on marriage...

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.

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.

"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

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

"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...

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.

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!