Yesterday, during my day off, I realized that I have quite a few very exciting things to be looking forward to...so I went to the apple homepage and downloaded myself some widgets...some countdown widgets. I have 3 countdowns going on on my computer and I figured I would share them with you so we can count down together!!!
From Soonest to latest...
1) 36...days til I can eat again. (This is actually much more like 30, but my computer doesn't know that I get Sundays off)
2) 68...days until the end of my school semester.
3) 104...days until my wedding day.
I have been spending my hours looking at wedding dresses, venues, invites, guest lists, wedding party line-ups, and the list goes on...and on...and on...and on...and I could not be more thrilled that it does...
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
My Girls...
If you have been reading my blog, you know that 'my girls' are the 3 girls in my grad program with me: Kaylyn, Jessica, and Andrea of whom I live life alongside. These are 3 of the most incredible girls that I am most privileged to know.
Today, was the first day they got to see the ring and they were so sweet and bought me flowers (*such a pretty color of orangish-redish) and my first wedding mag!!!
Which got me immediately thinking...I need to start planning this thing! Good thing I have all three of these girls that have gone down the aisle before me and I have asked them to provide me with lists: What I wish I registered for, What I love that I registered for, and What to prepare for for the wedding that I did not think about. If anyone has any extra advice or thoughts please please please share! I am open for suggestions!
Whelp, I am in my last 5-ish hours of class tonight (equipped fully with my fiance by my side...he surprised me and drove me out here last night...xoxo) and tomorrow I get to lay out with my best friend Sarah (got to get my tan on for wedding dress shopping! dena, don't worry, I will be lathered up in 15spf sunscreen...baby steps) and a fun night of wedding planning. Then, Tuesday my sister-in-law Katelyn, who could not be better equipped to help me plan this thing, will be out-and-about shopping for fun wedding stuff and going back so she can put this one to bed
Today, was the first day they got to see the ring and they were so sweet and bought me flowers (*such a pretty color of orangish-redish) and my first wedding mag!!!
Which got me immediately thinking...I need to start planning this thing! Good thing I have all three of these girls that have gone down the aisle before me and I have asked them to provide me with lists: What I wish I registered for, What I love that I registered for, and What to prepare for for the wedding that I did not think about. If anyone has any extra advice or thoughts please please please share! I am open for suggestions!
Whelp, I am in my last 5-ish hours of class tonight (equipped fully with my fiance by my side...he surprised me and drove me out here last night...xoxo) and tomorrow I get to lay out with my best friend Sarah (got to get my tan on for wedding dress shopping! dena, don't worry, I will be lathered up in 15spf sunscreen...baby steps) and a fun night of wedding planning. Then, Tuesday my sister-in-law Katelyn, who could not be better equipped to help me plan this thing, will be out-and-about shopping for fun wedding stuff and going back so she can put this one to bed
Day 8...
Well, we have made it past our first full week of fasting with only minor setbacks (i.e. the pinkberry cheat and the engagement night celebratory cheat).
Here are a few things I have learned about myself during these 8 or so days:
1. I eat way more often than I am ever hungry.
2. I eat out of habit or craving way too often.
3. I have learned an incredible amount of discipline. So many times I have wanted to just throw in the towel (oh no, 32 more days to go?!) but I keep reminding myself that I am a part of something and I vowed to do it, so I can stick with it.
4. I love Sundays.
5. I need to spend way more of my day in prayer.
6. Matt can eat a lot.
7. Going out to dinner on this fast is not too hard, especially if you go Italian. We went to BICE (pronounce bea-chay) as an engagement dinner with Matt's (and soon my!) brother & sister-in-law. We were able to order soup (Minestrone, soooo delicious) and whole wheat pasta with a garlic tomato sauce. It was actually really great food, fast or no fast...just no pinot to accompany it :(
8. Matt is a great partner to complete this fast with. He is very disciplined and there is no room for cheating with him. I would have definitely caved on Monday night at dinner, without him.
9. I am stronger than I thought I was. Yesterday, at Starbucks, I served people wraps, sandwiches, drinks, muffins, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls heated up with frosting dripping over the edge (I should stop now...) with out ever once slipping or even wishing I was eating those things. I am really starting to like eating healthily. When it comes down to it, we are simply eating healthy. We are not eating potato chips, french fries, big fat steaks, etc. etc. etc. and even though it is hard, this is so good.
Countdown: 31 and a half days.
Countdown til Sunday: 2 and a half days.
Here are a few things I have learned about myself during these 8 or so days:
1. I eat way more often than I am ever hungry.
2. I eat out of habit or craving way too often.
3. I have learned an incredible amount of discipline. So many times I have wanted to just throw in the towel (oh no, 32 more days to go?!) but I keep reminding myself that I am a part of something and I vowed to do it, so I can stick with it.
4. I love Sundays.
5. I need to spend way more of my day in prayer.
6. Matt can eat a lot.
7. Going out to dinner on this fast is not too hard, especially if you go Italian. We went to BICE (pronounce bea-chay) as an engagement dinner with Matt's (and soon my!) brother & sister-in-law. We were able to order soup (Minestrone, soooo delicious) and whole wheat pasta with a garlic tomato sauce. It was actually really great food, fast or no fast...just no pinot to accompany it :(
8. Matt is a great partner to complete this fast with. He is very disciplined and there is no room for cheating with him. I would have definitely caved on Monday night at dinner, without him.
9. I am stronger than I thought I was. Yesterday, at Starbucks, I served people wraps, sandwiches, drinks, muffins, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls heated up with frosting dripping over the edge (I should stop now...) with out ever once slipping or even wishing I was eating those things. I am really starting to like eating healthily. When it comes down to it, we are simply eating healthy. We are not eating potato chips, french fries, big fat steaks, etc. etc. etc. and even though it is hard, this is so good.
Countdown: 31 and a half days.
Countdown til Sunday: 2 and a half days.
Monday, February 22, 2010
2.20.2010.
"I love" week continued on Saturday morning...
Matt warned me we would be getting up early and I would need to be ready to leave my house by 7a.m. not thrilled...getting up early is NOT a favorite. But, I bucked up and rolled out of bed somewhere between 6:35-6:42 (dangit...should have showered and gotten way cuter)
On Friday, I was prodding (as usual) as to what in the world was in store for us for the next day. I was so confused as to why we would need to be up so early. Some of my ideas/thoughts were hot air ballooning or golf. Matt decided to stick with the 'golf' story and let me ride that one out. However, he did get a little fishy whenever I would ask him questions so my journal entry from Thursday night reads I have to get up early tomorrow morning because Matt is taking me "golfing" (are we really going?)...I'm such a smarty pants.
So Saturday morning, I wake up and walk down the hall to the room he stayed in. I noticed he was wearing jeans and, being the golf expert I am, I know you're not allowed to wear jeans on any higher end golf course. I ask him and, of course, he confesses we are not actually going golfing. He tells me to bundle up and be ready to go in 20 minutes.
We get in the car and he tells me it's gonna be about a 2 hour drive so I can take a nap (yeah right) or do whatever I want. After about an hour and a half I start getting really antsy and bug him to the point where he pulls my riding boots from the back seat of his car as a hint.
We reach the national park where our trail ride will be taking place and it is SO cold outside. I did not get bundled up enough. So I take advantage of the extra jackets Matt packed and layer up. For the next 90 minutes we are on the backs of George and Budweiser and ride all around the gorgeous (and cold) national park. We see gorgeous snow capped mountains, red rocks, ancient burial grounds, rivers, etc. So beautiful.
As we were driving away, Matt decides he wants to drive around the park a bit more and see more sights (because we paid to get in). We drive around and Matt says, "I could really go for a peanut butter sandwich right now". Which tips me off immediately to ask if he brought a picnic. Of course he did. (*see facebook for all pictures) So we drive around a bit more until we find a spot entirely secluded from civilization, overlooking the entire range of red rocks. We sit down to eat and are enjoying a lovely round of pb&h, 100% cranberry juice and carrots when Matt inquires what is wrong.
(*I have been pretty anxious about engagement by this point and we have had many conversations about it so he knew what was wrong) He asks if I am sad we are not engaged yet.
I respond, "I will always be sad we're not engaged."
Which brings us in to a full-blown conversation of when, where, and how it will happen. Matt begins laying out possible scenarios of what an engagement would look like (i.e. Disneyland...no too public, Cafe Boa...no too public, etc. etc. etc.) and how it will have to be magical whenever it does happen...totally threw me off. We finish eating and he says he wants to run to the car to get our Bible study stuff so we can read and pray before we leave.
We read our 19 Mercies from Ragamuffin Gospel and begin talking about what we learned (The Mercy that day, btw, was loving the person next to you).
cue. the. rain.
If you know me at all, you know that I am 100%, obsessed, in love, want it to rain on my wedding day, blissfully happy about the rain.
Back to the story...
Matt opens his Bible to Ephesians 5 and explains that he and my dad have been studying this passage this week. We read the passage together and he tells me what he has learned through studying this scripture(reminder: it is sprinkling so beautifully) He then asks me if I want to take communion with him. So we talk about what communion is, why we partake, etc. pray the Lord's prayer, and partake. We end with prayer and stand up to hug and get ready to leave (or so I thought)...
He then goes on to tell me a lot of things (which neither of us exactly remember) about aspirations for our future, our relationship, our love, me and says, "I know you want it to rain on your wedding day but would it be ok with you if it rained on another day too?"
and hits his knee...
Carley: (confused, horrified expression on my face thinking why is he joking with me right now when I know he does not have the ring yet???)
Matt: Carley Verlene Block, will you marry me?
Carley: (no response. I have no words and still think he does not yet have a ring to ask me with. totally confused look on my face.)
Matt: Carley Verlene Block, will you marry me? (reaching in his jacket pocket for the box, pulling it out, lifting the lid...)
Carley: (oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh he has the ring he has the ring he has the ring!!! am I gonna throw up?)
From this point I rip him up from his knees and suffocate him with the biggest hug of our lives, screaming "YES!" and continuing to cry in a not-so-girly-or-anything-dainty kind of way. He asks if he can pick me up (which he knows he's not allowed to do), I shake my head yes (still crying too hard and too stunned to speak)
and we just remain there.
For how long, neither of us knows....until I realize I haven't really seen the ring yet. I mean, I caught a milisecond of a glimpse before grabbing him, so I ask to see the ring, and he takes it out of it's case, and slips it perfectly. over. my. finger. (don't forget about the sprinkling rain falling from the sky)
We stand there for a while longer just talking, crying, laughing, kissing, hugging, staring at the gorgeous ring that he worked so hard for and finally decide it's time to go back down the mountain to tell the world about our engagement.
I cannot begin to describe the feelings of emotion that have come over me during the past 48 hours. I can tell you that we sat through a marriage seminar later Saturday night and I can barely remember a thing that was spoken because I was so overcome with the beautiful shining diamond on my left ring finger. I can tell you that never in a million years did I think God would design a man so perfectly to who I am. I can tell you that the last 48 hours have been filled with either Matt or I coming up with a new thought of what we have ahead of us (i.e. registering for gifts! OUR gifts!, apartment shopping for OUR home!, making a guest list!, picking a date!, etc.) and just giggling like 5th graders over how giddy and excited we are to start our lives together. I can also, last but not least, tell you that I love this man more than I did 48 hours ago, which I didn't even think was possible...
Thanks for reading our love story, and sharing it with me. <3
Matt warned me we would be getting up early and I would need to be ready to leave my house by 7a.m. not thrilled...getting up early is NOT a favorite. But, I bucked up and rolled out of bed somewhere between 6:35-6:42 (dangit...should have showered and gotten way cuter)
On Friday, I was prodding (as usual) as to what in the world was in store for us for the next day. I was so confused as to why we would need to be up so early. Some of my ideas/thoughts were hot air ballooning or golf. Matt decided to stick with the 'golf' story and let me ride that one out. However, he did get a little fishy whenever I would ask him questions so my journal entry from Thursday night reads I have to get up early tomorrow morning because Matt is taking me "golfing" (are we really going?)...I'm such a smarty pants.
So Saturday morning, I wake up and walk down the hall to the room he stayed in. I noticed he was wearing jeans and, being the golf expert I am, I know you're not allowed to wear jeans on any higher end golf course. I ask him and, of course, he confesses we are not actually going golfing. He tells me to bundle up and be ready to go in 20 minutes.
We get in the car and he tells me it's gonna be about a 2 hour drive so I can take a nap (yeah right) or do whatever I want. After about an hour and a half I start getting really antsy and bug him to the point where he pulls my riding boots from the back seat of his car as a hint.
We reach the national park where our trail ride will be taking place and it is SO cold outside. I did not get bundled up enough. So I take advantage of the extra jackets Matt packed and layer up. For the next 90 minutes we are on the backs of George and Budweiser and ride all around the gorgeous (and cold) national park. We see gorgeous snow capped mountains, red rocks, ancient burial grounds, rivers, etc. So beautiful.
As we were driving away, Matt decides he wants to drive around the park a bit more and see more sights (because we paid to get in). We drive around and Matt says, "I could really go for a peanut butter sandwich right now". Which tips me off immediately to ask if he brought a picnic. Of course he did. (*see facebook for all pictures) So we drive around a bit more until we find a spot entirely secluded from civilization, overlooking the entire range of red rocks. We sit down to eat and are enjoying a lovely round of pb&h, 100% cranberry juice and carrots when Matt inquires what is wrong.
(*I have been pretty anxious about engagement by this point and we have had many conversations about it so he knew what was wrong) He asks if I am sad we are not engaged yet.
I respond, "I will always be sad we're not engaged."
Which brings us in to a full-blown conversation of when, where, and how it will happen. Matt begins laying out possible scenarios of what an engagement would look like (i.e. Disneyland...no too public, Cafe Boa...no too public, etc. etc. etc.) and how it will have to be magical whenever it does happen...totally threw me off. We finish eating and he says he wants to run to the car to get our Bible study stuff so we can read and pray before we leave.
We read our 19 Mercies from Ragamuffin Gospel and begin talking about what we learned (The Mercy that day, btw, was loving the person next to you).
cue. the. rain.
If you know me at all, you know that I am 100%, obsessed, in love, want it to rain on my wedding day, blissfully happy about the rain.
Back to the story...
Matt opens his Bible to Ephesians 5 and explains that he and my dad have been studying this passage this week. We read the passage together and he tells me what he has learned through studying this scripture(reminder: it is sprinkling so beautifully) He then asks me if I want to take communion with him. So we talk about what communion is, why we partake, etc. pray the Lord's prayer, and partake. We end with prayer and stand up to hug and get ready to leave (or so I thought)...
He then goes on to tell me a lot of things (which neither of us exactly remember) about aspirations for our future, our relationship, our love, me and says, "I know you want it to rain on your wedding day but would it be ok with you if it rained on another day too?"
and hits his knee...
Carley: (confused, horrified expression on my face thinking why is he joking with me right now when I know he does not have the ring yet???)
Matt: Carley Verlene Block, will you marry me?
Carley: (no response. I have no words and still think he does not yet have a ring to ask me with. totally confused look on my face.)
Matt: Carley Verlene Block, will you marry me? (reaching in his jacket pocket for the box, pulling it out, lifting the lid...)
Carley: (oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh he has the ring he has the ring he has the ring!!! am I gonna throw up?)
From this point I rip him up from his knees and suffocate him with the biggest hug of our lives, screaming "YES!" and continuing to cry in a not-so-girly-or-anything-dainty kind of way. He asks if he can pick me up (which he knows he's not allowed to do), I shake my head yes (still crying too hard and too stunned to speak)
and we just remain there.
For how long, neither of us knows....until I realize I haven't really seen the ring yet. I mean, I caught a milisecond of a glimpse before grabbing him, so I ask to see the ring, and he takes it out of it's case, and slips it perfectly. over. my. finger. (don't forget about the sprinkling rain falling from the sky)
We stand there for a while longer just talking, crying, laughing, kissing, hugging, staring at the gorgeous ring that he worked so hard for and finally decide it's time to go back down the mountain to tell the world about our engagement.
I cannot begin to describe the feelings of emotion that have come over me during the past 48 hours. I can tell you that we sat through a marriage seminar later Saturday night and I can barely remember a thing that was spoken because I was so overcome with the beautiful shining diamond on my left ring finger. I can tell you that never in a million years did I think God would design a man so perfectly to who I am. I can tell you that the last 48 hours have been filled with either Matt or I coming up with a new thought of what we have ahead of us (i.e. registering for gifts! OUR gifts!, apartment shopping for OUR home!, making a guest list!, picking a date!, etc.) and just giggling like 5th graders over how giddy and excited we are to start our lives together. I can also, last but not least, tell you that I love this man more than I did 48 hours ago, which I didn't even think was possible...
Thanks for reading our love story, and sharing it with me. <3
Friday, February 19, 2010
YPM-2218
I was driving home from California last night when something became blindingly clear to me:
people. do. not. know. how. to. drive. their. cars.
I was heading East down the I10 and kept noticing a black, 2000-something Camry adjusting its speed from around 70-95mph depending. I could not help but notice that this car was all over the road. He would come up on my tail at 90, pass me, and then go 70...for five hours. Now, I generally pat myself on the back for being a good driver (i.e. always use my blinkers, pass only on the left and drive in the right on a two-laner, drive fast when in the fast lane or always, et cetera) but compared to this guy I deserved a medal.
Now I have just mastered the talent of cruise control. I don't think I would have had to use my feet at all last night if not for that damn camry. So I figured there must be more people in the world who have not quite yet familiarized themselves with the wonderful feature of cruise control. Allow me to explain it for you:
When arriving at your cruising speed, simply turn on your cruise control and engage. From this point on continue driving along in the right lane and use the left lane only for passing purposes. This allows cars cruising at higher speeds to continue on their way. Should you come upon a car in the left lane who is traveling slower than you (or a semi truck who shamelessly cuts you off) simply use your thumb and press the button on your cruise control to knock down your speed a mile or two. There is no need to use your breaks.
So 2000-something black camry from North Carolina license plate YPM-2218, if you're reading this please follow the instructions. They were written for you.
people. do. not. know. how. to. drive. their. cars.
I was heading East down the I10 and kept noticing a black, 2000-something Camry adjusting its speed from around 70-95mph depending. I could not help but notice that this car was all over the road. He would come up on my tail at 90, pass me, and then go 70...for five hours. Now, I generally pat myself on the back for being a good driver (i.e. always use my blinkers, pass only on the left and drive in the right on a two-laner, drive fast when in the fast lane or always, et cetera) but compared to this guy I deserved a medal.
Now I have just mastered the talent of cruise control. I don't think I would have had to use my feet at all last night if not for that damn camry. So I figured there must be more people in the world who have not quite yet familiarized themselves with the wonderful feature of cruise control. Allow me to explain it for you:
When arriving at your cruising speed, simply turn on your cruise control and engage. From this point on continue driving along in the right lane and use the left lane only for passing purposes. This allows cars cruising at higher speeds to continue on their way. Should you come upon a car in the left lane who is traveling slower than you (or a semi truck who shamelessly cuts you off) simply use your thumb and press the button on your cruise control to knock down your speed a mile or two. There is no need to use your breaks.
So 2000-something black camry from North Carolina license plate YPM-2218, if you're reading this please follow the instructions. They were written for you.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Confession...
Since Matt had such a crazy week with Valentine's Day at work (Edible Arrangements) he decided to make this an "I love Carley Week" (instead of just one day!). So here is what we have done so far:
Sunday: Oregano's (favorite Pizza place)
Monday: was supposed to be watching my favorite movie, but we ended up watching the Bachelor (even though we know who wins) and the Olympics (which I absolutely adore)
Tuesday: T.C. Eggington's Brunchery (favorite breakfast place) & he got me my favorite chocolates from Pennsylvania, called Daffin's)
Wednesday: Was supposed to be Daffins, but he gave them to me early so we could begin our fast
Thursday: Here's where the confession is. Day 2 of my fast and he has my girls (aka the girls in my program) take me to Pinkberry for my favorite favorite froyo not available in Arizona. So I decided to suck it up and break fast for one froyo. I felt a tinge of guilt (especially because Kaylyn & Danny, my fellow-fasters, were with me just watching) and I almost couldn't enjoy it...
Friday: TBD...I don't know!
Saturday: We are attending a special event my church is putting on for couples
Sunday: (which is a break fast day of celebration) we are going to Cafe Boa (my favorite restaurant of all all all time) for a little Voo Doo Penne & Pinot Noir and going to see the broadway version of Mary Poppins (which Matt continuously refers to as simply, 'Poppins')
So that's my week. It's been great, so far.
Sunday: Oregano's (favorite Pizza place)
Monday: was supposed to be watching my favorite movie, but we ended up watching the Bachelor (even though we know who wins) and the Olympics (which I absolutely adore)
Tuesday: T.C. Eggington's Brunchery (favorite breakfast place) & he got me my favorite chocolates from Pennsylvania, called Daffin's)
Wednesday: Was supposed to be Daffins, but he gave them to me early so we could begin our fast
Thursday: Here's where the confession is. Day 2 of my fast and he has my girls (aka the girls in my program) take me to Pinkberry for my favorite favorite froyo not available in Arizona. So I decided to suck it up and break fast for one froyo. I felt a tinge of guilt (especially because Kaylyn & Danny, my fellow-fasters, were with me just watching) and I almost couldn't enjoy it...
Friday: TBD...I don't know!
Saturday: We are attending a special event my church is putting on for couples
Sunday: (which is a break fast day of celebration) we are going to Cafe Boa (my favorite restaurant of all all all time) for a little Voo Doo Penne & Pinot Noir and going to see the broadway version of Mary Poppins (which Matt continuously refers to as simply, 'Poppins')
So that's my week. It's been great, so far.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Daniel Fast...
As some of you know the Lenten Season is upon us. This means that Christians choose one thing that would hurt or be challenging for them to give up for 40 days, from Ash Wednesday until Easter. Some examples are soda, chocolate, junk food, television, facebook, I gave up make-up one year (way harder than i even anticipated). Well, this year, in preparation for Lent, Matt & I struck up a conversation about what we wanted to each give up. He suggested that we fast from all solid food (he's crazy). I counter-offered with what is called the Daniel Fast.
Starting Wednesday, we will dwindle our diet down to fruit, veggies, lentils, nuts, and whole grains, water, 100% fruit & veggie juice.
For. Forty. Days.
If you want to read the story from Daniel's account you can read it here .
As I was talking to my girls (aka my friends in my program) about our plan, Kaylyn said she wanted to do it, too. So now she & her husband are all stocked up, too! I am so excited to go through this experience together and share in our hurts, pains, and more importantly our growth.
Wish us luck, and keep us all in your prayers. I will keep you all posted with updates on how we are doing...
ps...until then, I am eating everything in sight....
Starting Wednesday, we will dwindle our diet down to fruit, veggies, lentils, nuts, and whole grains, water, 100% fruit & veggie juice.
For. Forty. Days.
If you want to read the story from Daniel's account you can read it here .
As I was talking to my girls (aka my friends in my program) about our plan, Kaylyn said she wanted to do it, too. So now she & her husband are all stocked up, too! I am so excited to go through this experience together and share in our hurts, pains, and more importantly our growth.
Wish us luck, and keep us all in your prayers. I will keep you all posted with updates on how we are doing...
ps...until then, I am eating everything in sight....
Sunday, February 14, 2010
i love...
1. warm beds.
2. hiking.
3. cards.
4. bagels and cream cheese.
5. pinot noir.
6. snow capped mountains.
7. football.
8. tattoos. (i cried during la ink yesterday)
9. my dog, stella.
10. theology.
11. matthew john maier. happy valentine's day baby. <3
2. hiking.
3. cards.
4. bagels and cream cheese.
5. pinot noir.
6. snow capped mountains.
7. football.
8. tattoos. (i cried during la ink yesterday)
9. my dog, stella.
10. theology.
11. matthew john maier. happy valentine's day baby. <3
Thursday, February 11, 2010
My Alter Ego
When I get tiny small amounts of time during my day (i.e. before bed, breaks at work, breaks from homework, etc.) I have been trying to squeeze in episodes of L.A. Ink. I have a few tiny tattoos and I just love the world of tattooing (sorry dad). This show basically catalogs the daily happenings inside Kat Von D's tattoo shop.
So it has me thinking...
If I could live the life of my alter ego, if I could do something else totally different from where my life is headed (pastor) it would be to be a tattoo artist. Hands down. In fact, a part of me came pretty close to calling around to the tattoo shops in the state and see if they need receptionists. I'm sure I could figure out how to get over the tingly feeling whenever I hear or see a needle go in to someone's skin (or maybe I could find brave clients who are willing to get tattooed by a closed-eyed tattoo artist?). Whenever I watch the show and watch artists like Corey (who freehands tattoos on people's skin), Hannah (who has insane color pop) or Kim Saigh (my secret favorite...shhh..don't tell the others Her tattoos are so flowly and masterful) I just wish that I could be friends with them and get to know them. Plus, I think Kat Von D is one of the most beautiful girls in the whole world...
Anyways, just some additional thoughts during this 14 hour class day...
So it has me thinking...
If I could live the life of my alter ego, if I could do something else totally different from where my life is headed (pastor) it would be to be a tattoo artist. Hands down. In fact, a part of me came pretty close to calling around to the tattoo shops in the state and see if they need receptionists. I'm sure I could figure out how to get over the tingly feeling whenever I hear or see a needle go in to someone's skin (or maybe I could find brave clients who are willing to get tattooed by a closed-eyed tattoo artist?). Whenever I watch the show and watch artists like Corey (who freehands tattoos on people's skin), Hannah (who has insane color pop) or Kim Saigh (my secret favorite...shhh..don't tell the others Her tattoos are so flowly and masterful) I just wish that I could be friends with them and get to know them. Plus, I think Kat Von D is one of the most beautiful girls in the whole world...
Anyways, just some additional thoughts during this 14 hour class day...
Strengths Finder
I have realized during the past week that I have done a pretty terrible job at one of my '2010 goals'. I am not really excelling in the area of self acceptance. For some reason, I guess old habits die hard. In my quest to fight against this (and the fact that it was just mentioned in my class) I want to focus on my strengths. There is a cool book/system out there that (if you have been with in 20 miles of any Christian University you have probably taken) helps to identify where your areas of strength are and how to function in those strengths. If you haven't heard about it you can go take it here.
My Top 5 Strengths
Empathy
Positivity
Achiever
Belief
Learner
Sunday, February 7, 2010
LOST
WARNING: THIS POST IS ABOUT SEASON 6: LOST! IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED IT YET, THIS WILL SPOIL THIS EPISODE SO PLEASE EXIT MY PAGE IMMEDIATELY (and come back after you watched it)
Ok, so Matt and I watched the LOST season premiere last night and I am so confused. Maybe it's because I didn't watch the season finale of season 5 right before so I am fuzzy on a few things:
Where is Farridae? (sp?) I loved that guy.
Where is CLAIRE????<--if this in particular does not get answered, I'm calling the producers.
Two words: John Lock?
Why did Juliette die?!??!? (I have this weird denial when characters on this show die. I never believe they are actually dead. I always expect them to come back to life)
Who are these random new inhabitants of the island that occupy the temple and how come they are just now being discovered? Why did they drown Sayid?
Ok LOST, so far you have done nothing but stir up more questions...you promised to give me ANSWERS. Don't let me down...
OH, and in other news, my mom told me of a Bachelor spoiler alert. If it's true, Dena I should have listened to you the whole time and I'm gonna kill him...
Ok, so Matt and I watched the LOST season premiere last night and I am so confused. Maybe it's because I didn't watch the season finale of season 5 right before so I am fuzzy on a few things:
Where is Farridae? (sp?) I loved that guy.
Where is CLAIRE????<--if this in particular does not get answered, I'm calling the producers.
Two words: John Lock?
Why did Juliette die?!??!? (I have this weird denial when characters on this show die. I never believe they are actually dead. I always expect them to come back to life)
Who are these random new inhabitants of the island that occupy the temple and how come they are just now being discovered? Why did they drown Sayid?
Ok LOST, so far you have done nothing but stir up more questions...you promised to give me ANSWERS. Don't let me down...
OH, and in other news, my mom told me of a Bachelor spoiler alert. If it's true, Dena I should have listened to you the whole time and I'm gonna kill him...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
It's been a while...
Since I blogged last, a considerable amount of change has happened in my family. I won't go in to the details, but let's just say prayer has been a major part of my week...which has me thinking...I want to be the sort of person who depends on prayer as much as my breath.
I am also reminded of my 2010 goals to memorize scripture...someone in my life this week who needed to hear scripture for encouragement handed me a Bible, asking me to read whatever I felt appropriate...and I stopped dead in my tracks. I wish I had made my 2010 goals in 2009 so I would have had much more memorized than I do. I started falling back in to my old way of thinking...more on that later...Luckily, God walked me through it and I found some decent scripture to bring comfort.
Prior to coming to APU in 2004 (gosh has it been that long?) I always approached scripture, prayer, quiet times, etc. etc. etc. with an amount of legalism. I was completely unaware of this until my very first class at APU. I remember sitting in Introduction to Youth Ministry with the Dr. Steve Gerali. As I sat in that class, he continued to explain how, for one year, he put down his Bible. He did not read it, he did not reference it, he did not crack it open...my immediate thought (which tipped me off to my legalism) was "What? I am taking a class from a man who put his bible away for a year?! What is he trying to teach?! Heresy!" He clarified himself, explaining that he approached scripture with a pressure on his shoulders to squeeze time in, discipline himself, chastise himself if he ever missed, etc. and he finally had enough.
So, for a year, he devoted to finding God in things outside scripture, and refused to allow himself to feel guilty. He wanted to free God up to show Himself outside of scripture, and he also wanted to yearn to read scripture, which he never had up to that point in his life.
I sat in my seat...breathless..."you mean, I can actually yearn for scripture on my own? I can hunger and thirst for it with out feeling this overwhelming sense of duty? What a freeing thought...".
I walked out of that class feeling convicted. Convicted, not in the sense that I needed to read more, pray more, trust more, etc. But convicted in a sense that I came to scripture with the same lenses as Dr. Gerali had so many years before. I felt refreshed, renewed and freed. I never realized the oppression I was functioning under when approaching my walk with Christ. But that's how Satan wanted me to feel...He wanted me to feel no sense of joy, refreshment, or freedom through reading the scriptures. He wanted me to feel guilty, ashamed, and shamed in to reading scriptures.
Since then, Ihave try to fight the urge to read the Bible because it checks an item off my 'to do' list and strive to read scripture because of my love, passion, and devotion for my God. Why would I ever want to feel but these things when I read the Bible?
Anyways, those are just some of my thoughts ...
Here are some of the verses I have memorized (in case you are looking for some, yourself)
Philippians 1:27
Micah 6:8
John 16:33
Acts 20:24
John 14:6
Romans 1:20
John 8:24
John 1:12
Philippians 4:4-7
Hebrews 10:23-25
2 Timothy 2:15
Matthew 28:18-19
2 Timothy 3:16
This is a list of verses yet to come that is on a stickie note on my desktop...
Verses To Memorize:
Malachi 3
Colossians 2:9
1 Peter 4:10
2 Peter 3:15
Acts 2
1 Corinthians 12
Ephesians 4
Romans 6:3-5
1 Corinthians 11
Matthew 25
Ezekiel 33:11
I am also reminded of my 2010 goals to memorize scripture...someone in my life this week who needed to hear scripture for encouragement handed me a Bible, asking me to read whatever I felt appropriate...and I stopped dead in my tracks. I wish I had made my 2010 goals in 2009 so I would have had much more memorized than I do. I started falling back in to my old way of thinking...more on that later...Luckily, God walked me through it and I found some decent scripture to bring comfort.
Prior to coming to APU in 2004 (gosh has it been that long?) I always approached scripture, prayer, quiet times, etc. etc. etc. with an amount of legalism. I was completely unaware of this until my very first class at APU. I remember sitting in Introduction to Youth Ministry with the Dr. Steve Gerali. As I sat in that class, he continued to explain how, for one year, he put down his Bible. He did not read it, he did not reference it, he did not crack it open...my immediate thought (which tipped me off to my legalism) was "What? I am taking a class from a man who put his bible away for a year?! What is he trying to teach?! Heresy!" He clarified himself, explaining that he approached scripture with a pressure on his shoulders to squeeze time in, discipline himself, chastise himself if he ever missed, etc. and he finally had enough.
So, for a year, he devoted to finding God in things outside scripture, and refused to allow himself to feel guilty. He wanted to free God up to show Himself outside of scripture, and he also wanted to yearn to read scripture, which he never had up to that point in his life.
I sat in my seat...breathless..."you mean, I can actually yearn for scripture on my own? I can hunger and thirst for it with out feeling this overwhelming sense of duty? What a freeing thought...".
I walked out of that class feeling convicted. Convicted, not in the sense that I needed to read more, pray more, trust more, etc. But convicted in a sense that I came to scripture with the same lenses as Dr. Gerali had so many years before. I felt refreshed, renewed and freed. I never realized the oppression I was functioning under when approaching my walk with Christ. But that's how Satan wanted me to feel...He wanted me to feel no sense of joy, refreshment, or freedom through reading the scriptures. He wanted me to feel guilty, ashamed, and shamed in to reading scriptures.
Since then, I
Anyways, those are just some of my thoughts ...
Here are some of the verses I have memorized (in case you are looking for some, yourself)
Philippians 1:27
Micah 6:8
John 16:33
Acts 20:24
John 14:6
Romans 1:20
John 8:24
John 1:12
Philippians 4:4-7
Hebrews 10:23-25
2 Timothy 2:15
Matthew 28:18-19
2 Timothy 3:16
This is a list of verses yet to come that is on a stickie note on my desktop...
Verses To Memorize:
Malachi 3
Colossians 2:9
1 Peter 4:10
2 Peter 3:15
Acts 2
1 Corinthians 12
Ephesians 4
Romans 6:3-5
1 Corinthians 11
Matthew 25
Ezekiel 33:11
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