a little insight into marriage: it's not easy.
oh yes, i could sit here and lie, tell you that everything is always perfect, a veritable stream of beauty and love, unrestrained by a painful moment or a few hurt feelings.
another little insight into marriage: it's amazing.
i started to ponder the seasons verses in ecclesiates chapter 3, and applied to the concept of marriage, how there are so many seasons in life, and how those seasons affect us, and because they affect us, they also have a profound effect on marriage.
i was going to ramble more about this, but found this devo online and it brought a few tears to my eyes. give it a read - it's a keeper...
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/live-like-you-were-dating-crosswalk-the-devotional-may-19-2011.html
"If I could find a way to regularly appear as outwardly joyful as I inwardly feel whenever I reflect on how blessed I am to have such a mate, I'd go a long way towards helping fulfill the purpose for this marriage..."
i have an amazing soul mate, and yes, things get messy sometimes, but i am truly blessed by his heart daily.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
feathers loosened and an injury count
i am approximately 1.5 weeks into my 2.5 weeks off of vacation in between jobs. i've learned a few very important lessons.
1. apparently the confines of an office have kept me safe from many illnesses and accidents... since i've been home i've been sick twice and have countless bruises and cuts from all of my projects and clutziness. who knew having a job actually prevented problems...?
2. Bridger is a great companion cuz she only wants to cuddle and has no interest in making me clean or get dressed :)
3. i need a schedule... some people thrive on being schedule-less, and honestly, i find not having a schedule very relaxing in a sense. it's not what you're thinking - i am not a big slob who sits around all day (plus i always follow the rules of "being a perfect house wife" and put something nice on, clean up the house and freshen up 'fore rynryn comes home), i am actually too productive. well, ok, maybe not too productive, it's just that without a schedule, i can't stop, i see projects everywhere and feel absolutely compelled to complete them immediately. who am i?? not sure if it's cuz i've just never had this much time off or if this is what adult-kelly is like, but boy, i am tiiiiiiiiired! granted i've been sick and it's been crappy weather out, but i've only done 2 fun vacationy things, which has got to stop! or start? an example of what i've completed: fixed broken wood on deck, planted mini garden and flowers, cleaned entire house, 15 load of laundry (no i am not exaggerating), decorated our upstairs, oil changed, grocery and house shoppin, yard work, removing wall paper border in guest bedroom, sorted through all clothing and shoes to give away, cleaned laundry room, etc etc. i could go on, but i'm even boring myself...
4. do not, under any circumstances, try to watch all 4 scream movies in one day. it is a feat mere humans cannot possibly complete. 'cept nate and i. that's right yo.
5. it becomes more and more clear to me as i get older that i am truly an outgoing introvert. i absolutely love people, but i need to be alone to recharge. that has been one of the absolute best parts of this time off. i feel very rejuvenated and alive, ready to start a new job... i know some people don't need time alone, at least not for that reason, but it calms my heart and soul...
6. sleeping in is over-rated
7. vacation is a lot less fun alone
8. my feather extensions have loosened and i'll be honest, i'm slightly tempted to steal a few from the bird's nest next to our bedroom window...
9. eating whatever you want on vacation mainly leads to boredom (and weight gain... not sayin, just sayin)
10. we live in a society that is over-worked , always busy and cannot seem to take a second to care for themselves, their belongings or loved ones. if we had a couple of weeks off (required) a year, well, i just cannot imagine what the population would be like. why can't we be more like europe where they take month-long "holidays"?
in conclusion - i haven't really used my brain much in the past 1.5 weeks, so you can pretty much breeze through most of what i said and forget it :)
Monday, May 9, 2011
that's what she said
i have amazing friends...
i know pretty much everyone says that, but i count myself truly blessed to have a long history of beautiful relationships (as Rita would say, creating some sort of life tapestry), that have both enriched my life and made me laugh harder than i ever thought possible.
i have friends that i see only every couple of years, and while distance always takes it's toll, there is a level of connectedness that keeps us united. i have friends that i see every couple of days, that brighten my day with an unending smile. i have friends that i haven't spoken to years, a friendship faded, and it is wonderful to me to be able to recognize that even though time has passed and i no longer know those friends as i once did, that i can enjoy the memories with fondness. i have come to realize, over my 27 years, that there is a season for everything... (Ecclesiates 3:1-14) and some friendships are only for a season.
which is why i say again, i have amazing friends. i have "penny can", i have "stick stick stick stick", i have "the queen of fashion", i have "keldrid louise", i have "that's what he/she said", i have "puppy talk", i have "the beast", i have "stink hog", i have "get in the kennel", i have "you can't win 'em all"... i have poker nights, i have making our own slip n' slides out of plastic wrap, i have hot dogging/muffining, i have dirt ball fights... i have a lifetime of wonderful moments, it's all safely secured in my heart, a heart full of memories and happiness.
i have amazing friends. i have amazing memories. it has been one of my life's biggest revelations - not all friendships are meant to last a lifetime. treasure those that do, but don't hold on to hard feelings for those that don't. instead, let your heart be open to remembering those wonderful times, treasure those.
thank you to all of the amazing people that i have been blessed to be friends with, both past and present, you have helped shape me, and i won't forget the beautiful moments that we've shared (that's what he said...)
PENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNYCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
i know pretty much everyone says that, but i count myself truly blessed to have a long history of beautiful relationships (as Rita would say, creating some sort of life tapestry), that have both enriched my life and made me laugh harder than i ever thought possible.
i have friends that i see only every couple of years, and while distance always takes it's toll, there is a level of connectedness that keeps us united. i have friends that i see every couple of days, that brighten my day with an unending smile. i have friends that i haven't spoken to years, a friendship faded, and it is wonderful to me to be able to recognize that even though time has passed and i no longer know those friends as i once did, that i can enjoy the memories with fondness. i have come to realize, over my 27 years, that there is a season for everything... (Ecclesiates 3:1-14) and some friendships are only for a season.
which is why i say again, i have amazing friends. i have "penny can", i have "stick stick stick stick", i have "the queen of fashion", i have "keldrid louise", i have "that's what he/she said", i have "puppy talk", i have "the beast", i have "stink hog", i have "get in the kennel", i have "you can't win 'em all"... i have poker nights, i have making our own slip n' slides out of plastic wrap, i have hot dogging/muffining, i have dirt ball fights... i have a lifetime of wonderful moments, it's all safely secured in my heart, a heart full of memories and happiness.
i have amazing friends. i have amazing memories. it has been one of my life's biggest revelations - not all friendships are meant to last a lifetime. treasure those that do, but don't hold on to hard feelings for those that don't. instead, let your heart be open to remembering those wonderful times, treasure those.
thank you to all of the amazing people that i have been blessed to be friends with, both past and present, you have helped shape me, and i won't forget the beautiful moments that we've shared (that's what he said...)
PENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNYCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
paper cuts and peace of mind
i have recently become aware of how incorrectly we use the phrase "peace of mind." usually used as if it's something we can get, something we can attain... "i need to make a little more money and then i will have some peace of mind" or "once the car is fixed and life settles down again i will have some peace of mind." it's an "if/than" formula. if i ____ than i will have peace of mind. funny, because when you really dissect the sentence it says, peace of (the) mind, as if a sense of peace comes over the mind. i think that peace has to come outside of the mind, we are not able to attain peace on our own, it must be given to us.
matthew 11:28
"come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and i will give you rest."
john 14:27
"my peace i leave with you; my peace i give to you. i do not give to you as the world gives, do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
pretty compelling argument that we cannot come to a place of complete transcension from stress and anxiety, where we attain peace on our own... and really when you think about it, the phrase peace of mind seems a little silly, since it's usually our brains that create the stress to begin with!
i got a really bad paper cut at work today. it just happened to be from my letter of resignation... it was a pretty bad cut, and for a second it threw me into a moment of pain, and for some reason, second guessing my decision to leave. tomorrow is my last day working at hennepin county, i start my new job in two and a half weeks. this is a season in life when each moment seems like one of trust, and every second holds a temptation to worry. i am completely aware that, for the most part, i am stumbling through this process of allowing God to give me that peace that i desire so much.
a wise friend of mine told me recently "it is my job as a mother and a homemaker to create peace in my home." now, this is not to say that men cannot bring peace into an atmosphere, but i think that there is something very powerful about the peace of a woman in a home and the incredible effect it has on each person who enters. it's ironic then, that a large majority of the most wonderful women i know are worriers. we fret, we strain, we calculate, we plan, and we worry with the best of 'em. there is a general lack of peace amongst us... and i have to wonder if it isn't a much larger battle that we are fighting. is it more intrinsic for women to worry? i don't know. but if distracted by worry, and due to that, unable to share the peace given to her by God with her home, a household will be affected. a wife, a mother, a sister or a friend - i believe a strong sense of His peace is part of your biblical destiny, and that strength will not only empower others, but it will refresh them as well.
i guess this is all a bit of a tangent, pretty much how my over-worked brain has been processing things lately. i will say this much, a woman without peace is an unfortunate force to be reckoned with, a woman with peace can calm an entire army.
matthew 11:28
"come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and i will give you rest."
john 14:27
"my peace i leave with you; my peace i give to you. i do not give to you as the world gives, do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
pretty compelling argument that we cannot come to a place of complete transcension from stress and anxiety, where we attain peace on our own... and really when you think about it, the phrase peace of mind seems a little silly, since it's usually our brains that create the stress to begin with!
i got a really bad paper cut at work today. it just happened to be from my letter of resignation... it was a pretty bad cut, and for a second it threw me into a moment of pain, and for some reason, second guessing my decision to leave. tomorrow is my last day working at hennepin county, i start my new job in two and a half weeks. this is a season in life when each moment seems like one of trust, and every second holds a temptation to worry. i am completely aware that, for the most part, i am stumbling through this process of allowing God to give me that peace that i desire so much.
a wise friend of mine told me recently "it is my job as a mother and a homemaker to create peace in my home." now, this is not to say that men cannot bring peace into an atmosphere, but i think that there is something very powerful about the peace of a woman in a home and the incredible effect it has on each person who enters. it's ironic then, that a large majority of the most wonderful women i know are worriers. we fret, we strain, we calculate, we plan, and we worry with the best of 'em. there is a general lack of peace amongst us... and i have to wonder if it isn't a much larger battle that we are fighting. is it more intrinsic for women to worry? i don't know. but if distracted by worry, and due to that, unable to share the peace given to her by God with her home, a household will be affected. a wife, a mother, a sister or a friend - i believe a strong sense of His peace is part of your biblical destiny, and that strength will not only empower others, but it will refresh them as well.
i guess this is all a bit of a tangent, pretty much how my over-worked brain has been processing things lately. i will say this much, a woman without peace is an unfortunate force to be reckoned with, a woman with peace can calm an entire army.
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