we do., Uncategorized | Leave a comment »I never enjoy packing. Mostly because I’m the person that can’t just pack whatever in a bag and call it good. I think about the clothes I’m packing, how many of whatever, and so forth.
You know those movies where someone is rushing to the airport to stop their “someone” from leaving without them, and in a hurry just shove things in a bag and call it good (specifically I’m picturing something in the 90′s with those women’s suit jackets with the huge shoulder pads, but that’s just my weird brain)?…
…I find that rather silly. Wouldn’t it be so much more fun to go somewhere without any of your clothing and just buy a whole new wardrobe when you get wherever you’re going?! OH WAIT. That requires being wealthy — I almost forgot. (i’ll just put that on my bucket list and cross my fingers for fifty years. hey, you never know. it just might actually happen.)
Well, I’m not crossing anything off of my bucket list quite yet so I am packing for this trip, and I forgot that fall clothing is much fatter than any other clothing. I feel like I barely put anything in my suitcase and it was already bulging! Talk about annoying.
(picture stolen. it’s not me, or my suitcase.)
My personal challenge:
I’m only bringing two pairs of shoes. TWO. Just boots and flats. Am I crazy??? Maybe. I don’t have a ton of shoes to start with, but just two pairs of shoes on a week and a half trip (or however long it will end up being) is new for me. Watch me cave and buy shoes on the trip – that would be pathetic. But I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try to do the whole ‘two pairs of shoes’ thing. I mean, the worst thing that could happen is I’ll never do it again. HA. That’s a killer.
Well.
I’m leaving in the AM.
I’ll try my best to post while traveling.
I also make no guarantees.
…Keep life peachy. We all enjoy it better that way. Or at least I do. And you should always aim to please me… right? (*insert reality check…ouch)