29 - I'm so thankful for God's provision, protection, and everything that He is. I'm thankful that he has given us a life worth living, an eternal destination worth hoping for, and himself. He is a blessing beyond full comprehension, yet we can know enough about him for us to genuinely worship him with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
30 - My husband, who I am so thankful for, lives out God's love everyday. The best.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thanks - 27 & 28
27 - Yesterday we had a long drive, and I am thankful that
A. We made it to John's place safely,
B. Our car didn't break down (a legit concern these days), and
C. Arthur's Garden Deli in Rock Falls, IL, was open the evening before Thanksgiving - so fresh and so tasty and so reasonably priced!
28 - Today I am thankful for family, both my own and that from which my husband comes. Also, I am thankful for Belly Bands and the way they help keep my pants up post turkey and pie.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Thanks - 10-26
Its been a tough month in a lot of ways, and,
therefore,
it's been hard to be thankful.
I've felt convicted about that, since not being thankful
is a source of pride to a degree.
This is mainly because there is at least one thing to always be thankful for -
the Triune God -
and from Him the incredible small and big blessings He gives.
So, without further ado, here is a catch-up thankful list.
10 - I'm thankful for the U.S. veterans and the sacrafice they make for our country. Yes, they get paid, but we ask far more from them than what money could ever buy, and they volunteer to give it.
11 - I'm thankful for the trinity wives small-group discussion I had on this night. It was really interesting to hear what everyone had to say from Colossians 3, and it was exciting to see our leader for that night take an innovative approach to her lesson.
12 - Tuesday nights are our free nights, so it's nice to come home and not do a whole lot instead of getting ready to go to the next thing.
13 - I'm thankful for the example my professor described about caring for others on this night. He grew up with a troubled, distant, alcoholic father. So, at a young age and in light of this situation, my professor was invited by his church pastor to his church's father-son breakfast. He set an example of love, of leadership, and of personal and meaningful commitment to the church family.
14 - We had a prospective student from the Phillipines visit our campus this past week. On this day he would have fully landed back home to search for his family. I'm thankful that he got there, and I hope that he found the people he was looking for.
15 - I'm thankful for the good medical team at Mayo Clinic who helped take care of an urgent situation that a member of my family faced. The person is alright, but I want to keep it private on here since it's not my personal story. Thankfully, though, the team at Mayo is (very) good at what they do and don't leave people stranded.
16 - we had an unexpected free weekend starting on this day, so I will say that I'm thankful that we got a full two mornings together, starting Saturday the 16th!
17 - Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies.
18 - I'm thankful that we stayed safe from the storms that hit Illinois, and I'm thankful for the kind and thoughtful support that has been going to the communities hit by the worst of it.
19 - I'm thankful for all of the friends I have made at TEDS, and I wish I could see them more often.
20 - Class was really great on this night, but probably the funnest part of it was sitting next to the husband of one of the women I did bible study with last year. He's a plain-spoken guy from Kansas with a sharp-as-a-tack mind for apologetics and theology. On top of that, he's 22 and puts me to shame when it comes to this stuff. Let's say I'm quite thankful that we exchange notes each week!
21 - Today in the office we talked about movies and music and other pop culture - all with our boss leading the discussion. It was great.
22 - FRIDAY, and the day my mom came to visit. It was nice introducing her to my coworkers and having her drive me home while we waited for John to get off of work. Also, the look she had when she saw my pregnant belly was pretty great.
23 - I got to see my sister this day and my mom went on a cleaning frenzy in my house. I can't help but be thankful for that!
24 - On Sunday we said goodbye to our campus pastor and his wife. He is such a caring, pastoral leader, and we hope that he and his wife are blessed in their next steps in ministry.
25 - Oh Monday - well, I'm thankful for the small but in-depth small group meeting we had last night, and I'm also so, so thankful that the end of this workday meant the end of the first half of my Thanksgiving work-week!
26 - And yes, it's Tuesday again, and I'm so glad that I had tonight off and that I don't work tomorrow! Finally, I'm thankful that my baby is strong enough to kick this laptop that sits atop my belly.
That's it and that's all for now.
therefore,
it's been hard to be thankful.
I've felt convicted about that, since not being thankful
is a source of pride to a degree.
This is mainly because there is at least one thing to always be thankful for -
the Triune God -
and from Him the incredible small and big blessings He gives.
So, without further ado, here is a catch-up thankful list.
10 - I'm thankful for the U.S. veterans and the sacrafice they make for our country. Yes, they get paid, but we ask far more from them than what money could ever buy, and they volunteer to give it.
11 - I'm thankful for the trinity wives small-group discussion I had on this night. It was really interesting to hear what everyone had to say from Colossians 3, and it was exciting to see our leader for that night take an innovative approach to her lesson.
12 - Tuesday nights are our free nights, so it's nice to come home and not do a whole lot instead of getting ready to go to the next thing.
13 - I'm thankful for the example my professor described about caring for others on this night. He grew up with a troubled, distant, alcoholic father. So, at a young age and in light of this situation, my professor was invited by his church pastor to his church's father-son breakfast. He set an example of love, of leadership, and of personal and meaningful commitment to the church family.
14 - We had a prospective student from the Phillipines visit our campus this past week. On this day he would have fully landed back home to search for his family. I'm thankful that he got there, and I hope that he found the people he was looking for.
15 - I'm thankful for the good medical team at Mayo Clinic who helped take care of an urgent situation that a member of my family faced. The person is alright, but I want to keep it private on here since it's not my personal story. Thankfully, though, the team at Mayo is (very) good at what they do and don't leave people stranded.
16 - we had an unexpected free weekend starting on this day, so I will say that I'm thankful that we got a full two mornings together, starting Saturday the 16th!
17 - Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies.
18 - I'm thankful that we stayed safe from the storms that hit Illinois, and I'm thankful for the kind and thoughtful support that has been going to the communities hit by the worst of it.
19 - I'm thankful for all of the friends I have made at TEDS, and I wish I could see them more often.
20 - Class was really great on this night, but probably the funnest part of it was sitting next to the husband of one of the women I did bible study with last year. He's a plain-spoken guy from Kansas with a sharp-as-a-tack mind for apologetics and theology. On top of that, he's 22 and puts me to shame when it comes to this stuff. Let's say I'm quite thankful that we exchange notes each week!
21 - Today in the office we talked about movies and music and other pop culture - all with our boss leading the discussion. It was great.
22 - FRIDAY, and the day my mom came to visit. It was nice introducing her to my coworkers and having her drive me home while we waited for John to get off of work. Also, the look she had when she saw my pregnant belly was pretty great.
23 - I got to see my sister this day and my mom went on a cleaning frenzy in my house. I can't help but be thankful for that!
24 - On Sunday we said goodbye to our campus pastor and his wife. He is such a caring, pastoral leader, and we hope that he and his wife are blessed in their next steps in ministry.
25 - Oh Monday - well, I'm thankful for the small but in-depth small group meeting we had last night, and I'm also so, so thankful that the end of this workday meant the end of the first half of my Thanksgiving work-week!
26 - And yes, it's Tuesday again, and I'm so glad that I had tonight off and that I don't work tomorrow! Finally, I'm thankful that my baby is strong enough to kick this laptop that sits atop my belly.
That's it and that's all for now.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Day of Thanks - #9
Today I got to hang out with a bunch of women from all parts of the world - Australia, China, Indonesia, and South Korea. I also got to spend time with women who are from all over the country as well as one who is also from Minnesota with a primarily German heritage.
We talked about what holidays are like at our homes and in our respective countries, and we also talked about what life is like for us here at seminary. It was awesome to be able to connect with people from other cultures as well as share the foods and teas that we have grown up with.
I'm super thankful to be at a place where I can talk with people from other parts of the world nearly every day, and I hope this opportunity continues throughout the rest of my life!
We talked about what holidays are like at our homes and in our respective countries, and we also talked about what life is like for us here at seminary. It was awesome to be able to connect with people from other cultures as well as share the foods and teas that we have grown up with.
I'm super thankful to be at a place where I can talk with people from other parts of the world nearly every day, and I hope this opportunity continues throughout the rest of my life!
Friday, November 8, 2013
Day of Thanks #4, #5, #6, #7, #8
Per usual, I am behind. But you know what - well, here are 5 things to be thankful for:
Number 4: Oberweis Chocolate Milk. This is effectively melted ice cream and real cocoa (not high fructose corn syrup with chocolate flavoring). For a woman who can't consume excess alcohol right now, this is basically as good as a solid martini. Pregnant women, take note.
Number 5: Sleep. While I am not the biggest fan of naps, I love a great night's sleep and waking up when my body is ready. This is tricky during the work week since I'm a night owl, but weekends and an 11:00 start time at church are glorious.
Number 6: Speaking of glorious, Sunday mornings waking up with tons of time to spend with my husband, then going to church and still getting home around 12:30 or 1:00. Some people may say that half your day is gone by then, but that's if you don't wake up until 10:30 and you have to get to bed by 9:00. Dang, get up at 8:30 in the morning, make some bacon and eggs, and enjoy the morning sunshine!
Number 7: Wonder. It's great to just look at the things that are easily taken for granted and realize how incredibly made this wonderful world is, and then realize even more how much there is to explore.
Number 8: Our home. I believe that November is national homelessness awareness month, and I'm so thankful that I have a home to rest my head, a head that is sound enough to help maintain our home-ful-ness, and my God that gives such blessings as well as strength to lift those up who need a place to rest.
Number 4: Oberweis Chocolate Milk. This is effectively melted ice cream and real cocoa (not high fructose corn syrup with chocolate flavoring). For a woman who can't consume excess alcohol right now, this is basically as good as a solid martini. Pregnant women, take note.
Number 5: Sleep. While I am not the biggest fan of naps, I love a great night's sleep and waking up when my body is ready. This is tricky during the work week since I'm a night owl, but weekends and an 11:00 start time at church are glorious.
Number 6: Speaking of glorious, Sunday mornings waking up with tons of time to spend with my husband, then going to church and still getting home around 12:30 or 1:00. Some people may say that half your day is gone by then, but that's if you don't wake up until 10:30 and you have to get to bed by 9:00. Dang, get up at 8:30 in the morning, make some bacon and eggs, and enjoy the morning sunshine!
Number 7: Wonder. It's great to just look at the things that are easily taken for granted and realize how incredibly made this wonderful world is, and then realize even more how much there is to explore.
Number 8: Our home. I believe that November is national homelessness awareness month, and I'm so thankful that I have a home to rest my head, a head that is sound enough to help maintain our home-ful-ness, and my God that gives such blessings as well as strength to lift those up who need a place to rest.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
30 Days of Thanks - #3
Today I'm going to get really deep with my blog topic.
Today I'm going to talk about what really matters.
Today, I'm telling the world that I am thankful for -
Today I'm going to talk about what really matters.
Today, I'm telling the world that I am thankful for -
FANTASY FOOTBALL
hereby known throughout he rest of this blog post as
"Fantasy"
For a good intro to fantasy, click here.
I started playing fantasy at work last year, and it's been fun to talk shop (football) with people again.
There was a time back in college when I had a whole bevy of friends who would talk football with me, both guys and girls, but that's a LOT harder to come by at seminary.
On the first night of my Systematic Theology III class (see ST 5103 for details), my professor asked who in the class followed football. I was one of four people - the other three guys - who raised their hand. If the class were majority women, I'd probably be one of two, and I say that just for probability's sake.
So, I enjoy fantasy because it allows me to connect with my coworkers in a way that goes beyond the day-to-day business of our jobs. Also, it has gotten my husband to watch football with me with actual interest, mainly because he is excited that I've done better (last season, anyway) than most the guys in my league.
Well, that's it for today, at least as far as this blog + fantasy is concerned. Have a great Sunday!
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Day of Thanks - #2
Today I'm thankful for my husband's service to our country.
He's at drill today, so I'm home alone. I was planning on hanging out with a friend, but I really need to clean the house a lot.
My husband, however, is an hour away, and today he has preached at chapel service and is hopefuflly getting to know the soldiers in the unit. That's his job - to get to know people and to be someone they can talk to.
I don't know all the people he gets to talk to, neither by having met them nor hearing all of the stories in detail, but I know that he is appreciated and I appreciate what he's doing.
This week the U.S. Army,
or someone in the all-wise federal government,
changed the rules of eligibility for reserve and active duty Army chaplains.
See an example of the differences between chaplains and chaplain candidates here.
While John still has plenty of time to be a chaplain candidate, it's now going to take
a few more (very steep) steps to get to the full chaplain level, both in the reserves or active duty.
Still, I'm thankful for what the military has meant and continues to mean to my husband,
and I hope that God keeps confirming this ministry and opportunity for him.
He's at drill today, so I'm home alone. I was planning on hanging out with a friend, but I really need to clean the house a lot.
My husband, however, is an hour away, and today he has preached at chapel service and is hopefuflly getting to know the soldiers in the unit. That's his job - to get to know people and to be someone they can talk to.
I don't know all the people he gets to talk to, neither by having met them nor hearing all of the stories in detail, but I know that he is appreciated and I appreciate what he's doing.
This week the U.S. Army,
or someone in the all-wise federal government,
changed the rules of eligibility for reserve and active duty Army chaplains.
See an example of the differences between chaplains and chaplain candidates here.
While John still has plenty of time to be a chaplain candidate, it's now going to take
a few more (very steep) steps to get to the full chaplain level, both in the reserves or active duty.
Still, I'm thankful for what the military has meant and continues to mean to my husband,
and I hope that God keeps confirming this ministry and opportunity for him.
Friday, November 1, 2013
30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 1
Day 1 -
Today I was thankful for the people I work with.
The job I have is not a perfect one for me, but it's been good to
work with so many great men and women.
We definitely have grown close with having worked a whole year together,
and our office is a bit small in general, so we better get along, right?
Anyway, for a position that isn't really in my wheelhouse,
these coworkers of mine have helped me appreciate that having a job
in itself
is a blessing, and
it's an even bigger blessing to
like the people you work with.
This is because,
really,
you can love what you do,
but a bad group of coworkers can make you start to hate what you do.
A good group of coworkers, however,
can make what you do something to look forward to.
30 Days of Thankfulness
Today I saw some people start the 30 Days of Thankfulness on FB,
and I thought,
"Hmm...I should do that!"
I don't usually jump on stuff like this -
no, I will never post my bra color during October for a litany of reasons -
but I thought this would be as good for me as anything.
Why?
Well, I'm prone to worry
and I'm prone to whining.
So with that -
Thankfulness!
Day 1 coming up.
and I thought,
"Hmm...I should do that!"
I don't usually jump on stuff like this -
no, I will never post my bra color during October for a litany of reasons -
but I thought this would be as good for me as anything.
Why?
Well, I'm prone to worry
and I'm prone to whining.
So with that -
Thankfulness!
Day 1 coming up.
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