Simplicity

Excitement and Adventure

2010-02-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

The last blog discussed how important writing and logging our lives can be. (A decision was made to blog, as long as blogging doesn't enslave me.)

Anyways, a couple things have happened since then, helping remind me of my passions.

1. First client as a Personal Fitness Trainer.

Last Friday I decided to take on one of my co-workers as a client. Over a year after graduation from Purdue, cobwebs have formed - the brain is certainly a little dusty. The night before my client's Fitness Assessment, I stayed up late into the night (late for Zach and I anyways) to brush up and get organized. Four o'clock in the morning came too soon. Everything, however, went as well as it could have.

2. We found information about Adventure Racing in our area.

Zach and I share a passion for the outdoors, climbing, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, etc. Living in the middle of a flat state filled with cornfields makes it extremely difficult to get outside and release our passion! While in college, Zach completed four adventure races (thank you POCAR) and we've been talking about doing one since we began dating. We were excited to find information on adventure races nearby at the gym today! If you don't know what orienteering and adventure racing are, please, please do me a favor.

Stop reading RIGHT NOW and go find out!

3. Deciding to memorize Ephesians.

Today at work, I stumbled upon a friend's blog, where she was talking about memorizing the book of James. Lately, my time spent reading has been tough and dry. My friend wrote how the act of memorizing scripture awakens her soul. I was captured. In the depths of my being I knew that I need to start memorizing; not memorizing to puff out my chest or to be the idilic Christian, but memorizing to remind myself of my weakness, my reliance on Christ and to apply scripture to my life. The last time I tried to memorize anything was with my friend Sarah. We met once a week and had a new verse from the chapter each week. We were memorizing Romans 12. We got half way through. Based on the fact that we did not actually complete the chapter, we failed. But man, it didn't feel like failure. Those verses are engraved upon my heart. The act of memorizing them did something in me I can't explain. Prayers please for this new adventure...Ephesians is a book comprised of six chapters.

4. The FINALE!

As my husband would attest to, tonight I served the WORST dish that I've cooked since we've been married....EEEEEK.

Tonight an attempt was made to recreate a dish from Giada's Kitchen... the attempt went over like a lead balloon. Surely, the problem was on my end, not Giada's. Certainly, my use of sub-par ingredients such as canned green beans (all we had in the pantry) and lack of some others like tomatoes (ooooops, I didn't think they would be missed) is to blame. Whatever the problem, wow was it bad! The awful dish was magnified, however by the Open Pit BBQ sauce which my hub used earlier today. Gosh, the smell of Open Pit is gut wrenching to me. He still claims that I'm being dramatic and that is just isn't that bad....

ANYWAYS. The adventure here comes from the fact that I love to cook. Whether cooking for just Zach and I or for a crowd, I love it! Cooking gives me a sense of fulfillment, clarity and artistry. So putting something awful on the table just won't do. The adventure - cook well and NEVER have the same mishap as tonight.

Adventure...the sweet, sweet smell of adventure.

Beginning...Again

2010-02-12T17:16:00.000-08:00

Ashamed, I sit and type this. Unfortunately, I've written about beginning to blog before. As a result of some silly idea springing from agonizing New Year's traditions, I've vowed to begin writing again, no matter what it takes.

Honestly, the world of Blog has me quite distraught. Despite my feeling that blogging is another way that our society allows us to be faceless, deceiving us into believing that we can really connect with other faceless human beings this way, writing is real and raw and constructive. Despite wondering if this strange world of words, fonts, page views and hyperlinks is a trap that snaps us from reality and from living life, writing is encouraging and liberating. So, here I sit struggling to survive in this world, but believing there is good here...somewhere. Most of life ends up being about balance; you know, living in the tension. I would assume the same holds true with this as well. With this truth in mind, I will start writing again. Who's to tell what about or when.....

Anyways.

Recently, a discovery has been made.

Somehow there is something missing concerning who I am and who I want to be.

Intervention: a bittersweet adventure of rediscovery.

I believe that our experiences influence who we are and who we become, but they do not have to define us. Learning from our experiences and working through them becomes unbelievably important. Assessing where I am and where I've been, that is the adventure.

Let it begin.

Pumpkins

2009-10-30T13:57:00.001-07:00

In leu of halloween approaching, Zach and I carved pumpkins with some friends on Wednesday night.

I LOVE carving pumpkins. And I certainly enjoy making pumpkin seeds. Funny, isn't it, that my amish, salt loving husband has never eaten a pumpkin seed in his whole entire life! Frightening huh? So, we carved, we roasted and we ate. Zach enjoyed his pumpkin seeds so much, that he took an entire tupperware container to work the next day...he polished off the WHOLE THING!

Tonight my mom and step dad are coming to town. Tony will help Zach in renovating our upstairs bathroom (I absolutely can't wait until it is finished), while my mom and I galavant around town. We are looking forward to playing Farkle with my parents; they are quite humorous.

Tomorrow we get to pass out candy to all the little tikes who stop by. Are you supposed to dress up to pass out candy? Any ideas?

Pot Pie

2009-10-24T05:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an awfully ugly day. As I say that, I cringe. The weather just couldn't make up it's mind; cold, warm, rainy, dry, spitting, blistery...on and on.....

So, yesterday was the perfect day for some comfort food. Chicken pot pie is warm, rich, full and satisfying. Yesterday was the perfect day to cook this tantalizing concoction. All from scratch, I might add. Honestly, I was proud of that pot pie.

After consuming the masterpiece with a few friends, Zach and I headed to the West Side Sports Complex for the West Side sectional football game. Being back there was difficult. Too many faces were new and few were familiar to me. Sitting in the parent section, we froze, and talked about what our life will be like when we have kids and when they are in high school. Truth be told, I am pretty excited for that. Obviously that is many, many moons into the future.

Until then.... I will bake chicken pot pie and dream of those days.

Recipe:

Chicken Pot Pie

2 Pie Crusts (I suggest the pie crust recipe out of the America's Test Kitchen Cookbook.)

2 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

2 Chicken breasts - boiled, shredded

1 - 16oz bags frozen mixed vegetables

1 Cup Milk

1 Egg - beaten

Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Mix soup and milk until blended. Mix in frozen vegetables and chicken (you may add a small amount of corn starch to thicken the mixture if it appears to be thin). Place one pie crust on the bottom of pie pan. Pour soup mixture into pie crust. Place second crust on top, remove the excess around the edge of the pan and press with the bottom of a fork to seal together. Cut four one inch slits into the top crust and place on preheated baking sheet in the oven. Lower oven temp to 425 and bake 20 minutes. Brush beaten egg onto the top of the pie crust, return pie to oven and lower temp to 375. Bake for 35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Let cool ten minutes before cutting.

ENJOY!

Much Time Has Passed

2009-10-15T17:24:00.001-07:00

Much time has passed since I last blogged.
One hundred and seventy nine days, in fact.
Many events have occurred.
On June 11th Zach asked me to marry him. I said yes.
On August 12th Zach and I adopted our crazy little kitten - Sassafras.
On September 5th my grandpa walked me down the isle as my new husband
stood waiting.
On September 6th Zach and I left for the Smoky Mountains and an
incredible Honeymoon.
On September 24th Jackson got fleas.
On September 26th we finished our new walk-in closet...and began the long, long
days of beginning to settle into our house and our new life.
....much more has happened than what would be interesting to you, I'm sure....
Many lessons have been learned.
God always remembers His children, always.
Life as a single woman was difficult and wonderful.
Life as a married woman is equally difficult and wonderful.
Being content right here and right now is important and absolutely necessary.
Our efforts matter, even if they affect just one.
My life is full of people who really, really love me.

As I sit here replaying many memories of life the last one hundred and seventy nine days, I am overcome with a sense of peace. Peace that I am where I need to be. Reminders of how I have been taken care of my whole life and a hope that I can cling to - God is good, He loves me and He knows me.

I must confess that I have the best family in the world.
A husband that is willing to love me when I am stubborn and irritating (and that is putting it nicely). Also, my husband is an incredible mouse hunter. He, without wavering, chased down a mouse on our Honeymoon armed with simply a pillow in his right hand and a shoe in his left. My husband makes me laugh more than anyone in the world.
Our kids our great. Sure, they are hairier than most and bark and meow an absurd amount, but we love them! Jackson and Sassafras are teaching me patience and they sure do keep me laughing.

Overwhelmed; that is how I felt when I realized that I do not have to fight to survive anymore, my husband is fighting for me.
Thankful; thankful for the lasting friendships with incredible people who teach me, love me and exemplify Christ in ways they may never know or understand.
Content; oddly, what I am fighting to be as I strive to trust that passions and abilities are not being forgotten or wasted.

It is good to be back.

Friendship

2009-04-20T08:38:00.001-07:00

This weekend was certainly a great one. I had the wonderful opportunity to chaperon the P-Rom! It was a great time.

Sarah asked me to do her hair and make-up, which I really enjoyed doing. Hanging out with Rachel and Sarah and laughing at Rachel's grandma while the girls got ready was priceless. Both ladies looked incredible!
The dates showed up and I had my moment to instill fear before the girls came down. Both boys knew I was serious about taking care of my "sister" Sarah and my friend Rachel. (Before they left, I told them I looked forward to seeing them at Prom...they both were overcome with a terrified look. Sarah's date started sweating profusely....)
Later at the dance, the girls taught me and Brittany how to do the Stanky Leg. Oh my goodness...the world of dance is an interesting one. Yeah, the Stanky Leg.

Sunday afternoon I spent lounging around Kim's house, hanging out with her kids and sleeping. What a relaxing, rainy afternoon!

Late Sunday evening found me in a parking lot, on the phone with Misha, discussing life and relationship. How that was needed.

Karissa spent the weekend in preparation to move closer to home; this excites me, greatly!

The bottom line here is this: God has given me incredible friendships.
Some I have take for granted (sorry for not calling back...), some are far away now (places like South Korea, Africa, California), some are just beginning, but all of them I am so thankful for. From all of them I have learned and am learning great lessons and experiencing Christ.

Thank you.

The Joys of Life Post College

2009-04-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

This is the first post in an extremely long time. But this is definitely post-worthy.

Yesterday was quite a day! At work I was given 6 boxes of old documents to shred. We have an incredible shredder...it is one of those fun little trash can units. In theory it's max is six sheets, however it struggles with three. I discovered, with the help of the great maintenance men that I could in fact put staples through it! Wonderful.

Another girl and I sat dreaming of wood-chippers and what other than those wonderful documents that we would love to shred!

Interesting....

Growing up is definitely no fun.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.

If I didn't have wisdom teeth today would be much easier. :o/

Adventure and Grandmas

2009-02-16T07:08:00.001-08:00

This weekend was random and so much fun.

Saturday night four adventure-seeking friends ventured into the brilliant city of Francesville to a very primitive cabin amongst a forest of farmed trees. Upon entry, the men started a fire in the wood burning stove, while the women prepared a feast fit for Italy. What a glorious night under the stars in that little cabin in the woods.

Later that evening, a suprise visit from a great friend pushed aside the "grandmaness" in both of us. Great discussion about how God is moving in both of our lives kept us up until the early morning. Although many of the people I love live far away, it is incredible how close we can remain.

I appreciate these people, how they live their lives and strive to exemplify Christ to those around them. I appreciate the ways that they love me and challenge me.

I look ahead to this weekend as another great friend from afar will be journeying home.

A Rainy Rainy Day

2009-02-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

It's the kind of rain that you wish weren't so hard...then it would be perfect to jog in.

Typically rainy days bring thoughts of spring, newness and life. Today's rain had quite a different affect. Today's rain is more the contemplative type; allowing for a day full of thinking and questioning, reflecting and processing. Always a necessity.

Much like a hermit, I retreated to my homeless little room as soon as the work day was complete. Time was spent sowing, cleaning and reconnecting to a favorite: Sujfan Stevens.

Days like these make me thankful for friends, family and life. Rain like this makes me thankful for time spent alone and reflecting.

Sufjan Stevens
Chicago

I fell in love again
all things go, all things go
drove to Chicago
all things know, all things know
we sold our clothes to the state
I don't mind, I don't mind
I made a lot of mistakes
in my mind, in my mind

you came to take us
all things go, all things go
to recreate us
all things grow, all things grow
we had our mindset
all things know, all things know
you had to find it
all things go, all things go

I drove to New York
in a van, with my friend
we slept in parking lots
I don't mind, I don't mind
I was in love with the place
in my mind, in my mind
I made a lot of mistakes
in my mind, in my mind

you came to take us
all things go, all things go
to recreate us
all things grow, all things grow
we had our mindset
all things know, all things know
you had to find it
all things go, all things go

if I was crying
in the van, with my friend
it was for freedom
from myself and from the land
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes

you came to take us
all things go, all things go
to recreate us
all things grow, all things grow
we had our mindset
all things know, all things know
you had to find it
all things go, all things go

you came to take us
all things go, all things go
to recreate us
all things grow, all things grow
we had our mindset
(I made a lot of mistakes)
all things know, all things know
(I made a lot of mistakes)
you had to find it
(I made a lot of mistakes)
all things go, all things go
(I made a lot of mistakes)

Oh, What Love

2009-01-26T20:33:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 1:3
...in His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead....

Have you ever considered what it means when something is defeated? When the hope you have resides in knowing that which you once were enslaved to now and forever is defeated, the word carries a more powerful meaning; one that merrits investigation.

The gospel is a beautiful and amazing story of God's love and mercy for a people so undeserving. Sacrificial love is something so counter-cultural and difficult to grasp. The gospel, however, does not end with sacrifice. The story does not end there. What is most often forgotten is Jesus' resurection. Jesus is alive. As a result, we were freed and made alive.

This relationship not only offers life, but life to the full - a life of freedom. Freedom found in perfect love. A Love that makes all things new. A Love that heals and redeems.

Defeated, death, sin and shame can no longer hold you captive. No longer in bondage to fears of abandonment or failure, to lies that you are too much or not enough, to believing that you are unworthy or unlovable. He, Jesus, defeted these things. Therefore our hope stands and will remain. Hope which is not fleeting or easily broken. Rather, a living, breathing, growing hope.

My mind often struggles to wrap around this concept. What I know to be true: Jesus has overwhelmed my brokenness. God is big enough to heal the extremely deep wounds of my heart. I no longer have to be enslaved to lies and sin and shame. Oh, to remember this:

Be free.

Beginning

2009-01-25T06:22:00.000-08:00

Beginning: an act or circumstance of entering upon an action or state; origin; the first part.

The hardest part of starting something new is the blank page, the empty canvas, the vacant surface.... Beginning means rejecting fear of failure, setting aside perfection and realizing mistakes will be made. Recognize the beginning is not the end; the time in transit between the two may produce an astounding end that was not dreamed at the beginning. Beauty is found in the journey by learning from shortcomings and insufficiencies. This life is full of beauty waiting to be discovered, if only we would begin.

Now, to begin blogging. As a result of friends several miles a way and a love for writing, this blog exists. I am uncertain of what will be written and why, but I will begin. Thank you Misha and Karissa, I miss you two.