Wow, just looking back on Blogger for my entries over the past year... I am amazed at two major points... I was sick an awful lot, and the fact that God has really been sculpting me this year, its so awesome to see it happen. Here are some highlights:
1. I got married. It was probably the best event ever in my life so far. Thanks to all my friends and family who made it happen. I have the best husband ever.
2. I went on my Honeymoon and finally got to see the Grand Canyon. I felt so tiny in comparison to that. Yet it was really comforting to know that God cares for me, despite my insignificance in the universe. Sedona was also super cool. It was an experience I won't ever forget. Thanks to Dave's folks for the plane tickets and the rides, and Dave's brother for the house. And thanks to all the friends and family for all the cash gifts at our wedding, we couldn't have enjoyed our honeymoon without your generosity.
3. I got to wear a suit at work. This is odd for a person who wears pajamas (scrubs.) I will be doing this again in '08!
4. I changed my schedule. God put it in my heart to do so, and so I have, and it has literally changed my life. I enjoy being a part of Celebrate the Journey EVERY Tuesday.
5. My cousin Tammy got married! I was a first time bridesmaid. It was a fun wedding, Tammy glowed! Oh and I like her husband too! I will miss them when they move to Indy in the early spring.
6. Mom was laid to rest. On the one year anniversary of her passing (07-07-07) we scattered her ashes into Lake Michigan, and then went swimming! It was so awesome, and freeing. I love you Mom, see you when I get there.
7. Ignite Chicago! I got to see my two favoritest bands in concert! Tree 63 and David Crowder! It was fun, and my sister adopted a child.
8. Babies! A good friend announced that she was pregnant. Also several people at work are also pregnant, or were and now have babies!
9. I gave in and joined Facebook. Be my friend, I need more people to poke, bite, and bomb.
10. The great remodel. We moved into Dad's house for 6 weeks and lets just say I am so glad to be home, so much so we vacationed here.
11. Abby tore a cruciate ligament in her knee, she now limps.
12. We moved back in the house, then had a small fire, lived in a motel for 9 days. Yeah, its was fun, not! Praise God that its all good now.
13. I won the most likely to star in her own reality TV show at work. Funny, my life IS like a reality show.
14. Miss Daisy Mae joined Muffi and Georgie and several others in Doggie Heaven. She was a good dog. She is missed.
15. I gave my testimony. Me, I got up on stage and told intimate details of my life to friends and strangers. It was one of the most freeing experiences of my life, and I did a good job.
16. The thing we haven't made public yet. No, I am not pregnant, but intimate friends know whats up. I pray for a peaceful resolution in '08. I know its redundant putting up something I cannot tell you, but lets just say it is that big and affects me that much.
17. The spare room is occupied. Pray that our friend Paul is able to get on his feet soon.
Happy Old Year to all of you. I have grown more than I could ever imagine, and I have to give God all the glory.
Here's to an even better New Year....
Often times I find myself wanting things that I have no idea what to do with. One of the biggest problems I have is making friends. I get these people interested in me, and being my friend, but I don't know how exactly to develop that friendship, or I feel like I am in some strange land. Many people want me to be the one to make the plans when I am ready. (Hint: I am never ready!)
My favorite is call me when you want to get together... um, hello, but aren't we talking now? Let's make plans now! Alas... now is never a good time to make plans. (Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. John Lennon.) Thus I end up sitting at my computer drinking coffee and blogging before work.
I am horrible at this friend thing. See, I work when most people are off work, and anything before 11am is just too early for me, I can't do it.
What I can do, is poke you on Facebook. It works for me.
I really want this connection thing, but I am soooo bad at it. Help me. I cannot do this on my own. Part of my problem is that I fill up my off days with stuff, and then nobody wants to do anything when I actually keep it free. Oh, yeah, and making that first phone call. ... I just plain suck at that.
Of course, now my vacation is over, and I am working this weekend, so I won't be free for another week unless you make me meet you for lunch. Because that's my schedule... it allows me to be a recluse.
The year is almost over.
Here is to '08
A family tradition happened when my cousin got the Pirates of the Caribbean game on DVD for Christmas. Now we play it every Christmas, and I WON!
PIRATE! For once it is good to have the most booty.
Yeah! See how disappointed my mates are?
I had a great Christmas, and I hope all of you did too!
Back to work today... :( wahhh!
Please help me be gracious this Christmas as I receive gifts. I have a problem with greed, and when I get something I really don't want or can't use, I get angry or upset. Help me to not let physical things turn me into a monster. I know where my treasure lies, and it is with you oh Lord.
Help me just to celebrate you, and enjoy visiting family and friends.
Help me to glorify you with my actions, thoughts and heart.
Thank you for your son Jesus. Amen
Suddenly I find that Christmas is creeping up on us. I check my email, I then go to my Google Reader and catch up on some blogs. God is talking to me through others and through my life to realize for the first Christmas ever what this whole thing is all about.
All of my life I thought Christmas was about what I could get, exchanging gifts, so you can get gifts, and food... lots of food. Family, yes, and even baby Jesus, oh and the carols, you have to sing the carols.
God came to us.
That should be reason to celebrate. We got this gift, this perfect thing in such a delicate baby boy delivered in a stable. This baby dies for our sins, then defeats death and resurrects. We can now have a relationship directly with God, that was never ever possible before. All because a baby was born... and the life he lead... and the death... and the resurrection.
So for us, what is Christmas?
Christmas should be about giving a gift that cannot be repaid. Check out Matt's post. Matt is a great guy that moved to KC, MO to follow a dream that God put in his head. I love and pray for Matt, and the whole Restore team.
What can you give?
Well, while this is not my pets, they look similar. Too cute.
Dave and I are enjoying our vacation. Yesterday we got to visit some seniors that Dave knows from work, and it was great to spend some time getting to know them. We also spent some time volunteering at church (I stuffed programs, and Dave helped Lupe). I had an MRI of my bad ankle (finally) and we stayed up late watching Live Free or Die Hard. Dave also took me out to dinner at our favorite restaurant, BD's Mongolian BBQ! He got us a pair of gigantic Mongo Mugs to stuff our stockings. (Okay, the likelyhood they will ever touch a stocking is low, but its the idea...)
Wednesday, we bared the deep fog to visit some good friends of ours out in Sycamore. Driving down 88 is scary when you can only see two car lengths in front of you! Hector and Michelle served us a terrific dinner (thanks!) and we got to kick some butt playing Skip-Bo with them. Their baby boy is growing up sooooo fast!
Today we are hoping that the weather will accommodate us to drive around to see Christmas lights. We are also going to do some more movie watching and generally be lazy today. I made some killer grilled beef and cheese burritos for lunch!
Some people are amazed that Dave and I still volunteered while on vacation. The truth is, we would rather volunteer than work, but money is a necessity. We really find peace and happiness in giving ourselves.
Oh, and I never thought I would love kissing old people so much, but they love it! You know, the nice quick peck on the cheek.... it means so much to be able to bring them a moment of joy. It amazes me how they remember my name, I am so bad with names. Hopefully, that is something that gets better with age.
Last night, I got up on stage and gave my testimony. I openly told people who I am, who I was, and where I am going. Some of which you might know if you followed my blog, but not all. It was the most public confession of my sins and my strengths. Why did I do it?
I want people to know that it IS possible, there IS a way out, light at the end of the tunnel, gold at the end of the rainbow...
The one friend who doesn't come to C the J and I invited showed up! Wow! I was glad she was there. I made myself vulnerable, and yet again God came through.
People told me I have a gift for speech. I must appear more confident than I feel. I have to give all the credit to being on the Forensics (speech) team in high school. And also to my great speech teacher at COD. Oh yeah, and God, who is constantly telling me that I AM a beautiful, talented creation, even when I don't feel like one.
I have to apologize for the lack of posts recently. Life has been throwing me some bones, and I have wound up with more than I could imagine on my plate right now.
But it is all good.
I have a huge thing that I can't mention yet for legal purposes, and some other nuggets that I should share. And despite it being a big deal, I know it will be alright.
For one of the larger nuggets, I will be giving my testimony next Tuesday at Celebrate the Journey. This is a big ordeal because I am going to be vulnerable to people I don't know in the hopes that it can help them to better their lives. No one likes to talk about their past, but when we do it, we are actually setting it free. I really hope that I don't trip on stage, but if I do, oh well, it shows I am human, right?
I have this vacation planned to catch up with folks that I haven't seen in a while. If this is you, call me! Vacation starts Tuesday. I recently got texted by an old, old pal and hope that we can get together next week.
The Christmas tree is up, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and most of my shopping is done, except for my dad and Yola, I don't know what to get them... probably another gift certificate for (oh wait, what if he happens to read my blog, its rare, but it happens so thus ends this sentence.)
My cousin and her new husband will be out of town for Christmas this year. It will be weird, x-mas without them... (and before you un-informed people e-mail me, x is an acceptable, non-blasphemous substitute for Christ in Christmas! Do some research!)
My sister, Megan, has caught the cold. Pray for her.
Did you know that there are only 15 days left until Christmas? Good thing I started some shopping this weekend. Also thanks to my buddy doing some heavy lifting, I was able to return some unused construction stuff too!
We couldn't decide what to eat on Saturday, so we ended up at the buffet. I never knew that I would not like salad. The dressing was horrible, I couldn't finish it. The meat was gristly, my bench kept coming apart from the base. However they did have a killer cherry cobbler which I topped with soft serve. Yum.
Now I just have to make it through until my vacation. My first day off is a week from Tuesday! Where am I going? Well nowhere or across the country, but that's a whole other story... Lets start with insane and go from there...
I love my friends. They know when I need hugs. Thank you friends.
Yesterday Daisy left this earth and went to heaven. She was a good dog. I will .... I do miss her. She had a heart of gold and was the cuddliest dog I have ever known. She was so good to my mom when my mom was sick. She was Dave's "girlfriend" because she loved him so much and was sooo excited to see him.
See you in Heaven Daisy Mae. I love you.
