beautiful feet

I wanted to take some time to write about the new season of my life that I'm entering. I'm usually not one to make a big announcement to everyone, but I've been learning about being more open and vulnerable with people. I tend to only let a hand-full of people into my world, which I've recently learned that I do because I'm afraid of people misunderstanding me or not liking me if I truly let them in. Which I'm learning is not true! I'm not entirely sure where to start. . . I feel like God has had me on this journey for longer than I realize. I look back at my childhood and see glimpses of curiosity that eventually lead me to wanting to learn more about God. (I remember being bored in the evenings after dinner and going up to my room, lying on my floor and flipping through my Bible.) It's only recently that I've 'gotten my act together' in this department, but it's just incredible to look back on my life, before the age of 25, ...

i'm writing a 'real' blog in my head... it will be complete soon!  every time i see boddington's, i'm reminded of a quiet pub in london and it makes me want to drink one.  the lord of the rings movies have been on starz for the past couple weeks and i have to admit that i've enjoyed watching them again. (although, i've still never read the last book! ha.) i get to have a "five-day" weekend this weekend! YES.  as if christmas is coming up so quickly! good thing i only have 1 more prezzie to buy!  lately, i've been thankful to be back on facebook. it seems like so many of my friends are having babies and it's been nice to keep up with them and see photos!  i've lost some of my love for reading. i wonder if it's because i deal with books all day long.  i wish plane tickets were cheaper.  i didn't really enjoy our snow today. i'm soooo not ready for our winter weather to come into full swing.  i watched the movie 's...

The instructions of the L ord  are perfect,       reviving the soul.    The decrees of the L ord  are trustworthy,       making wise the simple. The commandments of the L ord  are right,       bringing joy to the heart.    The commands of the L ord  are clear,       giving insight for living. Reverence for the L ord  is pure,       lasting forever.    The laws of the L ord  are true;       each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold,       even the finest gold.    They are sweeter than honey,       even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant,       a great reward for those who obey t...

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

 Hi guys, I sent an email yesterday asking to return the book because it's a library book. I realize that this makes me sound like a jackass and that a library book is better than no book at all, so I would like to respectfully withdraw my previous email and hope that you will still consider me a decent human being who had a moment of jackassery. The book is wonderful and I appreciate you selling it to me so cheaply, and shipping it so quickly, so thank you very much for your wonderful service. All the best, An Occasional Jackass

Hi, I am really thrilled with the service you have provided for me.  This is the first time I have contacted a seller and I was a little nervous but you made it a truly enjoyable experience.  I will not hesitate to deal with BWB again. Many thanks. 

with heather and becky- before the game... trying to stay warm!  twins!  

as if the month of october is already half over... we've seemed to miss autumn this year... it froze and then it was really hot and now it's just cold and rainy.  i don't feel another year older.  i had the privilege of seeing a jason upton concert on saturday night. it's the second time that i've seen him live and both times i've just been blown away.  i've been reading a lot of psalm 23 and 27 lately. i walked 13 miles on saturday...my body still aches. i'm back on facebook. (at least for the time-being.)  i have a one-way ticket to mexico for the end of the december.... don't worry- i'll come back. eventually. ;) i wonder if there is anyone doing studies about smart phones and how they affect relationships. positively or negatively. just something i've been thinking about. i'm not doing a very good job of reading the mound of unread books on my shelves. i feel a weird satisfaction when it's time for me to throw my contac...

Hi there, First of all, I'm a truly happy customer of BWB. Got to admit the new "Impact" number on the account page gives me a thrill sometimes. It feels good to be part of a cause! It's a little sad though, that all 3 Hemingway's books did not arrive. I was looking forward to soak in his beautiful language, to indulge in his famously short yet powerful sentences. Why, of all books to go missing, it had to be Hemingway's? Why not Dan Brown? It's been a month since my order........ So, is there anyway I can find Hemingway back? Dying in anticipation to hear from you great people.

a wonderful story:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12043294

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs..."

I sat down tonight and looked back at my entire blog. I started at the most current entry and went all the way back to the beginning. Obviously, I'm a reflective person and anyone who knows me knows that I tend to over-analyze things... with that being said, I am continually amazed at how the exercise of looking back has helped me step forward. It's amazing how much encouragement I can actually receive from words that I wrote myself- only at a different time.  Granted, looking back and reminiscing is walking on dangerous ground, at least for me. It's easy to get caught up in memories, to mourn those old times or relationships. Especially when I look back at my blog and read about living in different cultures and traveling. Two things that I enjoy immensely. Add friendships on top of those two things and we're describing my paradise. Then, I look at my current season... it's hard to not grieve the past or feel discouraged. And even though I KNOW it's a new ...

A successful novel should interrupt the reader’s life, make him or her miss appointments, skip meals, forget to walk the dog. -   Stephen King

i havent drank any caffeine in almost four weeks! i stayed up and read 'heaven is for real' in its entirety the other night. such a precious book! i've started listening to ihop's prayer room every day while i'm working- it's been quite encouraging! the heat this summer has been ridiculous. i went to our county fair yesterday and my fave food vendor isnt there this year. sad sad day! i'd like to watch the latest/final harry potter movie again. this time in 2D. i still have so many books on my book shelves that i havent read yet! maybe i need to find a job where i can sit around and read books all day long! attempting to plan a trip to nepal for this next calendar year! my sense of smell has improved very little; however, my taste has improved a lot and i hear that your taste has heaps to do with smell... so perhaps it's improving more than i think. i am envious of people's smart phones... just too cheap to get one for myself! enjoyed a hom...

... the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity...   In Korea, when I started chasing after God again, music was something that he really used to speak to me. He'd use it to teach me scripture, to encourage me on bad days, to bring me closer to him and to heal those deep, dark, hidden places. I couldn't get enough. It literally gave me life. It was good... while it lasted. Then I entered a season where music didn't touch me like it used to. Most "Christian" music drove me crazy. Many advised that this was because my relationship with God was evolving and maturing- and I'd agree. During this time, I dove head-first into the Bible. I'd sit down and read entire books of the Bible in one go. I was fascinated by the stories and how God moved among his people. I wanted to study. I wanted to do research. I was desperate to gain head-knowledge ...

Dear Lord High Executioner, Relax! The books arrived with startling light speed. Roll not the heads of the simpleton serfs. Rather that you fill their bellies with a good quality ale. And bestow upon them my best wishes. You pay for the ale and I pay for the best wishes. Hi Ho John

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have many friendships and that those friendships extend over the entire globe. Some people marvel at my ability to 'keep track' of my friends and others just shake their heads at me. It's something that I've often felt self-conscious about; knowing that not many can relate to this area of my life and knowing that I need to watch my expectations of others in regards to them knowing whom I'm speaking of and how they're connected to me.  I've recently had the revelation that instead of looking at this as some oddity in my life or as a negative thing that in-fact, God has given me this gifting. God has created me to be in relationship him, but also with others. This includes my many friendships. Throughout my entire life I've always had amazing friends. And for the majority of my life, my friends have been family to me.  Since moving back to the States I have often struggled with juggling relationships and learning...

i cannot express enough, my gratitude for this past weekend. 

i sold 4 things on ebay this past week! yes!  it was so warm today that i worked part of my shift outside; it was glorious, minus the sunburn.  now that i finally have health insurance i'm attempting to get myself to all sorts of doctors, cuz it's been awhile; but man, it's a pain to try to find good doctors!  am currently training for a 5K in june.  listened to some gavin mikhail today; i forgot how much i enjoy his music!  i'm dog-sitting right now and as much as i love dogs, i'm not entirely convinced that i'll ever actually have one. perhaps it's just the particular dog, but man, she's driving me nutso!  i think i'm going to eat popcorn for dinner tonight.  have two long-weekend trips coming up that i'm quite excited about- kansas city and new york city! it will be nice to have some quality time with some quality people. i still haven't finished reading the LOTR trilogy. i lost my steam. maybe i'll finish the last book this s...

"Discipleship is more of an art form with layers and textures and colors that blend and bleed and change. Discipleship is relational, and anything relational is a long term, messy, beautiful, deepening experience."  -Rob Schrumpf

..... 24 days! .....