The Lack Of

There really isn't much blogworthy going on in my life right now. I'm not struggling with my kids, I'm not frustrated at work and I'm not questioning my relationship-- all topics I typically blog about. So I thought I'd take a moment of my precious time (and yours too) to blog about something that's constantly on my mind: money.

Greenbacks. Pesos. Moolah. Denarii. All of it consumes my every thought. When I should be thinking about caring for my youth or spending time with the boy, my mind is actually consumed with questions like, "I wonder if that check has cleared yet?" or "Do I have enough for this?" or "How in Hades am I going to pay all these medical bills?" Just this week I had to return a really cute (and much needed!) pair of shoes so I could afford to eat... And with all these foot problems and with Bristol moving out next week, money is definitely something that's been on my mind.

Now, I realize what y'all are thinking: James, you chose to be this poor. You knew there was no money in church work. True. All true. I mean, I am the girl whose spiritual gift is voluntary poverty. I guess I just didn't realize exactly what that meant... I knew it wasn't going to be easy but sometimes I fear that these all-consuming-thoughts overcome everything else that's more important in life: Jesus. Church. Family. Boy. Friends. The Possibility of School.

Where does God want me to go? What does He expect me to do with all of this nothing? What am I supposed to learn?


To depend on Him... that's it. Simple, isn't it?
Wouldn't it be nice if paying medical bills was that simple?

Interesting...

Once upon a time, my dear friend Chad decided to cast movie stars to play his friends in the movie of his life. Bristol was cast as Julia Stiles and this, dear bloggers, is who he chose to play me...

Blessings

I've spent the past few days in absolute awe of how wonderful my life is right now. Seriously, I know we constantly make fun of the people who constantly speak this way but I figure I'm safe since most of my previous posts have been utterly depressing and shallow. Qualifiers aside I'll continue with my original thought...

Absolute awe, people. I'm in absolute awe of how much God has blessed my life recently. No, I'm not talking about the mass amounts of medical bills I now have to pay because of the stupid foot. No, I'm not talking about the struggles I've had with attendance. I'm talking about the other things in my life. My family (yes, my sister too), my church, my friends... all of it.

My family is quite possibly the most spread out you can possibly be while still living in the same country. California, Florida and Alaska are pretty far apart but when you talk to these people basically everyday via phone & email, the miles seem to shrink. Over the past few years, my parents have become more than that-- they're my friends... And I love that. I love that I can talk to them about pretty much everything (even if I don't).

One of the classic church songs ever is "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" (all our sins and griefs to bear!!!) But yesterday I got to thinking: What a Jesus We Have In Friends. Now, I don't know about you but it's true for me. I have the most wonderful friends, some further away than others, but each and every one of them are fantastic. Despite the distance, I know they all care about me and I know they'd do pretty much anything for me. THEN you throw into mix him... and my cup overfloweth :) I don't want to get all mushy on you but I will say this: If you would've told me three months ago that I'd be in this place, that I'd be this happy, I would've had you institutionalized.

I love this place. I love these people. I love him. And I love my God for giving me all of this.

Busy-ness & Birthdays

Yesterday was one of those crazy-busy days where I didn't even have time to eat until 5:45pm. Amidst all the craziness that is the normal Confirmation Sunday it was also Communion Sunday AND Children's Church too. Thank God for wonderful fantastic roommates who constantly bail you out of sticky situations-- I think I'll keep her around a bit longer! Plus the youth I'm mentoring at the Alaska Military Youth Academy (a challenge program ran by the National Guard to motivate the unmotivated) graduated from her 2 weeks of basic training too. I'm incredibly proud of her for choosing to make a change in her life and she looks like she's doing fantastic and enjoying herself as much as humanly possible too!

Anywho, Saturday was spent working (I do that a lot!) and then spent the afternoon/evening with him out on the town. Sunday was his big 2-5 but since I knew I'd be so crazy busy, I reserved him for Saturday night instead. What we did was supposed to be a surprise... Well, it seems as though I'm a bit more predictable than I had originally thought. He knew precisely where we were going and what we were doing basically the whole night. So much for surprising the one you love, eh?

Regardless we had a good time dinnering at Orso's and seeing "STOMP" at the Atwood Concert Hall. And, you know, despite the horrifically high seating I bought us it was an amazing show. These folks are so talented and riveting... I mean, I can bang on a trashcan with the best of them but nothing like that! I don't remember it being as good or as interactive when I saw it in high school. Nevertheless, the boy really enjoyed it and sounds as if he'll be stealing some of their ideas for his classes next year, though I'm fairly sure there's some sort of copyright infringement issues there.

So, he turned OLD without a big event or anything horrible happening-- minus one flat tire. And the best part? I get to make fun of him for being old for at least the next 3 months... because that's when I turn old too. Eek.

Nothing terribly entertaining or witty in this post. Sorry to disappoint. Must get back to work.

Post A La Dub

Evidently the masses (aka PDub) are clamoring for an update. While there isn't much to update on, I have been inspired by his latest post to make a list-- something I love doing and am very good at, if I do say so myself... at least I am when it comes to "To Do" lists. I'll let you make up your own mind about these "Top Ten" lists.

Dedicated to the masses...

Top Ten Things I Want To Do Before I Die

• Visit the following: France, Italy, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand & Germany
• Get married to the person whom I love & whom God has made specifically for me
• Buy lots of land and build a house I designed (or at least helped to design)
• Go on a mission trip to Africa with my spouse
• Two words: Cedar. Point.
• Raft the Colorado River (again)
• Road Trip to/through most of the National Parks
• Learn to fly... a plane
• Get a dog of my very own
• Have a family (biological and/or adopted)

Top Ten Things I Miss About College

• 3D
• Having my best friends mere feet from me
• 3am Amigos runs
• Having trips to Wal-Mart be the highlight of the day
• Spring Weekend & SAC
• Janzow... okay, just kidding!
• Getting package slips in the mail box
• Midnight trips to Lincoln
• Describing "The Naked Man" statue from behind to perspective students
• Wednesday night PRAISE

Top Ten Foods I Will Not Eat

• Carrots
• Mushrooms
• Marshmallows (except in Rice Krispie treats)
• Caviar
• Calamari
• Coconut
• Cottage Cheese
• 2% or Vitamin D Milk
• Olives
• Rhubarb

The end.

P.S. On another note, I got a diagnosis back on my foot. I have what is called neuralgia in my right foot. It's getting better but I have to wear the stupid boot for 2-3 more weeks. Ugh.

Happy 101st Post to Me!

As I signed into blogger this evening, my dashboard alerted me to the fact that my previous post "Fine, Fine, Fine" was my first triple-digit entry. Thus, in an effort to make my second triple-digit entry a thoughtful one I decided to blog a bit about my friend Jesus.

For those of you who know me talking about Jesus is something that happens a lot-- call it what you will: a hazard of the job or a reflection of faith. Nevertheless He is something I adore talking about because of everything He's done for me. And, you know, He's done a lot for me these twenty-four years-- gently guided, protected, coerced, not-so-gently guided-- but the greatest thing He's done (yes, I'm going there) is celebrated this Friday.

At the risk of sounding morbid and grotesque, my favorite part of Lent, of Holy Week, of the year really is Good Friday. It's a day when we celebrate (yes, celebrate) the death of our Savior Jesus Christ. Now, don't worry, I'm not gonna get all "you have to love Jesus" on you because I'm not that kind of person*. I simply wanted to share why this day is my favorite day--

We didn't deserve it.
He didn't have to die for us.

He could have stopped at any point but he

chose to save us for a simple four letter word:

LOVE.

He loved us enough to leave His heavenly home to come to this awful place to grow up, go through potty-training and puberty and middle school (the worse possible thing... for us anyway) and He did it all without question, without hesitation. He had your name (mine too!) written on His heart while He was being crowned and flogged and nailed and lifted... He died for you and that is a beautiful thing. Remember that.

*I do whole-heartedly want all of my friends to believe in Jesus and His sacrifice because that's what brings us all to heaven together but really that's up to you and the Holy Spirit's leading.

Fine, Fine, Fine

Have you ever had a person in your life that is just so pesky and demanding it's a bit ridiculous? Someone who is always on your case? Someone who nags and nags about updating them on your life even though you see them weekly? Do you currently have a person like this in your life? I do.

It seems as though he believes since I actually took my day off today that I should have spent my day attached to my blog updated the world on my last week. Not much has happened really since I got the boot on my foot (which I HATE by the way.) Oh except for that bit of a mushing adventure I took with him on Sunday afternoon... I say that with disdain only because he's the one making me post on my day off NOT because I didn't enjoy myself... Anyway, here are some photos of my second adventure out on the Beach Lake trails:


There does exist a picture to prove just how eventful our trip actually was but he hasn't emailed it to me yet SO all you get are pictures of him for now. Evidently the dogs can tell when he's trying to impress me because they tend to "try to get away with more" when I'm around. But you know it was fun all the same. I'm really excited that he's excited about the upcoming Easter Fun Run this upcoming Saturday in Chugiak. It's just for fun and they're (he & Val Jokela) not expected to win BUT it's sure to be a fun time purely because he will be in (wait for it, wait for it) a bunny costume. Oh yeah. Cameras ready people. Mwah-ha-ha!

In other news, my dorkiness has once again reared its ugly head. And by dorkiness I mean my addiction to make-over, do-it-yourself, building-houses shows, stores and tools. Oh yes. Since the ripe old age of 8 I have been absolutely addicted to anything linked to This Old House or Frank Lloyd Wright or renovation or floorplans. No that's not a typo. EIGHT. As in years old. EIGHT. Ask my parents, they'll agree. Anyway, in the past week I've spent a lot of time in Home Depot buying supplies for the painting being done in the youth room at church. During one of my trips I spent the obligatory 15 minutes of waiting time while the paint was being mixed to wander the aisles and aisles of things I love-- appliances, flooring, cabinetry, hardware, lighting fixtures... oh I was in heaven! But I had to walk away from all of it... all of the things I was putting together in my head... all of the things I desperately wanted to purchase even though I have no need for a $300 chandelier... I had to walk away with only one gallon of blue paint. Sigh. Moral of the story: I want a house. Like really bad. I want a place where I can build walls, hang dry wall, paint, hang crown molding, lay flooring, hang cabinetry, install sinks and showers and toilets and appliances, buy furniture and lamps... well, you get the idea. Maybe someday when I'm rich I'll be able to buy the 5 acres of land I want and build that log cabin (that part is negotiable as long as I have a say in what the house looks like/is/has) and have the dog I want. But I have to wait for awhile until I'm able to afford it and until we figure things out.

Wow. Well, that was a long post. Hope that suffices for now, Moose-Tipping.