I love summer. It would be nice to have it year-round with maybe one month of spring one of fall and one of winter interspersed in there to give some variety. Other than that, summer will suffice. So glad we have a pool key now and it's only a little jaunt up/down the street to get there. Summer is great!
Reasons summer is the best...
- You don't have to wear long sleeves. Every. Single. Day.
- Warm = always better than cold. (i.e. warm-hearted>cold-hearted. point proved)
- You can get a nice tan.
- Swimming. And pools. And the beach. And sand.
- It's married to the sun and they had a baby named Ice Cream.
- Who lays in the grass to look at the clouds when it's 30F?
- Sunglasses are cooler in the summer.
- Less likely to get the sniffles.
- You'll be less depressed if you don't have anyone to cuddle with because it's so hot you wouldn't even think of cuddling in the first place.
- It's the only time Ocean Park, ME is worth visiting. And the only time that amazing soda fountain is open!
- Cook-outs are the bomb!
- My birthday is in the summer. :)
- The sun stays out longer => less depression. It's a proven fact.
And I could go on, but I won't overwhelm with all the fabulous reasons why summer is great. Hope you're enjoying it to the fullest. Now, go eat some ice cream.
Peace.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Bless-ed be the Watermelon
Got to experience the wholesale farmers' market this morning at the way-too-early 6am. Ohmigoodness. And it wasn't all that exciting either. Good experience. Sweet farmers. Spotted some okra and it made me really want some and miss the BOL garden. Ned and I picked up some squash, zucchini, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cabbage. As I washed the potatoes, Ned went to get peaches but instead came back with over 100 watermelons!! Oh, wow. Talk about a workout unloading all those suckers. We sorted everything today and trying to fit 12 different items around a watermelon that took up the majority of the tub was a challenge; but not one that would master us. I must say that is one good looking tub of produce. Very colorful with the green of cabbage and watermelon, red of tomatoes and bell pepper, orange of ...oranges, and yellow of squash and bananas. The business should boom after this week for sure. :) Oh, and mangoes! Who wouldn't want a mango! Now I have the fortunate problem of figuring out how to consume/deal with seven of this amazing fruit due to the fact I bought some earlier this week because they were on sale! Had no idea I would get more with Go Local. But you will not hear me complain about this predicament. No, sir. Looking forward to a week full of healthy and delicious eats!
Peace.
Peace.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Hello, I'm the Vegetable Lady
Produce of the day includes a baby white eggplant and blueberries. Excitement at its fullest. Since we are talking about food, I can now add fish - trout specifically - to my cooking repertoire. Courtesy of my dear friend who fishes at Gulf Shores, I have had a good supply of fish for the past few weeks enabling me to not worry about buying meat. This last batch was made with rosemary and turned out absolutely delicious. However, after having it for the past week, I'm ready for a hamburger.
In other job-related news, I've been painting a house this week - much fun. A guy from church has a home repair business and is remodeling a house that had a tree fall on it from the tornado, and he hired me to paint with them. I rather enjoyed it. There's something about doing manual labor and sweating in a non-airconditioned house with a paint brush in hand that I find more enjoyable than staring at a flickering computer screen. Call me crazy. He might have other jobs for me coming up but with all the other job offers I've been getting (seriously!) I don't know how much I'll be able to do, sadly. We'll see how it goes.
In other job-related news, I've been painting a house this week - much fun. A guy from church has a home repair business and is remodeling a house that had a tree fall on it from the tornado, and he hired me to paint with them. I rather enjoyed it. There's something about doing manual labor and sweating in a non-airconditioned house with a paint brush in hand that I find more enjoyable than staring at a flickering computer screen. Call me crazy. He might have other jobs for me coming up but with all the other job offers I've been getting (seriously!) I don't know how much I'll be able to do, sadly. We'll see how it goes.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The Wedding Channel
Well, congratulations to me. I have arrived. I am now at the age where anyone who hasn't seen me in a while - a while being anywhere from two years to two weeks- feels it necessary to ask if I have found anyone yet. "Are you dating? Met anyone? Interested in anyone? Anyone?" Friends and past roommates are getting engaged and married more and more now, and I'm enjoying looking at all the pictures on Facebook. While I am looking forward to when I get to speak about weddings in the present first-person, I find I can also be petrified at the idea of marriage. Weddings, sure no problem! We, as Americans, have the wedding down, and if you have any qualms about yours, just flip on the TV and you will find countless shows telling you how to make it grand. Sure, wonderful, but a wedding is a day. What comes after you blow however much money and then it's just the two of you? The day when it's you and whoever the lucky (?) person who promised to live with you....for the rest of your lives. Yikes! Yes, that would be marriage.
Now I'm single (which means I can live however I want!). Makes sense to learn all I can about marriage now so hopefully we don't screw it up. What makes a marriage work? But not just work, but flourish? I don't want to become the bane of someone's existence, especially when that "someone" considered it a joy to ask me to be his bride when we were in love. Marriage is important! God created it to be amazing and I definitely want mine to be amazing. Hard? and Work? Duh, you have to live with someone else day-in and day-out, and not just co-exist but get into each others lives, draw out the good to display and pull out the bad to get rid of, to stretch and encourage one another, and honor. It's all about honor. Marriage is powerful. Two people working as one; multiplied anointings, giftings, and talents. What is hers is yours now, right?
I was chatting with a guy my age the other day (I'll call him Jack), I didn't really know him but we had mutual acquaintances and I had heard of him before. Jack mentioned a girl (Sue) who I know and said they were dating, well, they had been dating but they were "taking a break." Jack rolled his eyes like it was all Sue's idea and he had no idea what that meant or why they were doing it. We chatted about some plans we had down the road in our respective lives and for Jack, this is what he has going..."Well, I'm seeing what is going to happen with Sue and me. I mean, we're either going to get hitched, or I'm going to move to Atlanta for this job." Um...excuse me? "Well, we might get hitched. Or not." ??? He said it so flippantly as if he "might" have Cheerios for breakfast. Or maybe he'll just have toast. Really?! Marriage is not just something to enter on a whim. That's how so many people get burned. It's a covenant. It's for real. And it's for life. Oh, but it's awesome. Again won't it be great when I get to say all this from first-hand experience. :)
Closing thought: Biblically, marriage is to be about honoring the other; it's an intimate place to practice laying down oneself for another. A great place to learn and gain experience in dying to self, right? Personally, I would love to get married. So, if a=b and b=c making a=c, does this mean I would love to die? Well, not particularly; it might hurt. But maybe that is what this prep time in my life is for: learn to die now so when we add in another component it won't be so much of a shock. Hmmm. So glad I have Help in all this.
Peace.
Now I'm single (which means I can live however I want!). Makes sense to learn all I can about marriage now so hopefully we don't screw it up. What makes a marriage work? But not just work, but flourish? I don't want to become the bane of someone's existence, especially when that "someone" considered it a joy to ask me to be his bride when we were in love. Marriage is important! God created it to be amazing and I definitely want mine to be amazing. Hard? and Work? Duh, you have to live with someone else day-in and day-out, and not just co-exist but get into each others lives, draw out the good to display and pull out the bad to get rid of, to stretch and encourage one another, and honor. It's all about honor. Marriage is powerful. Two people working as one; multiplied anointings, giftings, and talents. What is hers is yours now, right?
I was chatting with a guy my age the other day (I'll call him Jack), I didn't really know him but we had mutual acquaintances and I had heard of him before. Jack mentioned a girl (Sue) who I know and said they were dating, well, they had been dating but they were "taking a break." Jack rolled his eyes like it was all Sue's idea and he had no idea what that meant or why they were doing it. We chatted about some plans we had down the road in our respective lives and for Jack, this is what he has going..."Well, I'm seeing what is going to happen with Sue and me. I mean, we're either going to get hitched, or I'm going to move to Atlanta for this job." Um...excuse me? "Well, we might get hitched. Or not." ??? He said it so flippantly as if he "might" have Cheerios for breakfast. Or maybe he'll just have toast. Really?! Marriage is not just something to enter on a whim. That's how so many people get burned. It's a covenant. It's for real. And it's for life. Oh, but it's awesome. Again won't it be great when I get to say all this from first-hand experience. :)
Closing thought: Biblically, marriage is to be about honoring the other; it's an intimate place to practice laying down oneself for another. A great place to learn and gain experience in dying to self, right? Personally, I would love to get married. So, if a=b and b=c making a=c, does this mean I would love to die? Well, not particularly; it might hurt. But maybe that is what this prep time in my life is for: learn to die now so when we add in another component it won't be so much of a shock. Hmmm. So glad I have Help in all this.
Peace.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Yay! Found it!
Lost something? Pray about it. Seriously, why not? He knows where everything is anyway.
Today was one of answered prayers (whether or not I actually prayed them). So cool; I found several things that I had misplaced and had no clue where they were. And I'm not one to lose a lot of things. I typically remember where I put things or I can trace it back in my mind and find where I randomly placed them, but over the course of a couple months some things meandered out of my recollection.
1. My Nike duffle bag. Yay, I found it....stuffed in the back of my closet behind all the blankets and comforters that I won't be using for another four and a half months. Would've been helpful to have that for the Nashville trip, but I'm glad to know where it is.
2. My tan bra. Yay, I found it....under the bed??? No matter, it's a very important discovery. Thanks God for the guidance - I was looking under the bed for the aforementioned bag and found this instead!! Sweet.
3. My house key!!!! Yay, i found it....in my running shoe. haha. Yeah, may sound weird but when I go running I take it off the key chain and carry it in my shoe (so I don't have to hold it) which can cause problems if it doesn't get put back on the key chain. Wow, I thought I was going to have to take everything out of my chest of drawers in case it had fallen in one of them, but no, I just need to run more often. If I had used my shoes before today, I would have found the key sooner! Lesson learned = exercise daily. :)
Thanks, God, for found items!
Today was one of answered prayers (whether or not I actually prayed them). So cool; I found several things that I had misplaced and had no clue where they were. And I'm not one to lose a lot of things. I typically remember where I put things or I can trace it back in my mind and find where I randomly placed them, but over the course of a couple months some things meandered out of my recollection.
1. My Nike duffle bag. Yay, I found it....stuffed in the back of my closet behind all the blankets and comforters that I won't be using for another four and a half months. Would've been helpful to have that for the Nashville trip, but I'm glad to know where it is.
2. My tan bra. Yay, I found it....under the bed??? No matter, it's a very important discovery. Thanks God for the guidance - I was looking under the bed for the aforementioned bag and found this instead!! Sweet.
3. My house key!!!! Yay, i found it....in my running shoe. haha. Yeah, may sound weird but when I go running I take it off the key chain and carry it in my shoe (so I don't have to hold it) which can cause problems if it doesn't get put back on the key chain. Wow, I thought I was going to have to take everything out of my chest of drawers in case it had fallen in one of them, but no, I just need to run more often. If I had used my shoes before today, I would have found the key sooner! Lesson learned = exercise daily. :)
Thanks, God, for found items!
Favor and Fruit!
So many times I have heard and read and probably even spoken about how great and powerful forgiveness and inner healing are. Truly since learning of the Arnotts' teachings on these subjects I have been a strong believer and supporter. But you know there is a difference between believing in something and actually have experience in the area and having a story to back it up. Yes, I would be comfortable teaching on forgiveness; I have done quite a bit of it in my relatively short lifetime. Yes, I could give examples on how I've gotten freedom from it, but since the main people I have had to forgive are no longer in my life, I couldn't really say how the forgiveness process has helped the relationships even if they did help/heal my own heart. Heart healing = good. But having an outward manifestation would be awesome. Here comes the story, because I now have one!
The first stop on my fabulous Nashville getaway was to meet with my ministry friend. Basically we get together and let the Holy Spirit tell us what is going on with one another (heart issues we aren't aware of) and we pray through it, forgive, repent, and get freedom. The essence of quality time in my book. So I had some relationship junk to unpack and she most kindly helped me sort through it all. Tears, repentance, forgiveness, honoring, and speaking truth = a much lighter, happier, and encouraged me. Wasn't too excited about coming back to Raleigh to deal with the situation but when I faced it (with new peace and confidence) I was blown away by the change of circumstances. Outwardly nothing had happened but because I have chosen to walk in forgiveness and honor, my relationships have exponentially improved. I actually enjoyed them! Wow. How cool. And to really see that my attitude, albeit unspoken, directly affects the relationship dynamic. Crazy. Good to know I have the power to change things though I feel like shying away from taking responsibility for changing things most of the time. :) Don't we all.
Another cool thing happening is the job favor that is coming. An attitude of honor brings favor, I do believe. Yay! It has been three months here in Raleigh and I still don't have a "job" job. Things are getting pretty tight though at just the right times, people have been blessing me with money and things I need. Before I left for Nashville though I was approached with a couple job offers, two part-time gigs that can grow and one one-time job that could lead to others, all of which that would actually pay me! Exciting. Since getting back I've been approached about two other possible jobs and have been learning more about the previous three. God is amazing. I would love to start saving again, and tithing. Hallelujah.
Peace.
The first stop on my fabulous Nashville getaway was to meet with my ministry friend. Basically we get together and let the Holy Spirit tell us what is going on with one another (heart issues we aren't aware of) and we pray through it, forgive, repent, and get freedom. The essence of quality time in my book. So I had some relationship junk to unpack and she most kindly helped me sort through it all. Tears, repentance, forgiveness, honoring, and speaking truth = a much lighter, happier, and encouraged me. Wasn't too excited about coming back to Raleigh to deal with the situation but when I faced it (with new peace and confidence) I was blown away by the change of circumstances. Outwardly nothing had happened but because I have chosen to walk in forgiveness and honor, my relationships have exponentially improved. I actually enjoyed them! Wow. How cool. And to really see that my attitude, albeit unspoken, directly affects the relationship dynamic. Crazy. Good to know I have the power to change things though I feel like shying away from taking responsibility for changing things most of the time. :) Don't we all.
Another cool thing happening is the job favor that is coming. An attitude of honor brings favor, I do believe. Yay! It has been three months here in Raleigh and I still don't have a "job" job. Things are getting pretty tight though at just the right times, people have been blessing me with money and things I need. Before I left for Nashville though I was approached with a couple job offers, two part-time gigs that can grow and one one-time job that could lead to others, all of which that would actually pay me! Exciting. Since getting back I've been approached about two other possible jobs and have been learning more about the previous three. God is amazing. I would love to start saving again, and tithing. Hallelujah.
Peace.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Happy Fourth
This past weekend I got to travel to Nashville to visit with friends and family. Lovely times all around...well, for the most part. The eight hour drive wasn't too bad aside from the speeding ticket I received three hours out of town - the first ever in my six-year driving career! OMG....not looking forward to paying that. "Is there a reason you are in such a rush?" "Oh, just have a long road trip ahead of me to see family." Yeah, you would have thought the guy would have had compassion on a poor (literally) girl like me who has to lean over the seat to manually roll down the passenger side window in order to converse with the cop. Oh well.
And another thing...even though I've lived in NC for three months now it always takes me aback when the person talking to me opens their mouth and out flows a heavy Southern accent. They almost sound fake to me, which makes me want to laugh, but if I did that there would, of course, be offense taken since they, of course, are not faking it. Perhaps I'm surrounded by so many foreigners in the office (British, Australian, Canadian, etc) that I have not been adequately immersed in the NC community/culture.
Gma's house was great but like always way too many desserts and tempting treats. Each time I go I hope that I have grown in self-control enough that I can just say "no." Sadly, that hasn't happened yet, but it's coming, hallelujah. :) I did decline taking any brownies home with me...guess that would follow "what happens at Gma's, stays at Gma's." haha. We watched the NY fireworks which were impressive albeit on TV as well as some from the back porch that the neighbors shot off just for us. How blessed I am to live in such a wonderful country!
Friends and Family: yes, I love them. And I love Nashville. Driving to one of my friend-dates I got to go downtown which was a treat in and of itself; I have missed working there! Catching up with everyone was great but more than just talking about what has been going on, God spoke through every one of them (though they may not have known it!) giving me advise, words of wisdom and admonition, and the encouragement that I needed. I was blown away. And I felt like I need to be scribbling everything they said in a notebook though that may have looked a little odd. So, while it wasn't fun saying good-bye and leaving everyone again, I have come back refreshed; filled up with love, hope, and determination; freer; and challenged. Amazing what one week with loved ones (and God) can do for you!
Tip: chocolate covered pomogranate seeds (from Costco) are outstanding.
Peace.
And another thing...even though I've lived in NC for three months now it always takes me aback when the person talking to me opens their mouth and out flows a heavy Southern accent. They almost sound fake to me, which makes me want to laugh, but if I did that there would, of course, be offense taken since they, of course, are not faking it. Perhaps I'm surrounded by so many foreigners in the office (British, Australian, Canadian, etc) that I have not been adequately immersed in the NC community/culture.
Gma's house was great but like always way too many desserts and tempting treats. Each time I go I hope that I have grown in self-control enough that I can just say "no." Sadly, that hasn't happened yet, but it's coming, hallelujah. :) I did decline taking any brownies home with me...guess that would follow "what happens at Gma's, stays at Gma's." haha. We watched the NY fireworks which were impressive albeit on TV as well as some from the back porch that the neighbors shot off just for us. How blessed I am to live in such a wonderful country!
Friends and Family: yes, I love them. And I love Nashville. Driving to one of my friend-dates I got to go downtown which was a treat in and of itself; I have missed working there! Catching up with everyone was great but more than just talking about what has been going on, God spoke through every one of them (though they may not have known it!) giving me advise, words of wisdom and admonition, and the encouragement that I needed. I was blown away. And I felt like I need to be scribbling everything they said in a notebook though that may have looked a little odd. So, while it wasn't fun saying good-bye and leaving everyone again, I have come back refreshed; filled up with love, hope, and determination; freer; and challenged. Amazing what one week with loved ones (and God) can do for you!
Tip: chocolate covered pomogranate seeds (from Costco) are outstanding.
Peace.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Declaration
It fit then. It fits now. And serves as a good reminder.
So the storm has come. The sky threatens to devour me, and I stand here naked and exposed, all defenses long gone. LORD, I gave you my heart, you made it beat again. Was that my mistake? Cuz now I feel everything. WIll I be destroyed? WIll my new heart be crushed? Can I stand against the storm? Or will I be swept away numb?
LORD, I am weak. Not quite used to vulnerable. Can I trust you to care for me? Can I trust you to be there? You have brought me this far. Why would you stop now? You told me before; You will be faithful to complete me.
Don't let me long for Egypt. Don't let me build walls again. With callouses gone it's painful, but my stone heart is now flesh. You breathe on me once again. Life fills my lungs and I can sing. Disregarding discomfort I will declare only your Truth.
I am free. I'm your daughter. I'm alive and have a purpose. I am loved. I'm so beautiful. I'm a light that shines for you. I am healed. I'm your lover. I'm your most prized possession.
Your grace and your truth give me hope in this life. You have something better for me than all that I could imagine. No storm can uproot me, no wave knock me down. I'm grounded in my Savior's love. My Father's wings cover me.
I will shake off these chains that have crept up on me. I will dance off the cobwebs trying to cover me up. I take authority over my life. The enemy holds no stock in me. Jesus bought me back for good. Now fear is gone forever. I will not be timid or shy away. I'm as bold as a lion. The oxen's strength in my hands, I will plow up the fields no one has. I will lay the foundation for freedom.
You have called me to do great things. Don't let me get stuck in the mire. You have called me to be your warrior. I'll take my sword and fight with you.
~March 9, 2011
Peace.
So the storm has come. The sky threatens to devour me, and I stand here naked and exposed, all defenses long gone. LORD, I gave you my heart, you made it beat again. Was that my mistake? Cuz now I feel everything. WIll I be destroyed? WIll my new heart be crushed? Can I stand against the storm? Or will I be swept away numb?
LORD, I am weak. Not quite used to vulnerable. Can I trust you to care for me? Can I trust you to be there? You have brought me this far. Why would you stop now? You told me before; You will be faithful to complete me.
Don't let me long for Egypt. Don't let me build walls again. With callouses gone it's painful, but my stone heart is now flesh. You breathe on me once again. Life fills my lungs and I can sing. Disregarding discomfort I will declare only your Truth.
I am free. I'm your daughter. I'm alive and have a purpose. I am loved. I'm so beautiful. I'm a light that shines for you. I am healed. I'm your lover. I'm your most prized possession.
Your grace and your truth give me hope in this life. You have something better for me than all that I could imagine. No storm can uproot me, no wave knock me down. I'm grounded in my Savior's love. My Father's wings cover me.
I will shake off these chains that have crept up on me. I will dance off the cobwebs trying to cover me up. I take authority over my life. The enemy holds no stock in me. Jesus bought me back for good. Now fear is gone forever. I will not be timid or shy away. I'm as bold as a lion. The oxen's strength in my hands, I will plow up the fields no one has. I will lay the foundation for freedom.
You have called me to do great things. Don't let me get stuck in the mire. You have called me to be your warrior. I'll take my sword and fight with you.
~March 9, 2011
Peace.
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