Simple and Sweet

I told myself this week that I was going to steer clear of the blog until my final exam was over - well, I walked out of the lecture hall at 12:30pm, got off work at 5:30pm, treated me and my hubby to some yummy chicken queso burritos (thank you Q'doba), and now I'm sitting on the couch in my pjs with the laptop in front of me. The semester is officially over, and now the Christmas season can officially begin in our little home! My husband has one more exam on Thursday, and once that is over we are going to put up the tree and decorate - yay!

A very patient friend has been wondering about a particular Thanksgiving meal I was so worked up over this last week, so, as promised, the following are my pictures from the holiday fun:

My dad arrived on Tuesday afternoon for the Thanksgiving holiday (which meant that I got to scoot out of work early!). He had a certain buddy the entire time he was here - wherever he was, she was close by!

I set my alarm to wake up early on Thursday morning to ensure that all meal preparations were started at the appropriate time. I was so nervous that I hardly slept the night before! Ever since getting married, I've really been concerned and wanted to improve upon my domestic skills. I am partially joking when I say I was raised by wolves, and anything pertaining to the home often leads me to breaking out in a sweat. This was one such occasion when I told myself everything had to work out and the meal had to be spectacular! So upon waking up before the sun on Thursday morning, I had an entire laundry list of tasks on my mind from the turkey in the crockpot to lighting the pumpkin candle...



Oh, how relieved I was when my dad pulled the turkey from the crockpot onto the pan! After over six hours of waiting and wondering, my first turkey was beautiful! I breathed a huge sigh of relief as my dad cut the first slice to reveal a savory, moist piece of meat~

Along with the delectable turkey breast, I prepared just enough side items to satisfy a table of three: dressing (thank you StoveTop!), green bean bundles (one day I'm going to think of a much prettier name for these), sweet potatoes, and rolls. It was the perfect spread for us with plenty of leftovers for later~

And of course, a Thanksgiving meal is not complete without dessert! I admittedly purchased a pumpkin pie and then made the other one. Thanks dear friend for the cherry cheesecake pie recipe! The men fought over it down to the very last slice~

As is tradition, we settled down after the meal for sleep and the Dallas Cowboys. Maia agreed that preparing a meal is tough work!

I was especially glad that my dad was able to stay with us through Sunday and attend church. He had not been to our church yet since we just joined this year, so it was great having him there. He had the opportunity to meet several of the people my husband and I have talked about and gotten to know so well over these past several months. I actually sang a solo during the offering which is a rare element in our worship services at Grace. The worship leader is having someone prepare special music for each Sunday of the Advent season, and this week happened to be the week when he asked me to sing. Kate, my sweet friend and one of the pianists, played wonderfully, and it was just all the more meaningful for my dad to be there this Sunday~

I realized as I was reflecting on the Thanksgiving holiday that this is the sixth one for me and my husband, but our very first as husband and wife. It truly was perfect in my mind because sometimes rest and simple, sweet fellowship is so much more meaningful than being social. There is a time and place for having huge celebrations, but this was a good year for the simple. I enjoyed the rest, the freedom of staying in my pjs if we weren't out shopping or eating somewhere, and just spending quality time with my family. I am blessed beyond measure, and I am deeply humbled when I reflect on such gifts as these.

Thanksgiving for Every Day

My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness

(Getty & Townend)

~

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who bore my pain;

Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace

And gave me life again;

Who crushed my curse of sinfulness

And clothed me in His light

And wrote His law of righteousness

With pow'r upon my heart.

~

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who walks beside;

Who floods my weaknesses with strength

And causes fears to fly;

Whose ev'ry promise is enough

For ev'ry step I take,

Sustaining me with arms of love

And crowning me with grace.

~

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To him who reigns above,

Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,

Whose ev'ry thought is love.

For ev'ry day I have on earth

Is given by the King;

So I will give my life, my all,

To love and follow him.

Fun Game Friday!

(**EDIT**Now you can disregard all info regarding the picture I meant to upload because I've clearly uploaded it now!)

Well, this game was going to be SO much more fun if I had the picture at the time of this post. If I remember to this evening, I'll put the picture in this post so that you can see where my idea for my fun game came from...

I've been doing a lot of reflecting this week, remembering friends and events of this past year as the holidays have now pretty much arrived. We are nearing our one-year anniversary (what?!?) and close friends are also celebrating exciting events in their own lives. Last night as I was going to bed, a particular picture popped into my mind. It was this time last year that I was in Texas where my bestest friend hosted my unforgettable bridal shower. At the shower, a picture was taken of me and all the girls there, all of us linked in some way or another since junior high school and graduated from high school together. What a sweet picture, and it always reminds me of how thankful I am to the Lord for having blessed my life for YEARS with such wonderful, encouraging, Christ-centered ladies.

So with all of that said, here was my fun idea. I was going to post the picture, label all of the girls from left to right, and then invite all of you to take part in this fun game.
RULES OF THE GAME: For each of the girls in the picture, you have to leave a comment that has from 1-3 random memories, quotes, etc. that you think of when remembering that particular person. If it's a quote, it doesn't have to make sense to any of the rest of us (making it all the more humorous, I think!). This is not intended to be serious, so all comments MUST be random and/or funny to you. If you've only heard of a particular person, or just don't know them very well, there is still surely something random that comes to mind when you think of her. (If you honestly don't know them, that's ok, just leave comments for the ones you do know or have at least heard of through another friend.) Does that make sense?

I'll initiate the game so that you can see the list of ladies to whom I am referring (I'll link to their blogs for those who keep one), and also to give you an idea of the kind of comments to leave:

Doing Flips
1. "Farmers use computers to hold their pants up"
2. Me taking 30 minutes to put on a pair of jeans
3. Stealing yogurt from the fridge at Junior Youth Orchestra practice
4. Two words - Mineral Wells

Blessings x 4
1. My very brief crush on your older brother when we were in high school
2. I have a picture of you and Stef on the school bus - I have no idea what I was doing on a school bus for one thing, have no idea why I thought it would be a cool place to take a picture, and it's always the very first picture that comes to mind when I think of the two of you.
3. English class our senior year of high school + sitting next to Jeremy and Brandon = awkward!

You Little O Wife
1. "Ehh, he's kind of a Monet. But THAT guy? Oh, he's definitely a Baldwin."
2. Us spinning down the hall of the hotel in San Antonio at around midnight and you accidentally spinning right into someone's door - Loud thud...silence..."Run!"
3. The Electric Slide to any song ever written in 4/4 time

JennyPen
1. Blind game of tag at your house with sheets over our heads resulting in your knee going into the wall
2. "Ollie Ollie ontadorous...sing it again, oh yes, just sing it again..."
3. One day in high school when we showed up wearing the same clothes, thus the rest of the day was spent walking on opposite sides of the hallway
4. Two words - Mineral Wells

Grace (Me)

Kimberley (Mather, now Brooks)
1. Deciding at some point in school that she was going to put an "e" in between the "l" and "y"
2. One time when we were younger Kim put a match in the wicker trashcan in her room that was still partially lit that she didn't know was still partially lit
3. Driving home from college for the first time, we got stuck in the black hole that is Mineral Wells because my car overheated

So there's the game! Anyone is welcome to participate, and I look forward to reading your random comments!

So This is Love...

My husband was up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed long before I was this morning. By the time I eventually left the house for work, running late as is usual, I had a happy grin on my face. Just to name a few of the reasons why:

• He knows that I'm the Queen of Snooze... my alarm is set for 6:00am, but I normally don't roll out from under the covers until 6:45. He came in at 6:30 and messed with me until I woke up. Though I was my usual cranky and whiney self, he was persistent until my toes were touching the floor.
• When he came and woke me up, he said very sweetly, "I pressed the button." I always prepare the coffeepot the night before, and this is the request I often give him in the morning when I'm running late (every morning) and need him to turn on the coffeepot. I panicked when he said he pressed the button because I forgot to actually prepare the coffeepot last night! After I said, "No no no no, there's nothing in there, go turn it off, go turn it off!" he informed me that he went online to learn how to prepare coffee. He got instructions off of some website and made my coffee for me! And I'll happily admit, it was better than mine usually is...
• As I was running out the door, he was beginning the process of cleaning out and organizing one of the four closets we have been avoiding for quite some time now. I rarely ever ask him for specific chores around the house while I am at work since he has so many demands with his schoolwork, but he took it upon himself to start digging in because he knew it would be such a meaningful gesture for me to come home and not have to think about the chaos that is our coat closet
• And last but not least in the grand scheme of sweet little random acts, he packed my lunch this morning since I was running late (did I already mention how often I'm running late?). When I got to work this morning, I noticed that he added in a little snack baggy of mini marshmallows..yep, he knows the little things in life that make me smile.

Exhale...

Oh, what a week... It took all my strength some mornings to sort of slide off the side of the bed - not even sit up and place my feet on the ground - but pretty much just fall out. My job is incredibly demanding right now with the constant addition of new clients for which I am responsible. New clients are great for our company, wonderful especially during this stressful time regarding our economy, but it means that my work has quadrupled over the past few months. And this week was particularly trying...

For one thing, I really enjoy my team. Our little team, holed up in the windowless room - once a storage closet, then a conference room, now our "woodshed" as we affectionately refer to it - works really well together, and we really cannot complain about our dynamic and the way in which we get to interact with the rest of the company. We were half-joking and half-serious this week in our conversations about how we hardly ever talk to one another anymore because of the overwhelming amount of responsibility on each of our shoulders. We were downright loopy this afternoon as the workday approached its end.

I was driving home from work on Wednesday night, after dark and after forcing myself away from the desk at 6:15pm when I began thinking about why I was so exhausted and the feeling that it's not going away anytime soon. My mind trailed off and I began thinking about the people with whom I work. I started thinking about what people to do get their minds off of work, the things people do in order to not take their work home with them. What do people do in order to escape the stress, the monotony, the expectations and demands which surround them daily? Groups go out for a drink, women try to escape at a spa or with some other kind of pampering, people get sucked into hours in front of the TV or computer...the list goes on and on. As soon as I got home on Wednesday, I soaked in a hot bath as I continued thinking on these things. I don't drink, I don't pamper myself, I try not to waste too many hours in front of the TV, so what is it that I do personally? Well, subtlety often proclaims the obvious in my book... My way of trying to get my mind off stress is to take a long bath, drink some hot tea, get into my pajamas within an hour of getting home (all signs that I am my mother's daughter). But those aren't the things that had me thinking a couple of nights ago because there are other behaviors in which I engage that loudly proclaim that I am tired and stressed: I don't want to cook, I don't want to do the dishes, I don't want to do anything that requires work...are we seeing a trend here?

For one thing, I live with another person now - my husband. I don't get to hide away in my self-centered pity and "leave me alone" attitude anymore. In short, I no longer escape as easily as I was once able. Someone is there to see the real me, to really talk with and encourage me in the things driving me to mental exhaustion, and that someone is far more important than I am.

Not only do I have my husband to encourage me, but it goes even a step further as I am reminded just about everyday, just about everytime I walk in the door, of the overwhelming blessings in my life. I don't escape the stress like some in my workplace do, so what is it then that I do when faced with pressure and sheer exhaustion from the workload? Is my ultimate satisfaction in treating myself to a relaxing bath or hot tea? When those acts are over and done with, reality will still be there, tomorrow is another day, and the stress will still be there.

With that said, as stressful as this week has been, the end has been much better than the beginning. After my time of reflection and honest confession on Wednesday, yesterday and today were markedly different. My workload has not changed one bit; we still have a ridiculous amount of work piling up. However, I have been able to come home, exhale, and just be thankful. I can come home and completely enjoy my husband and my home, leaving work in its place rather than letting it affect everything else. I can exhale knowing that my life is not defined by work, by how many people I please, by how much I excel. I have learned more than ever before that the Lord does not delight in the strength of man! He delights in those who humbly and honestly admit weakness, and run to Him with all of our burdens. Goodness...praise Him that He is so good and so near when we are weary...

Satisfied

All my life long, I have panted
For a drink from some cool spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
~
Feeding on the filth around me,
Till my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.
~
Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.
~
Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.
~
(Chorus) Hallelujah! He has found me
The One my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies all my longings
Through His blood I now am saved.

~

(Endnote - Thanks to these two sweet friends for posting their own thoughts on those things for which they are so thankful. Your posts were so encouraging and partly responsible for compelling me to write tonight)

Double Shower = Double Fun!

As the title indicates, double the shower means double the fun! A few of us ladies from Grace hosted a double shower this weekend that ended up being so much fun! Rachael and her husband are getting ready for their precious daughter (whose name has yet to be revealed), and Marcie and her husband will be welcoming Owen sooner than later. We were especially glad Marcie was able to come since she has recently been put on bedrest, and also that so many ladies were able to attend the sweet celebration.
We had fun coordinating the food and decorations with the pink and blue. Sarah, one of the ladies in our small group, brought so many great decorations and the delicious cupcakes and pumpkin bread. She really outdid herself with all of the planning and fun games we played. My small contribution included S'more brownies (a.k.a. sugar coma) and the chocolate-covered pretzels with pink and blue sprinkles. Yes, it was an obscene spread of sweets!

~ The glowing mommies-to-be surrounded by a sea of pink and blue~

The last portion of the baby shower involved prayer for Rachael, Marcie, their husbands, and the babies. This was such a sweet time together and reminded each of us of how thankful we are for the friendship and unity the Lord has granted us. I have personally been so encouraged by the women at Grace, as mentioned numerous times before, particularly since I had not had such fellowship until now since moving to Louisville three years ago. It was a sweet time to celebrate with Rachael and Marcie, praise the Lord together for His abundant and undeserved blessings, and to pray His hand of peace and provision over these sweet families~

Wii Will Miss You

Dear friend,

Parting is such sorrow. You must have wondered what you had done wrong as Wii parted ways last week, wondering what you could have done to deserve being given away so suddenly and without warning. After all Wii have been through, the good times Wii have shared, what else could you have done to convince us that you should stay?

Oh, the good times and great adventures Wii had together. I will never forget you taking me on that race over and over again to scratch my competitive itch. How desperately I wanted to leave Yoshi and and Luigi in the dust, and I have you to thank for achieving such victory.
...for the countless times I played the part of Rayman, with my mission being to fend off rabid rabbits with plungers and squirt guns. I will never forget the sounds of those crazy animals as the plungers went flying from my plunger launcher and stuck to their faces. The sights and sounds of a million possessed rabbits trying to take over the world will never be forgotten. Victory is sweet, and the raging rabbits didn't stand a chance.

And then there was the exhilarating taste of adventure you provided. My husband had some pretty awesome times of swinging his sword in hopes of ultimately winning the battle. You provided so much excitement that he could hardly sleep! When the game came to an end, there was nothing left but the memories.
~

Our parting with you was nothing personal, although I don't know that you will be convinced otherwise. You are meant for excitement, adventure, ceaseless entertainment, not sitting perched beside the television as a mere object for good conversation. You were meant for more, so much more than Wii could provide. Wii knew this was the best choice for you...for us...and with that motivation Wii simply had to part with you. Wii hope that someday you will understand our intentions and forgive us for our decision.

~

So Wii bid you farewell, dear friend. Remember the good times Wii had and never forget that you brought many laughs, fun times, and attempts at exercise during your stay in our home...you will never be forgotten. Don't dwell on the past, don't mourn our parting. Wii wanted what is best for you, so may you go in peace and bring the same enjoyment and happiness to another family that you have brought to us these past two years.

Wii will never forget you~

The Sweet Heart, The Charmer

Nali and I very hesitantly left for the vet's office this morning. Her echocardiogram was scheduled for 11:00am, and they assured me that I would know the results just a few minutes after it was over. We went into the lobby and didn't have to wait too long before the vet tech called for her. I unfortunately had to wait in the lobby but only for a few minutes.

~

Let me just say for the record that my dog really is a charmer. I don't say that to boast in my pet, but Nali is a charmer and a flirt. I don't know how many treats the techs and the doctor himself gave her while we were there simply because she's so obedient and completely adorable. While the tech was checking Nali's weight, she licked his face instead of shaking uncontrollably as most dogs would. When they called me back to hear the results of the echo, the vet said, "Wow, she just laid there perfectly calm while we were running the test. I wish all the dogs that came through here were so relaxed!" And of course, Nali being the dog she is who knows when people are complimenting her, she was walking around in circles wagging her tail and smiling the whole time.

~

The results of the echocardiogram were excellent! Nali shows no signs of heart disease or anything else serious, just a valve in her heart that's not fully cooperating. This is the best news to receive in regard to a heart murmur because it's the most minor cause and leaves little to no reason for concern. All he said was that he will continue monitoring her heartbeat at the annual appointments...and then he gave her another treat before we headed out the door. I think when all was said and done Nali received at least six treats during the half hour we were there!

To wrap up such good news with more good news -

Nali's lost 7 pounds!

I love my dog :)

Worth Your Time to Read

Let me begin by saying that on mornings such as this, I am extremely thankful for those leaders and elders who are far more poignant in their speech than I could ever hope. Let me also say that regardless of how the election was going to turn out last night, Christians were going to be faced with crucial issues to contend with as far as our nation is concerned. Whether political, economic, ethical, or social concerns, Christians are always faced with difficult national and world matters, and I have already heard many commentators make mention of this (some of whom may not even be professing believers).

Please take a few moments today, whether stopping in the middle of a hectic workday, or during your quiet moments of prayer and reflection, and read the post Dr. Al Mohler wrote early this morning. I could not have been so eloquent in writing out my own thoughts regarding this unique and nation-altering election:

America Has Chosen a President

In his blog entry yesterday prior to the election results, Dr. Mohler also listed some specific ways in which we can be praying for our country and her leaders:

• Pray that God will bless America with leaders better than we deserve.
• We should pray that Americans will be motivated to fulfill the responsibilities of citizenship, yet also that we will be stripped of an unhealthy and idolatrous confidence in the power of government to save us.
• We should pray that God will prick the conscience of the nation on issues of morality, righteousness, and respect for marriage as the central institution of human civilization.
• We should pray that this election would lead to even greater opportunities to preach the Gospel, and that the freedom of the church will be respected, honored, and protected.
• We must pray for the church, praying that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ would be strengthened in the truth, grounded in the faith, and empowered for witness and ministry.
• May God grant us mercy and grace as we seek to fulfill our responsibilities as citizens -- and our responsibilities as Christians. This world is not our home, but we do bear responsibilities as followers of Christ as we are living here. May God bless America, not because this nation deserves to be blessed, but because He is a God of grace and mercy. Oh God . . . save us from ourselves.

The Early Morning of Election Day

While the sun was still far below the horizon, with frost on my car and coffee mug in hand, I slipped out my front door this morning to be at my designated polling place in the St. Matthews area. I was glad after all that I decided to arrive early (though my brain and warm sheets were telling me otherwise before I climbed out of bed) since the line was already spilling out the door when I arrived at 6:05.

I tend to jump to conclusions during such crucial times, particularly when so much is at stake. My mind starts reeling at the slightest thought of all the seemingly countless implications that come with whichever candidates are elected. I am reminded of my convictions, the truths which I cannot sacrifice at the altar of comfort, potential change, or even financial stability. If my grandparents were able to persevere through such seasons as the Great Depression and the second World War, then I am encouraged knowing that millions have gone before us through their own significant periods of time. Every generation is defined by particular political, economic and ethical issues, and we have all been reminded in recent weeks and months of those which will define us, those aspects of our time which will be remembered in the history books to come.

The purpose of this post is not to voice my political stance. This is not an opportunity for me to put my opinions up on a pedestal, though I am assuming that those of you who know me can probably guess where I stand during this particular election season. I read a good reminder for all of us on someone else's blog early this morning: candidates are not perfect. With an attitude of humility, we must remember that candidates for any political race are fallen human beings just as we are, and may we exercise the same level of respect and humility towards them as we would hope they would have for us were the tables turned. With this in mind, knowing that we are all imperfect, I can only put forward to you the mindset I had as I approached the voting booth this morning.

It begins with admitting that I don't know all of the details, the ins and outs, of every single issue at stake this year. Particularly in regard to discussions of the economy, my mind starts swimming either out of frustration or confusion (or both). Regardless of the particular issues at hand, all I can do is return to the principles of my worldview. When my head is clouded with what I don't know, I must return to those things which I do know:

• On what ground do I determine what is right and wrong, ethical and unethical?
• What is the foundation on which I base all of my principles and convictions? Is that foundation solid?
• What is a Christian worldview?
• What are the principles that are fleshed out based on a Christian worldview?
• What are the principles I absolutely cannot move away from? What are the principles I am unwilling to sacrifice? (i.e. the sanctity of human life)
• When I set aside all of the media garbage, all of the talking heads and their personal opinions, what are the real issues at stake and what do I truly believe?

These are questions we MUST be asking ourselves as we evaluate the real reasons we are supporting a particular candidate. In a world of imperfect people, leaders included, only one Source is reliable and will lead us into all truth as we seek wisdom. When we don't have all of the answers, when the decisions pertaining to our society and government are muddled, we can rest knowing that there is one Source of truth that is immovable and only on Him can we fully rely. I can't help but think of the opportunity I have as a believer to simply and graciously talk with others, particularly those in close proximity at my workplace, about why I choose the way I do. This is not an opportunity to boast in what we claim to know, to trump our opinions as absolute truth, but to engage in conversation with others when they are receptive. I have learned that it is possible to state your convictions and engage in conversation with others as an opportunity to share grace and truth with them. Seasons of change such as this one are full of opportunities for believers to share the reality that we don't put our trust and hope in man and why we don't! The candidate with whom we align ourselves should represent our worldview (or as close as possible), and as believers we should be prepared at a moment's notice to give an answer for the choices we make, including the candidates we support.

Ponder these words by John Piper written with the past couple of weeks: "We deal with the system. We deal with the news. We deal with the candidates. We deal with the issues. But we deal with it all as if not dealing with it. It does not have our fullest attention. It is not the great thing in our lives. Christ is. And Christ will be ruling over his people with perfect supremacy no matter who is elected and no matter what government stands or falls. So we vote as though not voting. By all means vote. But remember: 'The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever' (1 John 2:17)." Remember these words in any opportunity you are given to engage in conversation with someone regarding the current trends in our society.

While I am on a seemingly endless trend of rambling this morning (I blame rising in the wee hours of the morning!), I will go ahead and close with these brief thoughts I received from my dear friend in a recent email forward:

TEN PROMISES NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

The Aroma of Christ in Life and In Death

My mother has had a rare and unforgettable opportunity in comparison to that of most other public school teachers. She had the opportunity to teach for many years at an elementary school unlike any I have ever seen. The teachers at this school were like a band of sisters, living life together both inside and outside of the classrooms. The majority of them were believers, making that bond of unity all the more strong. I personally, by extension of my mom, was blessed to know them as well. I witnessed friendships among women that will last a lifetime, and I was encouraged as a young woman by the fervent prayer support among them.

~

It was through these friendships and various connections that my mother and I were asked to sing in a wedding during the winter of 1998. I was a junior in high school, and the niece of my mom's principal at her school was getting married. My mom told the family that we would be more than happy to sing at the ceremony, and I still remember that intimate night in the small chapel where this sweet couple stated their vows to one another and entered into the covenant of marriage.

Almost ten years later, the Kaylor family is in the midst of a journey they would have never imagined for themselves. Jessica and Jake have been blessed with three beautiful daughters (two are in the picture above), and their extended family and friends have grown even more important and dear to them in recent years. In the spring of 2005, Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer. It would be an understatement to simply say that the journey from then until now has been a rollercoaster. There were times early on when her body seemed free and clear, and then there were times when it seemed as if every inch of her body was taken over by this aggressive cancer. My mom has continued sending me updates these past three years, and some of the emails have been more hopeful than others. One thing has remained constant through the long and painful process - this family's faith in the Lord of all creation has been steadfast. I can only imagine how much Jessica and Jake's faith in Christ will have a lasting impact on those precious girls. I only met Jessica and Jake that weekend of their wedding many years ago, but I have still been encouraged as I have read the updates on how they are doing in the midst of the pain and seemingly endless struggle.

~

The email I received from my mom yesterday made my heart sink as I read the words over and over to myself. Yesterday was Jessica's last day. She had been at home with hospice care for many days with the family understanding that this day was at hand. Jake was notified by Jessica's nurse in the early hours of the morning yesterday that the moment would soon come. Jessica was surrounded by her precious family as she breathed her last and entered into that eternal rest. Yesterday was also their middle daughter's 7th birthday, and the family chose to celebrate even in the midst of the sorrow, showing their thanks to the Lord and celebrating the life He gives.

~

The believer's perspective on life and death is so foreign to that of the world (or should be). How can we possibly rejoice when faced with death and praise when someone has been taken from us? Do we see it as someone being taken from us, or do we view it as someone getting to see Christ before we do? We are all impacted in unique ways by death, depending on who we are and also on the one who as touched our lives and is passing. These were some of the thoughts running through my mind as we mourned the passing of my grandmother four years ago, and these thoughts returned yesterday as I read about Jessica's passing. For Christians who are approaching death, there is a strange combination of deep sorrow and peace. Our perspective on life and death should be foreign to those in the world because we have hope in the only One who lavishes peace on those whom He calls His own. We have hope because of that moment when He lavished His saving grace on us, we have hope for today as He is continually purifying us even when the process is seemingly unbearable, and we have hope for the day to come. We have hope because He promised us that future, that glorious day when we will finally see Him for whom we have so longed.

~

In the quiet moments of reflection and prayer for the Kaylor family yesterday, the song came to mind that my mom and I sang at Jessica and Jake's wedding almost ten years ago...

~

All I once held dear built my life upon

All this world reveres, and wars to own

All I once thought gain I have counted loss

Spent and worthless now, compared to this

(Chorus)Knowing you, Jesus knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all you're my rest

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love you, Lord

Now my heart's desire is to know You more

To be found in You, and known as Yours

To possess by faith what I could not earn

All surpassing gift of righteousness

(Chorus)

Oh to know the power of Your risen life

And to know You in your suffering

To become like You in Your death my Lord

So with You to live and never die

(Chorus)

~

May you be encouraged by the Kaylors' journey on their blog: www.jessicakaylor.blogspot.com

Thoughts on Two Extra-Special Birthdays...

I had every intention of posting yesterday on the actual day when I was thinking of and celebrating two very special birthdays, but the hours just slipped on by. When it came time for me to wind down and relax on the couch, the times when I most prefer blogging or reading, my husband was using the laptop to prepare a sermon for his preaching class. Yeah, I think sermon preparation is a little more important than what I had in mind for myself last night...

~

The birthday I'll acknowledge first is that of my irresistible, big-hearted girl, Nali. My collie-border collie turned 5 years old yesterday, and we could hardly believe it as we watched her check out her birthday presents after I got home from work. Yes, we give our dogs presents for birthdays and Christmas! See the picture above? That was taken over two years ago when Nali's little sis came into the world and graced (?) us with her presence. Any plush toy you see atop Nali is now resting in peace. So we, of course, have to get her a special toy every once in awhile. Last night I got her a small plush soccer ball on my way home from work, and she loved it! We played for a little while before I tucked the ball away behind the couch (where her plush purple hippo dwells).
Nali's real presents this year, though, are a diet, increased exercise, and an echocardiogram. You would think she was a person! In all seriousness, though, at a followup appointment with the vet last week, he confirmed that the heart murmur he detected six months ago has gotten worse. While things are not critical yet, he still had to order an echocardiogram for her in order to figure out the cause. He strictly encouraged the diet and exercise, not only because any added weight can create added pressure on the heart, but also because she simply needs it. Since last week, we've enjoyed evening walks together. We either go by ourselves, or my husband takes her when he gets home from school in the afternoons. I must say, the walks have been a nice opportunity to simply exhale, unwind from a busy day, and, here recently, reflect on the past five years. Was there a time before Nali? Trying to imagine my life without her corresponds with trying to imagine my life prior to meeting my husband. The Lord so often blesses our lives with simple joys, and Nali's been that for both of us since the first day we laid eyes on her.

The other birthday I want to acknowledge is that of my niece, Isabelle, who turned 9 years old yesterday. The above picture was taken almost two years ago, and it's the most recent one I have. Not only am I prevented from being able to see her living hundreds of miles away, but the rest of my family also has not seen her in two years. We weren't able to send birthday cards or make phone calls either since we don't know where Belle, her younger half-sister, and her mom are living. I still remember this last time I visited her so vividly. I was home for the Thanksgiving holidays as usual, and my dad and brother took me over to visit her at her mom's house. We stayed for several hours, mainly since we couldn't bear to leave. Each time my dad has seen her, and by extension me seeing her, there is always the lingering question of how soon we will see her again. It breaks my heart how disunity can rip people apart from one another, and especially when it involves my niece. Belle is one of the most stunningly beautiful children I have ever laid eyes upon, there is no doubt that she is bright and loves to read, and yet we can't see her. We don't know when we'll see her again. The continual prayers for my brother always include her, primarily because his choices are what prevent us from being involved in her life. We pray fervently that one day she will know that there is a family who loves her, despite what other voices may be telling her right now. She is innocent and not to blame for what has led to this gulf in our relationship to her, but she is the one being made to suffer because of the actions and decisions of her parents. She is the one being fed suggestions and ideas that are not true, so we pray for truth. We pray that her heart will be convicted in ways that she may not be able to comprehend as a child, and that her eyes will be enlightened to the truth at some point. We can't see her, we don't know when we'll see her again, so we pray. We pray because we believe in a God who is sovereign over all the ways of man. Happy birthday, sweet Belle~

Fall Chili Cookoff!! (a.k.a. Productivity in the Workplace)

Perhaps the most anticipated team event where I work is the annual Fall Chili Cookoff. Each of the event teams (we're randomly assigned our event teams at the beginning of every year) picks a theme which is kept top secret from all of the other teams until the day of the cookoff. We are assigned a conference room and are able to decorate it according to our theme. Real judges come in from outside of the company to judge our team's chili, overall theme, and this year was added the pumpkin decorating. I was volunteered for that task even though I have never carved or painted a pumpkin in my life! So I stared at this ginormous pumpkin on my dining room table almost the entire week leading up to Friday before sitting down and attempting to make it look halfway presentable. See below for the results after SEVEN hours of work on Thursday night~


This side of the pumpkin was a mural of all things pertaining to my team's theme - The Price is Right!!

As I mentioned to a few people, I really was going to attempt drawing Bob Barker's face on this side of the pumpkin. Needless to say, drawing a cartoon face on paper is much easier than on the side of a pumpkin. So this side of the pumpkin stayed blank until about 11pm on Thursday night when I decided at the last minute to paint the show's logo.

The TV screen at the front desk of the office on Friday welcomed the judges who were coming in to judge the teams~

Tourists aren't tourists at The Price is Right without cheesy t-shirts (or just taping signs to themselves)! Mine was the actual shirt I wore to the show five years ago with my church's college group. The front says "The Price is Right with Jesus" and on the back is the passage from Corinthians "for you were bought with a price."

"Brian from Cocoa Beach" is elated to meet "Drew Carey" for the first time (the man who played Drew is actually a small British man who had to stuff his suit in order to get the effect of being puffy)

Our company has grown so much that we have to share conference rooms now for the chili cookoff. Our team shared a room with the team who had Winter Olympics as their theme. One of the Olympians tried to sneak into the show, and "Drew" managed to get an interview and sign an autograph before shooing her away~

"Drew" getting a photo op with one of his biggest fans~

We had three featured games from The Price is Right and "Plinko" proved to be the favorite!

Ms. Rhonda was on the team that had an 80s theme, and she definitely fit the part with her tight-rolled jeans!

Even some of our executives take the time to dress in a grass skirt if it means they are on the island vacation team~

This is a picture of productivity in the workplace - an ongoing game of Cornhole in the regional area~

My friend, Mindy, was on the team with the island vacation theme. She played the role of a tourist and took it as a great opportunity to bring sweet Rylie with her to work!

The company I work for continually promotes a positive environment and this is one of the many ways in which they do that. The team events not only allow us to pause and take a breath in the middle of an otherwise hectic week or season, but we also get to meet people from other departments that we may not really know otherwise. I had a great time, and it reminded me all the more of how much I love this time of the year!

(P.S. Our team came in 6th place out of 14, but we still had a blast! And my pumpkin came in 7th place...what??? Oh well, my team liked it at least!)

What Is Your Praise?

O My God,

You fairest, greatest, first of all objects,

My heart admires, adores, loves You,

For my little vessel is as full as it can be,

And I would pour out all that fullness before You in ceaseless flow...

I love You above the powers of language to express,

For what You are to Your creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

~Excerpt of a prayer of thanksgiving from Valley of Vision~

Each of us experiences seasons of praise, seasons of crying out, seasons of wondering where in the world the Lord has us or is taking us. If we stop each day and examine how many times we complain compared to how many times we are truly thankful, the contrast may be more surprising than expected. Even when we have reason to question, even in the darkest hour of the night, those whom He has called His own will always have reason to be thankful. Sometimes it takes a lightning bolt to remind us of His provision and goodness, and at other times it only requires a mere detail in an otherwise typical day.

Today, my moment of praise was somewhere in between the lightning bolt and the small detail. As many of my dear friends know, I had surgery on my mouth this summer. Even after health insurance covered their portion (insurance for which I am most grateful given my circumstances), the amount I owed was enough to make my stomach turn anytime I happened to glance at the bill - $1100. To some that may not seem like a huge deal, but for a young wife still in school and working to get her husband through school, such an amount left me feeling anxious to say the least. I immediately requested the hospital's application for financial assistance. I knew that it was a long shot since I don't consider myself poverty-stricken by any means, but I also knew that I should explore all of my options (i.e. anything to avoid the credit card, which I wouldn't be able to charge in good conscience). After almost two months of waiting, I received the letter in the mail today informing me of their decision upon reviewing my application. After taking a few deep breaths, I opened the envelope and read those long-awaited words, "We are pleased to inform you..." The balance I owed the hospital went from $1100 to $0. The hospital not only accepted my application for financial assistance, but they covered the entire balance.

Any feelings of anxiety for money over the coming months to pay for the surgery melted away instantly. One piece of paper reminded me of His overwhelming presence, His continual provision, and the peace only He can bring. I am still in awe of the fact that I owe absolutely nothing, and I can only attribute such a blessing to the Lord. I mailed that application knowing full well that the hospital did not have to grant me a penny of assistance, but He provided in this way. And even if the hospital had turned me down, He still provides and He leads us through every season in life.

Now I turn the topic over to any of you who may be reading. What is your praise this week? What was the instance, whether big or seemingly small, in which you were reminded of His goodness in your life? For those whom He calls by name, we never have far to look in order to see His hand at work.

Ladies Fall Tea

What better time of year for a ladies tea than the beginning of the autumn season? A handful of ladies from church put together a splendid tea on Saturday and the mid-morning turned out to be a sweet time of fellowship and listening to one woman's personal testimony.

The decor was so beautiful and a truly warm and welcoming atmosphere for the coming of autumn. We each left with the goodies on our plates - honey dipping spoons for our own hot tea at home and a cinnamon stick hot tea bag!

The ladies of Grace - Not all were able to attend, of course, but I was glad for the ones who were there. I am still getting to know many of the women at church, and this was such a wonderful opportunity to do so.

This why I am determined to learn how to cook and bake! Cranberry chicken salad sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, apple cinnamon bread, pumpkin bread, lavendar cookies, gingerbread scones...are you hungry yet? The spread was exquisite!

This sweet woman was our guest speaker at the tea on Saturday. She is a member at the church from which our church was planted, and it was truly encouraging to have her share with us. She gave her personal testimony, and God's grace was evident throughout. She reminded us that any pain in our lives should be neither watered down as if insignificant, nor should pain be magnified to the point that such experiences are the central focus. We should always view our suffering in light of God's sovereign grace in our lives. Even when we aren't aware, He is orchestrating it all for our good, sanctifying us, and preparing us for Himself.

Thank you, ladies, for such a memorable day! I am eager to see how the Lord continues to grow us together~

Stayin' Put or Movin' On Up?

Some friends and family may vaguely remember my feeble attempts at explaining my job when I first started at the company just over three years ago. It admittedly took me at least six months to come up with a semi-coherent summary sentence describing what Summit does, and even then, I was never confident about the garbled words coming out of my mouth. (And garbled they were!) I completely understand, especially now looking back, why I was received with the awkward smile and nod by those to whom I really did try explaining my job. It was just really difficult to explain to people, especially with my little to nonexistent knowledge of anything related to energy or the business world. Not to mention how my job even remotely related to my college degree and masters program...

If you're just tuning in, I work for an energy management company. Summit contracts with clients for the purpose of managing their electric power and natural gas usage to ensure that they are receiving the best for their buck. Now, these aren't residential clients with whom we contract, but rather companies that have large industrial sites that spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on their energy usage. For every unit of energy used there is a unit cost: multiply those and you get the total cost. (That is a very dumbed down explanation, but again, my explanation is a work in progress.) Imagine how effective the service of researching rates can be in saving such clients a significant amount of money in their overall spend. While Summit doesn't necessarily promise dollar savings, there is a whole gamut of services provided to the clients that. Not only do we contract with clients here in the U.S., but we have in the last year or two expanded to clients in other countries. Such growth is exciting and good for the company, but also understandably comes with its fair share of challenges.

So what do I, a seminary student with a church ministry undergraduate degree who prayed to pass any math or business classes I took in school, actually do at such a company?? Well, after spending the first two years in data management departments ("paper pushing" and glorified auditing of invoices), I have been on the new client team since February 2007. My team of four serves as the messengers between the client managers and our internal departments. We ensure that any new clients are correctly and completely entered into our computer system. We receive the data from the client via their assigned client manager, whether invoices or contracts, take it to the necessary departments for their expertise, and ultimately notify the client manager when their client has been completely setup in our system. What are helpful personality traits for the kind of position I am in? A people person who is able to communicate clearly and positively, someone with exceptional attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and pristine organization. Hmm...yeah, I would say the position I'm in is a pretty good fit (as long as you don't try to compare my work organization with my home organization!!). Now if only you could be a fly on the wall and see me attempt to apply all of these to a phone conversation with client manager who lives in Belgium but is originally from France, you might be in for some real entertainment!

I can look back on the past couple of years and clearly see the ways in which I have grown both individually and in how I relate to and work with others (I don't studder as much). My convictions have been sharpened when it comes to my role as a witness right in the middle of comfortable, middle America, and I have become increasingly more thankful for the ways in which the Lord has clearly provided by means of this particular job. After almost two years of being in this position, I am still always open for any opportunity for continued growth, which is why I applied last week for a position in a different department at Summit. I did not apply out of any negative feelings for my current job or co-workers, but simply for the opportunity to dive deeper into the actual services that Summit performs for our clients. The analyst position is a much more concentrated responsibility, one in which the individual becomes the "expert in residence" for whichever market he or she is assigned. I was eager to apply for the position as I could see the ways in which I had potentially been prepared for this kind of a move. The interview took place last Thursday, and I still had not received word when the weekend arrived. And then I didn't receive word on Monday. And then on Tuesday. Finally, after that many days of waiting anxiously (but honestly trying not to be anxious), I received the phone call late this afternoon. I timidly entered the regional manager's office and he proceeded to tell me the simple reasons for why I would not be the ideal candidate for this position. Everything he said was completely understandable, and I walked out feeling confident in the level of his honesty with me, but also encouraged by the positive things he told me about my career thus far at Summit.

So with a potential move up in the company (this move would have been a promotion of sorts), I spent the better part of the past several days asking myself "x-ray" questions, analyzing my heart and motives and dealing with the possibility of not being selected for the position. Regardless of whether or not I was offered the job, am I thankful for where I am at right now? What would such a transition solve, if anything, in my life right now? Would the increase in salary be worth it? Am I prepared for "no," or am I consumed with any self-centered notion that I had better be the one offered that job? Such were some of the questions I was flipping through as I prepared myself for the conversation that occurred today. When I arrived home after work, my husband obviously asked whether or not I had been offered the position since we have been waiting for this all week. He asked if I was alright with the decision they made, or if I was disappointed, and in all honesty...I was able to take a very refreshing breath and tell him that I am honestly completely at peace with the outcome. I have no reason at this point in my life to be disappointed because I have been given much more than I could have ever asked for or anticipated. The Lord has continually provided, and will only continue to do so in the ways He deems best. I couldn't ask for more...

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. ~Psalm 147:10-11

Song for Sunday (and a look back at life just one year ago)

Almighty God

(T. Hughes)

~

The rising Sun that fills the sky

The starry host that lights the night

Reflecting Your glory

The mountain heights, forever stand

The rain that falls to soak the land

Respond to Your glory

~

Almighty God, in every way

You are above and beyond understanding

If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out

Glorious God, high above understanding

~

The vast expanse of earth and sea

Held by You in harmony

Speaks of Your glory

All You've made, since time began

Life itself, Your perfect plan

And it's all for You glory

~

Almighty God, in every way

You are above and beyond understanding

If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out

Glorious God, high above understanding

~

Creation joins as one to sing 'Glorious God'

So far about all earthly things

~

Almighty God, in every way

You are above and beyond understanding

If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out

Glorious God, high above understanding