Because She Drove a Stick Shift

on marriage...

2012-01-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

we have been reading a Tim Keller book on marriage. it's pretty amazing how this guy takes some deep stuff and states it plainly on a level that's so easy to understand.

"Because its not the Love that sustains the Promise, its the Promise that sustains the Love."

choosing love.

2011-12-21T08:56:00.001-08:00

Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least the risk of tragedy, is damnation.

C.S. Lewis

promises.

2011-11-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you," says the Lord. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes, I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land."

Jeremiah 29:11-14, NLT

from Isaiah chapter 9

2011-11-23T07:17:00.000-08:00

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be up on His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

"Not subjective wishful thinking but an objective, surprising joy breaking upon sinners through the grace of Christ."

from Isaiah chapter 8

2011-11-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

"But the Lord of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary...."

"The holy God, who is the sanctuary for frightened human beings, is also the snare for those who do not fear Him. Judah and Jerusalem wring their hands over surface-level crises with little awareness of the grandeur of God. By disregarding God, they find him to be an obstacle they cannot evade."

today i love...

2011-09-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

that i enjoyed quality time with husband and dachshund.

the fact that i got four loads of laundry done, ran to get groceries, cleaned our apartment, made tim's oatmeal for the week, and will cook some red meat tomorrow.

that i am going home in a few weeks to see my loved ones!

caramel apples. i can only find them at walgreens. and i'm aware that doesn't necessarily mean high quality. but they're all i've been dreaming of!!!

the fact that i feel like updating the blog.

i discovered pear juice. (medicinal purposes only, people.) and it is amazing.

i get to meet with my lovely mentor pam on thursday. she is coming here. we are sharing tea.

that i keep seeing God move and at work in my life.

that i've reached a point where i fear God, yet accept grace.

we get to move into our new condo in 2 months! (more on that later)

february is looking awful bright.

that i get 3 days off this week!

we'll be trying a barbeque place with some new friends on sunday...

i get to go to life group on sunday....

the windows have been open ALL DAY.

it totally felt like fall today. the sun was in & out and when it was overcast, it was beautiful too.

the sunset is making these clouds look crazy breathtaking.

i read harry potter for 2 hours, took a nap, then woke up to make my husband cinnamon sugar toast because his tummy hurt.

that i got to nurture the husband.

being content.

a list of good things.

2011-07-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

1) Yesterday I made the best mashed potatoes. Now, they weren't restaurant style or anything, but they were a favorite that I have made. I have searched far and wide for a good mashed potato recipe, and the one that I threw together last night with red potatoes was by far the best. I didn't measure or anything... and they were awesome :) This is very helpful to a cook who has low kitchen self esteem. I'm normally checking recipes obsessively and frequently messing up our dinners. (ie: I forget we need rice or that pasta water takes quite awhile to boil so we have to wait an extra half an hour or we go without) The Internet has been a great resource for me in learning how to chop and cook, but sometimes I can go at it alone!

2) Julie's positivity. So proud of that girl. :)

3) My lovely mom and dad in law will be coming up this weekend just for a Sunday afternoon visit. Our schedules are impossible to coordinate sometimes, and I was thankful that my Sunday off and Tim's Sunday off happened to be together! They are taking us out for lunch and I can't wait to visit with two of my favorite people.

4) Fruit Salad! I'm sorry I'm still lame with the picture posting... I really can't stand doing it on Tim's laptop and his laptop is often not home.... plus, I'll admit, I feel silly taking pictures of things like fruit salad and mashed potatoes. hehe Anyway, Amber got us started with making fruit salads and whenever we can find some good fruit on sale, we go crazy. I found a huge carton of California strawberries for just $4 at the grocery store the other day, along with buy one, get one free ripe blueberries. We picked up a couple of kiwi from whole foods and some canned peaches and I make a snack that makes me thank God for berries being in season. It's so pretty and so fresh, which brings a summer smile to my face. :) p.s. I am headed to the grocery store now to see if the strawberries are still there so I can buy some more!

5) Just got a text from my sister last night saying that she and my mom were going to try and visit the weekend of the 5th, which just happens to be the weekend after my birthday! With my work schedule having me so down in the dumps these past couple of weeks, I am hoping that I'll be able to make this work... if it works out, I'll have something huge to look forward to!

6) I saw all of Lacey's wedding pictures and they are awesome! Especially the ones of she and Andy together after the ceremony. Those two have some envious photo chemistry together. So happy for her :)

7) I rediscovered teavana's arcadian apple iced tea this morning. I mourn the loss of that tea, but plan on enjoying the rest of my stash this summer before it loses its perfect flavor. Teavana reminds me of all sorts of beautiful times with friends and my mom and summertime is my favorite time to enjoy it!

dear husband,

2011-07-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

this past week or so you have been an absolute saint.

thank you for discovering my new favorite place to walk by the lake

with the peaceful path overgrown with all sorts of wildflowers,

skimming past the gorgeous lake and the fort sheridan cemetery,

where i am overwhelmed with emotion for the sacrifices so many have made.

thank you for going out of your way to be my egg sandwich chef.

even after a long 10 hour day yesterday, you insisted on crafting the

best. sandwich. ever.

i don't know how you do it, but it's always amazing.

thank you for discovering our new favorite thai place in chicago

it reminds me of jasmine, which reminds me of home.

thanks for loving me even when i complained

all through our lunch date the other day.

you told me to go home and take a nap

"number one priority."

and didn't chastise me once for my cranky nature.

you just knew i needed something and was patient with me until i got it.

thanks for doing the dishes the other day.

i'd put them off for about 3 days straight.

coming home to a clean sink always speaks to a love language

(my high maintenance, one of many ;D)

as always, thank you for being a man that i compare all other men to

you give all you have to provide for your family

your integrity inspires me daily.

bottom line, i love you.

thanks for putting up with me.

relief.

2011-06-24T20:51:00.000-07:00

Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for You created all things,

and by Your will they existed and were created.

Rev 4:11

truth.

2011-06-16T09:01:00.001-07:00

"Where the future becomes hopeless,

the present becomes merciless."

Geiko Muller-Fahrenholz

i just saw this posted on facebook.

this is why i love facebook.

isaiah 41:10

2011-06-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

fear not for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous hand.

bdpphoto.com

2011-06-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

want to see a preview of sister's wedding pictures?

go here

amazing, right?!

so cool that we grew up knowing the photographer

and that he is an awesome guy

with an incredible talent.

can you spot the moment where gabrijel and i were making each other laugh over our fake laughs? out of control.

also, great picture taken of me and the soul mate

♥

focus.

2011-06-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

facebook friends frequently share Scripture and quotes via status updates.

some days i am beyond thankful for these uplifting and realigning reminders.

today, amber's mom shared this:

the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you:

he will never leave you or forsake you.

do not be discouraged.

Deuteronomy 31:8

LISTEN...

2011-06-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

if you want a realllllly good homemade salad dressing,

check out this post

okay, this is seriously the best salad dressing i have EVER. HAD.

i do everything she says,

except for the onion and avocado

i'm sure it's delicious....

i just haven't done it yet.

anyway, tonight i whipped this dressing up and then smothered it all over some red leaf lettuce. tim had 3/4 of a bowl of salad... and i had well over half a head of red leaf lettuce. i could not stop. needless to say, it knocks most dishes i cook out of the water... steals the show, i tell you! :) that's all for tonight. i just had to share my salad joy with you all.

happy saturday...

while i'm at it...

2011-06-08T08:03:00.001-07:00

how about some birthday pictures?

for his birthday, tim wanted some chacos and to take a trip into the city to see a free concert in Millenium Park. our original intent was to eat at a mediterranean grill called Roti, but it was closed for Memorial Day.

(this is just our luck... we never check to see if things are open on important days... last year on tim's birthday we drove around to 5 different places trying to find a place open for his birthday dinner... same for mine last year too... although i can't remember why...)

sooo, we ended up eating at Giordarnos, which I was not that excited about. It was hot that day. Deep dish pizza and hot do not go together for me, but after a little pouting I realized I was being ridiculous and kind of enjoyed my food. ;)

the biggest highlight for me, aside from the city and my man, was Intelligentsia. this place has been recommended to me by many people and i now personally know why!

best (and possibly ugliest) shoes ever made, in my opinion :)

justin townes earle

this was who we came to see...

we were disappointed that there was no band at first, but it ended up being a great performance!

this band opened for justin townes earle. i am terrible for not knowing their name, i know. they were a hoot!

the lead singer is from chicago, and his daughter sat a few chairs down from us... he was hilarious!

the god of thunder.

2011-06-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

last saturday, tim and i took nash over to andy and lacey's apartment to meet our nephew thor for the first time ever. andy cooked us french toast and baked bacon (bake it on parchment paper for 15-20 minutes at 425... mind blowing, i tell ya), we celebrated tim's 28th birthday, and enjoyed the company of our kids :) here are just a few photos from our morning.

by: lacey

take one attempt. couldn't resist posting... look how thor struggles :)

my little poser :)

love these plates... sister has the best taste!

yea. i'm awesome.

nash doing his best to get away from thor. here he was fussing at all of us for such an injustice.

the rest to come via facebook.

this morning...

2011-06-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

stolen from the soul mate:

"The surest way of spoiling a pleasure is to start examining your satisfaction."

C.S. Lewis

spent the morning with Amber & Nora.

we had some Red Mango (duh).

went for a walk

and definitely enjoyed each other's company.

i commit to blogging more for the sake of

wanting her to blog as much as possible.

i will miss the Clements family dearly

and look forward to keeping up on their lives

and of course Nora's adventures. :)

i will copy some adjectives i posted on facebook,

attributes I admire deeply in Amber.

she has challenged me, helped me, and inspired me to be better

beautiful, kind, inspiring, gentle, generous, loving, full of life, and a great friend!

cannot wait for a Michigan visit.

much love to you, friend.

fitz and the tantrums

2011-06-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

ceremony.

2011-05-28T07:51:00.001-07:00

i've been meaning to share this with you for awhile. gabrijel, one of my sister's bridesmen, took a picture of my sister's ceremony site the day of the rehearsal. i know you've been able to see bits and pieces of the wedding so far via the facebook pics that are already up, but this is a wedding photo i believe you have yet to see!

isn't it magical??

of course, this is just a blackberry photo...

but you get the idea!!

mega dose of cute.

2011-05-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

a co worker of mine showed me this at work the other day....

it's the cutest thing i've ever seen!!!!!

on my heart, in my head

2011-05-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

and there will come a time

you'll see

with no more tears

and love will not break your heart

but dismiss your fears

get over your hill and see

what you find there

with grace in your heart and

flowers in your hair

mumford & sons,

after the storm

i miss you, country.

2011-05-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired to post after I had to cut a facebook status update in half in order to make it fit. I thought to myself, "Why don't I just blog about this?"

So here it is:

I. MISS. THE COUNTRY.

I'm not sure what it was that led me to believe I was looooved the city and at heart couldn't stand to live in the country forever. I remember, as I packed up all of our belongings in Jamestown, IN, telling Tim that I never wanted to move back. I wasn't referring to Indiana in general... it was more that never again did I want to live somewhere so remote. I didn't want to have to drive 45 minutes to get to a mall. I didn't want to drive 30 minutes to go to the grocery store or see a doctor. I was soooo excited to move to where there was a Whole Foods just 15 minutes away and one of the best cities in the United States so close by.

My husband has always been proud to be from Indiana. It's a state he loves and not one that I loathe, but I definitely did not appreciate what I had while I had it. Isn't that the story of our lives, though?

Things I miss about the Jamestown/Lebanon area:

Lebanon is actually a nice sized town with an amazing Walmart, a goodwill, a hospital. One thing that separates Lebanon from the suburbs of Chicago, however, is that there are parts of it that are actually in the country. You can buy a house in Lebanon amongst fields and also be relatively close to everything you need. I bring this up because I definitely could not live where I had to drive hours to get to the nearest gas station or church. I loved living in the country.... I never want to live in backwoods country.... I'm talking more like farmland and cornfields.

backwoods is a form of:
back·woods

noun (plural) /ˈbakˈwo͝odz/
backwoods, plural

Remote uncleared forest land

- backwoods homesteads

A remote or sparsely inhabited region, esp. one considered backward

Nope, not for me. :)

I miss walking down the street with Tim & Nash, where we would end up in cornfields that were magical at dusk. (or even during the day, to be honest... just more magical at dusk!)

I miss the quiet.

I miss the local town stuff that went on.

I miss that when you'd stop at the gas station for a treat while on a walk in the evening, you would most likely see at least one person you recognized.

I also miss getting embarrassed that the same girl working at the gas station witnessed me buying myself a treat on a daily basis. :)

I MISS THE DAIRY BAR.

I miss a lack of traffic.

The country is peaceful!! Country people are my kind of people. There, I said it. There is simplicity and honesty in people from Jamestown and Lebanon that you don't see as often here (I don't include "the church" in this...) People are generally satisfied with being simple and don't need a lot of things or possessions to fill up their lives. I realize that this is an over generalization and that not all people from where I was living in Indiana are this way, but I do currently live in one of the wealthiest areas of the country... and it has given me much perspective.

Only thing I don't miss about where I used to live?

tornadoes!!!

We don't have as many of those where I'm at now and I've told Tim that if we ever moved back, my only requirement for our house is that it has a basement we can flee to.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that we will ever go back for good. :(

As we sat in the backyard of Andy's parent's house, Gabrijel, a long time friend of my sister's and bridesman at her wedding, joked, "I feel closer to God out here!" Their house is quite literally in the middle of nowhere and I love everything about their surroundings (and them...) I'll leave you with an uploaded picture of his that I stole because I know he wouldn't mind :)

rejoice.

2011-05-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

i refuse to let myself get caught up on the rhyme or reason

but perhaps this season will in fact bring about some perspective.

tomorrow i get to visit with a family i'm quite fond of,

a family that has blessed me greatly with their love and time

soon that family will move away

and although i am sad about it all,

the little time that we have left brings me great joy.

a morning separated from loneliness

is a morning for rejoicing.

100 ways to uncomplicate it.

2011-04-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

hannah posted this today and i loved almost all of them!

have a happy day.

oh, and tomorrow tim and i will have been married for 3 years.

happy anniversary, my love.

let's set some goals.

2011-04-24T14:06:00.001-07:00

my goals for the week*

less coffee. these past few weeks it's become a crutch and once again, i'm ready to wake up with some natural energy.

exercise. i am at a place in life where i absolutely cannot keep going without some endorphin action taking place.

read a lot. why not take advantage of all this extra time i've been so depressed about? i am by myself a lot and it's not going to be that way forever. it's time to be content with solitude and not take it for granted. if i don't start filling up the lonely times with activities that are actually edifying, the loneliness will only grow.

i am hoping this week will be a good one. lacey will be heading to chicago on tuesday evening with a few friends and we will spend the following day celebrating her last few weeks as a bachelor-ette. i just might take some pictures!

*it is now monday (i started this little note yesterday) and so far, i have exercised and consumed only a 1/3 caffeinated cup of coffee. i plan to read through my lunch, instead of farting around on the computer like i usually do. here's to goals that will help you out of a slump!

happy easter

2011-04-24T07:16:00.001-07:00

‎"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they are like crimson, they shall become like wool."

Isaiah 1:18

and then i read THIS.

2011-04-23T14:45:00.000-07:00

don't read this first.

read the post below, then read this....

if the post below was too ridiculous for your time, ignore.

this follow up made me laugh out loud! i love this man!

But now back to the serious issue at hand...my mom's sock. Apparently
you have no end to ridiculing my mom. You want to give my mom socks
with the word 'princess' on them? My mom is a queen, and not just any
queen, she's THE queen. In fact, she'd be the king, if it weren't for
the fact that would be somewhat weird and awkward to call a girl king.
And I suggested the foot bath to her, and she just looked at me and
started crying. Her foot is in so much pain she can no longer lift her
foot high enough to soak it. She's been put in a wheelchair and will
not walk until she has a second sock. The ball's in your court on this
one...

Bloomington. You're coming. If you like Broad Ripple, you will be
blown away by Bloomington. Its so laid back and my kind of place.

Well I'm in out...time to go pretend to work.

in Christ

tim

p.s. On a positive note, my mom does in fact have all 10 toes. And
even better than that, she was never without all 10 toes. The whole
'no toes' thing was merely a ploy by me to get my mom's sock back. I
apologize for the confusion, and will from now on assume that you do
nto realize that I lie more than I tell the truth...

let's go back to the start.

2011-04-23T14:26:00.001-07:00

this just might be a new tradition for me!

after a lovely afternoon walk with my little guy, i came home to an empty apartment, as husband is working tonight.

i was a little blah at first because it used to be that saturday was the one night my love and i had together.

but i was also encouraged because i will be visiting him at work later, where i will give myself a few generous hours to just read and sip on some tea.

looking to brighten my afternoon alone, i clicked on the "Tim" folder saved in my email. these emails go all the way back to just before we realized we were supposed to be together.

so back to tradition: i think that every year as we get closer to celebrating the day we started our family, i will allow myself to read through all of our emails... because they crack me up. (and also, some of the romantic things my boyfriend said while we were dating still causes weakness of the knees. :)

thought i'd share a snippet with you. the back story is pretty silly: after tim took me to one of my most favorite movies of all time (Little Miss Sunshine) to brighten my day, the car he'd been driving us around in (his mom's) apparently ate a sock because one came up missing. here is part of one email, followed by my response....

That said, this thing with my mom's sock has gone entirely too far. I
was willing to overlook your sin, as I have done so many times with
you, but no more. Misty, I'm giving you one more chance to give you my
mom's sock back before I am forced to unleash my wrath against you. I
love my mom, and I don't see that changing any time soon. My mom is
walking around with one sock on right now, blisters on the other foot,
praying that God would just provide her another sock. And here you
are, parading the sock around like a trophy to be proud of. And I
guess I should tell you this too. The fact that you offered my mom toe
socks is so offensive, because my mom does not have any toes. Stop
laughing. What would you do without toes? I'll tell you one thing you
wouldn't do...you wouldn't wear socks with toes! I'll be waiting for
the sock...

Well I'm out...

tim

p.s. you need to come to bloomington to hang out sometime. you would
love it...

Now, the sock thing.........I don't even know where to start. I refuse to ask you if you're lying or not because you can't just ask someone in an email if their mom really does not have toes and have the slightest confidence that they will answer you truthfullly. So we'll talk about this later. And I have others, not just toe socks. I have a r eally awesome pink pair that says "Princess" on them. My grandmother puts socks in my stocking at Christmas, I really don't know why. Oh, if your mom has blisters I can recommend a good foot soak. Haha. Wow, you make me laugh.

I don't know how I made it to 4 am yesterday morning. It's 12:30 and I'm falling asleep as we speak. So, I hope things are going well for you in the working world. :)

Misty

ps....I'd love to hang out in Bloomington sometime. If you say it's something I'd love, I'm sure I would.

God is my victory and He is here.

2011-04-20T06:45:00.001-07:00

so a few of you know how hard this past week has been on tim and i.

to randomly share,

i want to say thank you for the kind messages and prayers.

amber,

for the trip to crust and gelato through chicago's nasty spring mess. for bringing the beautiful creature called Nora into this world. her smiles and joy always lift my spirits and she's just about the sweetest kid i've ever met.

julie,

for dropping everything and giving me three days to choose from for a visit long overdue... and pretty much asserting that you wouldn't take no for an answer. i really am looking forward to some time together. it's a comfort that friendship still prevails, despite distance and a crazy life.

tiffany,

for the text message i don't know i can ever delete about what your mom was doing in heaven. that brought me the greatest comfort because i love your mom and i know what kind of mom she was while here on this earth. i don't know exactly how that heaven thing works, but i was reminded how much love must be there.

mom & dad,

for spoiling me and leading me through normal life activities this past weekend. for love and support and compassion.

all the women who opened up to me,

for sharing your former struggles and reminding me i can get through and there will be a brighter day.

lacey,

for listening to a crying idiot, fed up with all of the expenses life has been throwing as of late. and for offering to pay yet again for dress alterations. i am blessed by your generosity.

husband,

for going through this with me. it has brought us closer and grown us stronger. we are about to celebrate 3 years and even though you never read this blog (;D) i want you to know i know i could not have chosen a better man to go through this life with.

comfort.

2011-04-14T15:26:00.001-07:00

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

THE MESSAGE

^1-3 God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.

⁴ Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I'm not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd's crook
makes me feel secure.

NLT

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³ He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.

you are a tourist.

2011-04-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

via tiffany

i can't look away:

may 31.

sister in law

2011-04-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

alicia is headed back to japan today

please keep her in your prayers

another posting i neglected

was the one about the coolest christmas present ever

chopsticks all the way from japan

(from sister in law, of course)

and little white dachshunds to rest them on

p.s.

how long will it take me to learn how to spell my dog's breed name without having to look it up on wikipedia?! oh well... i don't mind looking at all the little pictures of daCHSHund puppies that the search always pulls up for me :D

once upon a time...

2011-04-03T17:13:00.001-07:00

my good friend amber & i had a wonderful day together.

the day was documented by camera

but due to my blog slump

and being forced to blog via laptop

of course, i put it off

after emptying the contents of my memory card,

i remembered this day with a smile

and thought i would pay homage to our fun

that day we did a few fun things

one of them being trying a recipe for Oreo Balls

i would highly recommend them

they were cheap, easy, & delicious

some ingredients & supplies...

yes, i was crushing oreos with my lemon zester

and sneaking bites while amber made a trip to the bathroom...

final product

let's just say our husbands loved them

they were super rich but didn't last very long

if that tells you anything :)

later, we enjoyed a few episodes of one of my favorite shows, Wife Swap

and some Strawberry Paraiso Teavana tea,

which was a sweet gift ordered by mail for me from Amber

it is a fantastic blend that re-steeps well and actually contains popcorn!

see?!

these are my favorite tea mugs from Starbucks!

and last,

our attempt at getting a good picture with Nash

yes, i had some fun with editing... i like changing the color of things

since i have no talent when it comes to the realm of photography

look at nash's little tongue!

doesn't she have the prettiest eyes?!

this lady has meant a lot of me and helped me through one of the hardest seasons of my life (so far... i know i haven't lived and lost much yet at all....) she is a wonderful listener and encourager. she's lifted me up in prayer and been great company in a city where i still don't have a lot of solid friendships. love her! and i've loved looking back on happy days today :)

green monster.

2011-03-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

so i found a new smoothie to be obsessed with

via

green monster movement

i've always included spinach in my smoothie

but never so much that i wound up with a nasty moustache

hot, right?

apparently, i enjoy posting embarrassing stuff

if you have a blender,

give it a shot

it's amazing how 3 cups of spinach

instantly makes you feel healthy

and can even mentally motivate you

out of your bad food slump

come on, we all have 'em.

have you seen this yet?

2011-03-31T06:25:00.001-07:00

the hand motions KILL me. they absolutely kill me.

for your entertainment...

2011-03-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

this was posted todayon a high school friend's wall and brought to my attention.

i would like to forewarn you: this is UTTERLY embarrassing for me.

you can tell by my speech that i still have braces

and what's with those dance moves?!

BUT i love you guys too much not to not let you enjoy

my high school show choir competition solo days.

and yes, i am a youtube star.

today, i am thankful for

2011-03-28T20:05:00.001-07:00

a dog to take naps with
family visits (to us and to them)
true Chicago style hot dog eating in Chicago
time to spend with the husband
having husband tell me i love blogging and to do it again because it makes me happy
mad men season 4 coming out tomorrow

(hello, donald draper)

sister's free DVD copies that come with her blu ray movies
a God who loves me and forgives me even when i fail to see his blessings

new favorite.

2011-03-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

if you would like to try a really awesome hummus recipe

go here

the other recipe i shared awhile back is fantastic

when enjoyed with pita chips

but if you want a really good one that goes well

with cucumbers, carrots, peppers,

this is your recipe.

happy hummus love!

just so ya know...

2011-03-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

hello.

so i finally decided to give a little update and say why i haven't been blogging as of late.

i feel that sometimes i've lived a little too much of my life through a computer. although i love that i can give my friends updates on how my week is going and what's going on in my new life, i just haven't been feeling up to it lately.

this winter was particularly hard for me. (i speak in past tense because green things are growing, which means SPRING, baby!) these past couple of weeks, i've been trying to make an effort to get up, get moving, clean, run errands, be a part of a Bible study, serve somewhere, make phone calls, send birthday cards, make hummus, cook more food, study a lot, make more time for prayer, love on my husband when he's around, get a haircut, go to the dentist, go to the doctor. when you're "in a funk" or "depressed" or whatever you want to call it, the simplest things can so hard and just plain overwhelming. i haven't done everything on the list just yet, but i'm forcing myself to start doing the everyday things i've neglected since our move. i have to. blogging just hasn't felt really important, fun, or authentic in awhile so hence the rest.

hmm...

i love documenting our lives and memories. it's a lot of fun to look back on these things.... i wish i had more of a drive but i really just don't right now. so maybe i'll start up again next week. maybe it will take until i've conquered the depression 100%.... or maybe it'll be when tim and i have some kids.... i'm not sure, but for right now, i have to focus on my healing up... after a 3 month long complete lack of motivation, i have a lot to keep me busy.

i get to go home for my sister's bridal shower this weekend... and i'm really looking forward to it. then next week, my in laws are coming to visit and miraculously, i'm off the entire weekend. i pray you are all well and much love to ya.

my man, the weekend, & sugar is crack.

2011-03-15T15:39:00.001-07:00

i just have to take one moment to tell you all how proud i am of this guy.

not only does he work 80+ hours a week

furthering his education to later provide for his family

and serving a church as worship pastor to currently provide for his family

but he is a great dad to our little Nash

i still walk in the bedroom to find tim lying on the bed,

holding Nash like a baby even on his busiest day.

he also lost 6 pounds last week.

(holy biggest loser, batman.)

and got an A in his Greek class.

he's smart.

has a beard.

and puts Jesus first.

what more could you ask for?

in other news,

i had a lovely weekend with family.

i inherited a lot of clothes that actually fit

(lacey)

enjoyed cappuccino, laughs, and some good food

(family)

little update for those of you who are aware that Alicia is currently working in Japan:

she lives in Tokyo and her apartment got tossed around a bit, but overall everything is ok. she actually landed in South Korea earlier today, where she will be stationed for awhile. i believe the official reason has to do with the lack of resources currently available... it's sort of a huge relief for us... although it's hard to tell what's really going on with the nuclear plants, i think we'd all just really prefer her to be somewhere else right now.

and last,

i realized today that my mood is directly related to my sugar intake.

would it be worth it to do a part-lent?

for this reason?

because that's not healthy.

i can feel the prayers...

2011-03-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

so thank you, kindly.

self absorption.

2011-03-05T19:48:00.000-08:00

got

work

this

perfect 10 update

2011-03-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

hullo!

having a good day today.

i have the evening off so i get to make dinner for that cute husband of mine

before i have to work 6 nights in row

then it's time for a weekend trip home!

gosh, i can't wait to see all my family.

(ps... "family" being both of ours... i love them each so, so much)

so this perfect 10 book...

i'm not 100% sold on everything. i'm only still reading through the early stages of the book.... and i'd like to do more research on it all (maybe i should call doctor oz to see what he thinks... i trust him with my life, haha!) but i am buying into the whole natural deal. i would like to stop being scared of fat... this idea has definitely been circulating for some time... all of the nonfat products they fed us ended up being hydrogenated or loaded with high fructose corn syrup, which we now know is killer and contributed to diabetes earlier and earlier in life.

the first step (one that scares the crap outta me) for me personally was to switch from nonfat to whole. i must admit, i was terrified. i love whole milk cappucinos... but when you compare nonfat to whole as far as calories and fat are concerned, it's like the end of the world. one thing i understood right away is that moderation is key. of course it isn't ideal to consume 3 cups of whole milk a day. why not try 1 or 1.5. some days i wasn't even consuming milk... instead i'd eat foods that were heavily processed (like breakfast sandwiches) and had double the fat of a glass of milk anyway. now that i'm trying to cut out that processed food i have room for a little more fat. i definitely want to see where this leads me. a co-worker of mine told me he'd had some blood work done recently. his doctor determined he had a vitamin D defiiciency and put him on a vitamin D supplement and told him to start drinking whole milk. that's another idea the author of the perfect 10 diet talks about: the nutrients we lose when we take the fat out of our foods. so of course if i gain 15 lbs or something i'll stop drinking the milk. obviously, that wouldn't be healthy. but again, i would like to see where this takes me. maybe... just maybe... i'll feel better through the extra vitamin D my body has trouble absorbing just solely through a supplement. maybe i'll feel fuller longer. i'm keeping a little food journal to see where i'm at in a couple of weeks. oh, and sugar and i are going to end our love affair if it kills me. i haven't had a pastry in several days and that, folks, is an accomplishment.

today has been awesome so far. i had some ezekiel toast with an egg fried in butter (not canola oil spray). i had a yogurt, banana, berry smoothie (that, i had to use nonfat for.. husband's not going for the whole milk idea as of yet... so that's what i have at home). for my first 10 minute break i had 1/4 cup of oatmeal with about 1/6 cup of whole milk, a few almonds, cinnamon, agave nectar. that was awesome. then for my lunch break, i had a kashi cereal with 1/2 cup of whole milk. of course, the menu for dinner consists of chicken soft tacos, zatarans rice, and corn... and tomorrow i plan to make a soup with a bunch of canned ingredients... but i'm making smaller strides that i think might count at the end of the day.

i really want to feel better. i want to have more energy. and i don't want to be addicted to foods that jack my hormones all up.

so there it is in a nutshell.

thank you, Love.

2011-03-04T15:43:00.001-08:00

can i tell you just how good my husband is to me?

so silly... it's in the little things I really see his heart.

today started off as a rough morning. i did my best to get up once the alarm went off, i made myself breakfast, i even did Bible reading immediately following breakfast, but after that, i wanted to go back to bed. and so i did. tim came out of the shower and asked me what i was doing. i said, "laying down." he asked if i was tired. i said, "maybe. i don't know." he lifted up the blanket to see if nash was with me (he was), then climbed into bed with me. he looked at me for a few minutes and when i didn't say anything (a rarity) he said, "we get to go home next weekend, babe." and that made me cry. i covered my face. he uncovered it. i rolled over... he held me as a i cried... which was awhile. we pretty much stayed that way until he could get a laugh out of me. then, even though he had several things to accomplish before work and had already told me he didn't really have time to watch Parenthood with me, he suggested we watch Parenthood anyway. so we snuggled underneath our duvet on our king's chair in the living room with our nash while i cried my way through Parenthood (autism episode). after that i made us some lunch. after that i felt better. i made a smoothie, left for work, and was able to walk into work feeling a little stronger than i had yesterday.

marriage is such a blessing. even though we have only been married three short years, because he knows me so well (this time) tim didn't need to ask what was going on. we may not always know how to comfort each other the best way.... but he did this time. there is no other way to receive these little blessings from each other unless you commit to sticking it out, you see each other at your worst, and you sometimes put the other person first when it doesn't gain you a whole lot.

thank you, Love, for helping me through today.

gone.

2011-03-03T17:13:00.001-08:00

Lacey left for home today. I didn't think I would get emotional when she left, but I definitely cried the whole drive to work. I have a hard time with these feelings of sadness. I regularly scold myself because I know I am blessed, I am loved, my family is well, I have plenty of food on the table, a great roof over my head, a husband who outshines most. This really doesn't ever help. It's one thing to think about your blessings. It's another to sweep your feelings under the rug and tell yourself that they aren't valid.

They're definitely valid.

I really miss home. I miss weekly dinners with my in-laws. I miss being able to see my mom & dad whenever I needed them. I miss daily catch ups and laughs with my sister. I miss seeing Tiffany at least once a month or so. I miss our first home. I miss my neighbors and several people from work... many I realized too late that I loved so much. I miss the familiarity of the grocery stores, the comfort that comes from being a part of something for so long. I miss that Nash had somebody to play with at least once a week... and that he could go in and out as he pleased and lay in the sunshine and take a nap on winter days when it was unseasonably warm. I could go on and on.

My heart... it just aches all the time.

As I walked into work this afternoon, I thought, "I don't want to do this anymore." I feel as if I'm pretending I'm okay all the time because I know that I should find that joy from within.... and some days I just don't. Is it pathetic that I actually pictured Jesus walking beside me as I made that walk into work? There are days I just long to be held in His arms. The thought literally makes me cry on the spot. It's all I want right now.

This isn't what blogs are for, I know. These things are supposed to be happy and positive and bring a smile to your face so I'm sorry that I'm sharing this. I might vow just to stay quiet on here when I'm sad from here on out. A few times I thought about deleting it because I don't want to spread more negativity into this world.

I'm ready to be past this phase of my life, but I'm not sure that I'll ever get to live in Indiana again. That thought kills me, but I have to remember I knew that it was all a possibility when I married a pastor. I don't blame him. I know God has called him here, which means he has also called me too... I just don't feel called to anything right now and it sometimes leaves me so empty.

The End. :)

say yes to the dress

2011-03-02T06:20:00.001-08:00

lacey and i have been watching say yes to the dress nonstop.

thank you to amber for introducing me to that show :)

it's been getting the sister & i super excited for the wedding.

like, it's all we are talking about!

sister and i started yesterday's adventure out

by stopping at david's bridal to check out that dress

she loved it

here's the best part:

they let us make an exchange!!

she's really into the purple accessories she got us

ie: the purse that will take the place of flowers to carry as we walk down the aisle

do me a favor and click here

much better view and you can actually see the detail

she also purchased earrings for all the girls recently

they're purple as well

and here they be:

(and vera wang.... she has the best accessories)

she really thought the accessories would be lost next to the old dress

and the accessories were the only way she could really incorporate purple into the wedding!

as much as i loved the old dress,

i want sister to be the happiest she can be on her day

and the floral dress did that for her

camera's dead so i'll try and get some batteries today...

maybe i'll have some pictures for you later...

will she or won't she?

2011-02-25T20:04:00.001-08:00

so with regard to my comment about david's bridal:

sister is thinking of changing my matron of honor dress from this

to this

click here if you're interested in seeing it up close

if she thinks it works better, she and her fiance are going to pay for it.

i'm like:

uh, it's white.

then she keeps reminding me how unconventional she and this wedding are.

what sister wants, sister gets.

i'll keep ya posted!

ATTENTION:

2011-02-25T16:26:00.000-08:00

sister will be here in three days.

words can't express how excited i am for this visit.

so far,

on the agenda,

ikea.

pot pies.

walmart.

cookie dough.

gilmore girls.

portillos.

due date.

lou malnatis.

coffee.

david's bridal.

and most importantly,

auntie/nasher time.

you can tell that you really love somebody

when things like coffee, walmart, & pot pies

makes the list of things you're excited to do together.

but that's my sis.

she's my best.

like, for real.

i got spoiled living with her for a few months

and then going coooold turkey up here in chicago without her.

so why davids bridal?

vday post.

2011-02-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

i am finally posting personal pictures taken with my camera, transferred onto tim's laptop. (boo.) i don't like blogging on a laptop (makes my fingers cramp) but i thought it was about time! i wanted to share with you how wonderful of a day valentines day was this year. it was not only wonderful because i actually got to spend some quality time with my love, but i also received a little valentines day surprise package in the mail.

we'll start with the sweet surprise husband brought home for me,

a dozen of my favorite flower:

i don't think this sort of act of love will ever get old

and i absolutely love roses.

the smell, the look, the way they feel...

i LOVE them!

since we had agreed to no gifts

(we'd had thai food a couple nights before

and are going to see les mis this weekend)

i baked him a cake and it was his favorite kind

yellow cake, chocolate icing.

it hit the spot.

after dinner,

we received the valentines day package from my parents.

in it, my parents sent (for me) a book i'm excited to read,

a cute book charm, and a sweet card.

they also included for us both some I ♥ U peeps, sixlets, and m&m's

for tim, they sent a book stand,

which will be a huge help for him when he studies.

it felt so good to have some of home sent to me here in Chicago.

my parents get lacey & i little gifts for valentines each year

so even when i didn't have a "valentine" they made sure i knew i was loved.

last picture is a page from husband's Greek New Testament

husband can read this.

hot.

blood test.

2011-02-23T18:05:00.000-08:00

little update for ya:

had some blood work done recently. it started off sometime around thanksgiving when i almost fainted a few times. here recently, i've just felt blah and had no energy... sleeping a lot. around turkey time i thought i was pregnant and when i realized i wasn't, i figured the blood test wasn't necessary. last friday i finally got my butt in gear and went to have it drawn. today i contacted the doctor's office, and they told me everything was fine. glucose, iron, etc.... everything came back a-ok.

i got a little stressed, which is strange but true. i was worried husband would think i was a hypochondriac (which my nurse would tell you is true ;D). i was worried he'd never believe me again when i felt not quite right. turns out, he was just glad everything was okay... here was our exchange tonight...

"so i think that the lack of energy probably stems from the fact that i've been sick a few times this winter, it's winter, and i've been a bit down."

"or it's because of the way you eat."

this is exactly what my mother said!!!!

*dangit*

i think God is trying to tell me to take better care of myself.

and when God tells you to do something, you listen.

or you might get swallowed by a whale or something.

(joke! please, no smiting!)

lent.

2011-02-23T14:29:00.000-08:00

this year,

for lent,

i will be giving up

this

because of

this.

the end.

p.s.

are you thinking of giving anything up?

i've got lots of reasons.

one, i am going through a phase

where i don't want to be addicted to anything.

do share.

cute kids.

2011-02-23T05:48:00.001-08:00

someone posted this on facebook... thought it was pretty cute!

Bonhoeffer, page 240

2011-02-20T17:43:00.001-08:00

"His thoughts on this would be expressed in his book Discipleship, in which anything short of obedience to God smacked of 'cheap grace.' Actions must follow what one believed, else one could not claim to believe it."

confession:

2011-02-17T16:18:00.000-08:00

i regularly lap up the foam from my whole milk dry cappuccino

just like my nash drinks his water.

source

and then it gets all over my nose.

DVR is ruining my life.

2011-02-16T19:54:00.000-08:00

feel free to judge, folks.

in other news:

sister will be here in two weeks!

please, oh, please!

2011-02-15T18:01:00.000-08:00

'Newsies' Musical To Paper Mill Playhouse In New Jersey

First Posted: 02/15/11 02:23 PM Updated: 02/15/11 02:26 PM

Inspiring
Funny
Hot
Scary
Outrageous
Amazing
Weird
Crazy

SHARE THIS STORY

267

Get Entertainment Alerts

Submit this story

Jack "Cowboy" Kelly wanted to escape New York for Santa Fe. He'll have to settle for New Jersey.

"Newsies," the 1992 Disney musical movie about turn of the century orphan newspaper boys in New York City, is finally getting the long-discussed stage treatment. The New York Times reports that The Paper Mill Playhouse, a well-regarded off-Broadway theater, will stage a production of the musical in its 2011-2012 season, with music from its original lyricist and composer. Harvey Fierstein will help write the show.

The movie, which cost $15 million to produce, only made $3 at the box office as it was panned by critics. Since then, it's become a bit of a cult hit, performed in youth plays and inspiring Halloween costumes nationwide. Its star, Christian Bale, just won a Golden Globe and is an Oscar favorite for his role in "The Fighter."

Alan Menken, who wrote the music for the film, made sure that he got on board -- even if it wasn't going to mean much of a payday, something his agent made sure he knew.

"He told me: 'You don't have to get involved. They'll take your songs, and someone else will come and write new ones. I just want to let you know.' I said, 'Oh, no. No, no, no. It's my baby, no.' 'Alan, there's not going to be any money.' 'I don't care. I don't care, this is my baby.'"

This fall, it was reported that the show would be on Broadway. Of course, oftentimes it takes a successful run on a smaller stage to convince theaters to give it a shot in the bright lights, so that may still happen.

For more, click over to the NY Times.

and then today, i learned this.

2011-02-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

your dad's wisdom can help you a whole lot more

than you thought it could at age 16.

check me out kickin' my dad in the face in my awesome shoes.

dad and lace.

i'll just be up front:

i'm dealing with some stuff.

you could call it being depressed...

anyway,

my parents sort of gave me some helpful advice the other night.

my dad's wisdom was:

when i am overwhelmed and feel like i can't do anything,

make a list.

even if you can just check off one item a day or every two days,

keep at it.

making lines through lists helps you stay focused.

whoa, buddy, does it help.

i made a HUGE list yesterday

and already have 2 items checked off.

i can't wait to do more next week.

it may seem lame to be happy about doing only 2 things so far,

but when you're in a fog,

under motivated

and blah,

it's a huge help.

so thanks, dad, for imparting your wisdom.

you knew what i needed to hear in my particular circumstance

and it was a huge soul lifter.

what i learned today.

2011-02-08T20:38:00.000-08:00

your momma knows you better than anybody.

to you:

i know you miss your momma.

my heart hurts for you this day.

i love you so much

and can't wait to laugh with you both one day in Heaven.

♥

the Church.

2011-02-06T20:54:00.001-08:00

With Regard to Faith

third straight day of sunshine.

2011-02-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

source

hallelujah.

gotta tell ya...

2011-02-04T19:42:00.000-08:00

despite the angry, woe is me attitude shared in my previous post,

i'm feeling good today.

i don't know if it's the fact that we've had sunshine these past two days

(definitely deserved after Snowpocalypse 2011, might i add)

or the fact that husband has been making me take

my good old Vitamin D supplements again

but i felt good today.

so much of my life is directed by how i feel,

what emotion is going on in the moment.

i hate this about myself.

i realize that my feelings and empathy are somewhat of a gift from above

but i also realize when left unchecked,

they rule my life in a way most unhealthy.

i long to be like my new hero, dietrich bonhoeffer

without lacking emotion,

he managed to live his life not driven by emotion.

he didn't fail to remember reason.

(as hitler was slaughtering everyone)

i believe my previous addiction to caffeine

and my current addiction to sugar

come from desire to feel good and excited about everything.

i'll learn to get better at this.

day by day.

but winter time will always be the death of my reason and strength.

solution: move to phoenix, arizona.

who's with me?!

what the heck?!

2011-02-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

tried to post this as my facebook status, but apparently updates 8 hundred some characters are too long. here you go.

so not only did i get a bum cart at walmart that went every which way and just plain stopped every 10 seconds (which is interesting when you're pushing around 10 total gallons of liquid), an old man got mad at me for not knowing where the cole slaw was ("You don't work here???" "No, sir, I'm wearing an orange shirt, blue jeans, and have a full SHOPPING CART."), the car door slammed shut on my shin when i got home, my dog left me some poop to come home to, and when i got on him and told him he was a bad boy, he peed all over the couch. THEN as i'm finally relaxing and eating some mood-induced cookie dough bites, i hear rustling in the next room and see the dog chewing on everything he just drug out of the full bathroom trash can, including hair i'd cleaned out from my hair brushes this morning. what the heck?!

yes!!!

2011-02-03T20:59:00.001-08:00

'Arrested Development' Movie Being Written By Mitch Hurwitz, Says Peter Serafinowicz

First Posted: 02/ 3/11 08:12 PM Updated: 02/ 3/11 08:44 PM

Inspiring
Funny
Hot
Scary
Outrageous
Amazing
Weird
Crazy

SHARE THIS STORY

896

Get Entertainment Alerts

Submit this story

The Bluths are coming back.

Ever since its third season cancellation in 2006 that enraged comedy fans worldwide, a movie adaptation of the cult classic TV show 'Arrested Development' has been the holy grail for wistful diehards, its on-again, off-again status playing with the emotions of the DVD-wielding masses. Now, word has come that creator Mitch Hurwitz is indeed working on the script and that the film will be made.

Speaking to Splitsider.com, Peter Serafinowicz, a co-star of Hurwitz and 'Arrested' star Will Arnett's very short-lived sitcom follow-up 'Running Wilde'that ran this fall, said that Hurwitz is hard at work on the movie. He would know, because he's been added to the cast.

"Mitch told me is that he's writing me into the Arrested Development movie, which I'm super excited about," Serafinowicz said. "It's all properly happening. I don't know anything about it other than that he's writing it and it's happening and I'm going to be in it, apparently."

This backs up what series producer Ron Howard said in January.

"What happened is that [Hurwitz] became such an important television superstar that he began developing a lot of pilots and he really wanted to follow through with that," Howard said. "So he put in a couple years doing that -- always letting the 'Arrested Development' movie percolate -- and now he's done that. I think this is really now front-and-center in his mind."

This may conclude a long saga for the movie, which went from on to off any number of times. In February 2009, it was reported that breakout star Michael Cera was a roadblock to the film, but a month later, it seemed all systems go.

In June 2010, star David Cross said it wasn't happening, but six months later, it seems it is once again moving forward.

For much more from Serafinowicz, including what it was like to work with Arnett and Hurwitz, click over to Splitsider.com.

best/worst SAG awards 2011

2011-02-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

i hope hollywood brings out the big guns for the Oscars.

this year i have been less than impressed.

i admit, i tend to gravitate towards fairy tale...

so that tends to limit what i love.

i have one best:

Mila Kunis in Alexander McQueen

and many worst:

Eva Longoria in Georges Hobeika

i wish this mummy would put some more clothes on

this dress is just ill fitting and doesn't make any sense.

Claire Danes in Louis Vuitton

i know she was on everybody's best dressed list,

but i just can't stomach that belt!

January Jones in Roger Vivier

Bring on the Oscars!!

sorry.

2011-02-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

i haven't been blogging lately.

in sort of a funk.

i believe i'll be out of it in a few months.

just give me some time :)

either way, i love reading yours

so don't stop!

much love

♥

carrot juice in a wine glass ONLY.

2011-01-28T09:24:00.001-08:00

when i am sick, i tend to indulge to help myself feel better.

before i realized how sick i was actually going to get, i went to the store and purchased some carrot juice. my mom has made me the best carrot juice with her juicer (you only need about a bag of carrots... which is a lot! and an apple... but it's fantastic!) but for some reason, when you buy it in a bottle as opposed to doing it the fresh way, it seems a bit weird. it's a texture thing or something.

being that it was so expensive... and it's good for me... i'm forcing myself to drink it. for some reason, this is the only way that i can get myself to do it!

(this is the best google image i could come up with)

i'm a weirdo... but at least i'm getting my health & money on while being one!

surprise!

2011-01-28T09:03:00.000-08:00

withregardtofaith.blogspot.com

2011-01-28T07:58:00.001-08:00

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

TMI sick update.

2011-01-26T09:12:00.001-08:00

so today i woke up feeling a lot better. fever broken, cough generally under control, and one more thing, which is the best thing.

one of my medicines is giving me the burps... i don't know which seeing as neither one lists the burps as a side effect... but i've basically been burping nonstop. normally this would not bother me, except i had an ear infection to go along with all the sickness and every time i'd burp, my left ear would pop like crazy... like i'm talking airplane crazy!

well this morning i still have the burps but the ear is not popping and that makes me very happy. it's definitely not the worst thing that happened to me while being sick, but i'm happy that particular annoyance has been put to rest.

if you wouldn't mind, say a prayer. i have to open tomorrow morning, which means i'm getting up at 3:45. i've still been sleeping like a horse and hope to go to bed early, but trying to go to sleep at 9pm has always been a challenge for my body... i still definitely need some sleep to prepare myself for an open at the 'bucks!

sick.

2011-01-24T13:03:00.001-08:00

i seriously am sick.

please say some prayers for tim.

he has a big week this week,

full of 12 hour days

i really don't want him to have to go through what i'm going through

i also want to note that i have an amazing boss

these are the first sick days i've been forced to take

in my 3 and a half years at starbucks...

but she worked it out to where i can stay home,

rest, and get better

and also not give what i have to everybody else

i had a good today!

2011-01-22T21:03:00.000-08:00

i actually drove myself to the city this morning to visit my friends in wicker park. amber's parents (old union family) were there to visit this weekend and took us out to lunch! they treated us to some delicious pad thai (all except dan... he's doing P90X so he ordered a salad he kept claiming to love... hah!) and we all sat around watching several episodes of "Say Yes to the Dress." i have to say, if you love weddings or are married, you just might enjoy that show... it's fun. we also had some ice cream sandwiches and probably spent the majority of the time admiring nora's constant cuteness. even though i'm fighting off some sort of infection with a slight fever (i hope it isn't the flu...) it was really good to get out. i've been dying to drive to the city on my own for awhile now. now while it isn't the craziest part of chicago to drive in (the loop terrifies me to no end) it was certainly an experience that went beyond my normal comfort zone. i need to be challenged every once in awhile.... even when it comes to small things like driving on the interstate by myself in a city i'm still unfamiliar with. the GPS helped me cheat but it still felt really good.

when i got home the last thing i wanted to do was sit around. i'm not sick enough to be forced into sitting around... then all i would do is think about how awful i feel and that's no fun. so tim and i decided to have a mini celebration in honor of tim's recent part time job offer. i let him choose since i didn't have much of an appetite. we had some mexican (i had soup), grabbed some tea and a caramel macchiato from starbucks, then headed to IKEA to look for a duvet and a duvet cover for our bed. we also walked away with a couple small cutting boards and will be going back sometime soon for curtains (since we had to give ours back to the mean lady who now lives in our house). i must mention that we wouldn't have been able to do all this without the help from our old union family, who so generously helped to send us on our way with a love offering. thank you again to everyone... it's so nice to actually have one comforter on our bed, instead of four mismatched ones. rest assured, nash looks really cute on it :)

so i know this isn't super exciting or anything but it feels good to sort of journal a good day/night. these past few weeks have been hard for me... don't get me wrong, i'm so blessed and have had a lot to be thankful for... but like i've said, it's hard adjusting to this distance. winter already tries to depress me... this might be the hardest one i've had in awhile. it's cold, i feel disconnected, a bit lost and listless...

today was good though. i found lots of laughter and good company.

one more thing i have to mention... tim and i also stopped by culvers on the way home (i was a cheap date, i only ate soup at the mexican restaurant so we had a little spare change in our budget) and definitely got some ice cream. 2 servings of ice cream in one day and it's FREEZING and i'm sick. not the smartest i've ever been but it was a lot of fun!

2011-01-22T20:59:00.001-08:00

tim accidentally posted this on my facebook profile instead of his...

so you may have already seen it...

it's like four minutes long but definitely worth it

if you're a youtube addict like me :)

anniversary

2011-01-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

today is the anniversary of roe v. wade.

i was raised to understand what abortion is.

my parents used to say they would only vote for candidates who opposed it.

6 years ago i would have found this view to be narrow-minded.

the more i learn about the nature of God

and the fact that we are created in His very image

the more i lean in their very direction.

lately i feel convicted to have this same political perspective.

politicians can't and won't save me.

but i also cannot sit idly by while lives are lost

i'm not a protester in this field.

i never will be.

i think it can cause unbearable pain in a woman's life...

i don't feel that it really gets you anywhere.

but i must personally fight a fight the world deems futile.

i know talking about this stuff won't gain you popularity.

good thing all my readers are friends.

anne rice just "retired" from christianity and one of her reasons was that she refused to be anti-abortion.

baffling.

i wouldn't recommend watching this video if you have a huge heart

but if you have never really watched the graphic nature of what is done to little babies every single day (as i had not until today) i think you might need to. it absolutely killed me. these videos are obviously designed to do what peta's videos do... grab at someone who is empathetic, play to your emotions... the difference is...

this is actual.

human.

life.

The Gospel Coalition

10 creepiest love songs

2011-01-21T13:42:00.001-08:00

here.

wish i would have known... or not

2011-01-21T13:32:00.001-08:00

huffington post

happy friday

2011-01-21T06:06:00.001-08:00

good readings for this morning's quiet time... thought i would share.

Am I full of the little things that cheer His heart over me, or am I whimpering because things are going hardly with me?

There is no joy in the soul that has forgotten what God prizes.

How much kindness have I shown Him this week? Have I been kind to His reputation with my life?

Am I so in love with Him that I take no account of where I go? or am I watching for the respect due to me; weighing how much service I ought to give?

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

this next part is a section from Tim's reading through the Bible for Luke chapter 9

Jesus always makes it clear that He is a Messiah that serves and He is a King that dies for His people. This is why Jesus was so open to the crowds. Jesus was not there to grab power, but to give it up. It changed the way he lives, and He told us frankly we were to live the same way. We were to take up our cross and not live for ourselves, but for God and others.

tiffany, you just might love this

2011-01-19T08:44:00.001-08:00

saw this on Red Eye this morning...

poor cat!!!

but super funny video

made me laugh :)

perfect 10

2011-01-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

i got a call from my dad the other day.

he was at half price books...

and had picked me up a book that he and my mom both read

and now both swear by.

it started out with them wanting to understand their bodies better

they wanted to understand how processed foods alter their hormones

when we went home for christmas,

they had each lost at least 10lbs!!

now while they are not focusing on numbers,

they are focusing on how they feel....

they've cleaned out their cabinets and shop in a completely different way.

now while i know i could not afford to follow this sort of thing 100%

i am excited to read the book!

i love learning about this stuff...

and i will go into it with an open mind :)

i need to get on reading In Defense of Food

it hasn't been touched in a few weeks...

for some reason, i get super compulsive with my DVR

and when there are Wife Swaps recorded that i have yet to see,

i have to watch them.

lame. :)

so how's your week going?

mine has honestly not been fantastic so far.

rough stuff at work, not feeling well yesterday,

blues i credit to winter and being here in chicago

verbal altercation with a guy because he doesn't walk his dog on a leash

and when i made a comment that the dog should be on one

(after he ran up to nash and riled nash up...)

he started yelling at me because nash barks at people through the door

nevermind i catch people teasing him on a regular basis.

and we control that when we are home and he never barks when it's late.

i'm sort of listless at present.

i feel as if i'm not aiming for anything.

a little lost.

so with that being said, i'm going to go read for awhile

relax before work...

hope you are having a good day so far!

best/worst golden globes 2011

2011-01-17T07:22:00.001-08:00

well i wasn't going to blog about dresses from the Golden Globes

(because there were so many i didn't like)

but julie did.

so julie, this is for you

(warning, some of my worst are your best, haha!)

let's get my least favorite over with

(all photos from Yahoo!)

halle berry in nina ricci

i think lingerie at the golden globes is a bit inappropriate

megan fox in an armani prive gown

now while this dress isn't terrible, i think it's the wrong dress for her

it makes her look a bit unhealthy

michelle williams in valentino

this dress just kept reminding me of easter sunday

for a little girl...

olivia wilde in marchesa

i love this dress 'till the end,

where it reminds me of a prom dress

jennifer lopez in zuhair murad

wedding dress gone bad!

now for the best!

amy adams in marchesa

this isn't the best picture i found for the dress

to see why i love it so much, click here

beatufiul! this just might be my #1

sandra bullock in jenny packham

lea michelle in oscar de la renta

angelina jolie in an ateller versace gown

i have no idea why i love this dress...

but i think it's brilliant!

also julie,

this actress i would never put on my worst dressed list

so she shall remain nameless on my blog,

but in reference to heidi's platform shoes,

did you see hers?

augh!

they're awful!

wedding picture

2011-01-15T07:26:00.001-08:00

so i was looking through wedding pictures

this one was taken by our friend kristen

who is married to mitch

this is mitch in the middle

haha

such a great picture

for so many reasons

proud of myself

2011-01-14T19:58:00.001-08:00

i am officially OFF THE JUICE!!

i am no longer addicted to caffeine!!!

now although my mom has always thought the addiction was completely mental,

i have a cup of DECAF in the morning

(because i love coffee that dang much)

and then drink a tea or two throughout the day

no more headaches...

and i don't walk around wanting to kill everybody!!!

another thing,

looks like i'll only make it to the gym twice this week...

but today's workout was brought to you sans caffeine.

and that is a miracle.

and i'm pretty proud of myself for making it there today.

it felt pretty good so i rewarded myself with a giant jimmy johns sub.

♥

"big loser"

2011-01-13T17:51:00.000-08:00

tiffany inspired me to share this.

so far, he's my favorite "Big Loser" contestant

(as my mom in law would say... unintentionally, of course)

what a great laugh!!

i know i'm behind on this but...

2011-01-13T14:40:00.000-08:00

misty's new favorite snack

nutella art

♥

2011-01-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

i think husband and i have decided that we desperately need something:

one blanket for our bed

we currently make our bed with four blankets.

i have a star quilt made by my grandma

and my old twin bed comforter

tim has a blanket he claims was made by his grandma

(even though dan & amber have the exact same quilt)

and a cubs blanket he refuses to ever part with

because it covers him from head to toe,

which is apparently something most blankets don't do for a taller guy

making our bed is a major pain

so most days,

we just don't do it

i think we could establish some order and organization in our house if we made this a priority. i'm thinking that i want some color and i definitely want a duvet. i love looking at duvet coversfrom ikea because they are actually affordable (forget you, anthropologie) and lots of fun. some of these i'd actually consider and some are just plain fun!

this first one reminds me of super mario brothers!