On thanksgiving Day, should I write a "more thankful than average post?" Let me just type and we can see what comes out, ok? :) Deal. Because it's my blog, I can type what I want.
I am thankful for a bathroom in our bedroom. This will only last one more day, but it is so wonderful to climb out of bed and walk right into the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day. It is such motivation. I love it, even if it is just our vacation room.
I am thankful for Krista. A friend that I love deeply and have been walking through life with since college. I sat on the couch while everyone was watching football today and wrote her a really long letter. I am so glad that we are still writing letters to each other and pouring our hearts to each other.
I am extremely thankful for Ruth Hayley Barton--an author that is kicking my butt. I am finishing up a book of hers, and it is a very hard read. I read a chapter tonight that I just wanted to throw across the room, because I knew if I applied the truths in that chapter it would be a lot of hard and painful work. I am not sure if I want to do it. Even though this is frustrating, I am thankful that God uses people in my life to challenge me, even if they are authors I have never met.
I am thankful for the text that Wendi sent me today. I am very grateful for her friendship and our chance meeting. So glad that God brought us together and looking forward to many years of life together.
I am thankful for my sister in law. I am thankful that I can count on her texts making me smile during some hard times. I am thankful that we are coming together as family, and not just "Jon's brother's, girlfriend." (Er....now wife.....but when I first met her).
I am grateful that I have a job that I love, a job that is flexible, a job that has eternal meaning, a job that brings such joy to my life.
I am grateful for my external bounce flash. Taking pictures inside are much easier with my bounce flash pointed at the ceiling.
I am thankful for a chance to go to bed early today.
Thank you Lord, forgiving me so much to be thankful for.
Showing posts with label Letter Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Letter Writing. Show all posts
Friday, November 25, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Friends like that....
I had to do a little project for a friend. She is attending some training that will help her in ministry, grow her as a Christ follower, among many other things.
The assignment: Explain how I experience her when she is hurt, lonely, afraid, confident, jubilant and at rest. For an introspective introvert this is sooo fun, and easy. It is easy because a) She and I respond to things in very similar ways, and b) I am close enough to her, that I actually felt like I knew those answers well.
These days, miles separate us. We are literally on opposite ends of the country, but our friendship is as close as it was when we saw each other 15 times a day in college. I think about the days of college and how we saw each other...A L L T H E T I M E. I think about our obsession with nacho cheese and brownies. I think about how we worked in the dining all together....next to each other. I think about our adventures in my car, that was more like a pond. I think about the times we prayed, poured our hearts out, and were real. I think about the frustrating times. I think about how she was influential in putting the night together when Jon proposed. How could I ever let my beloved friend move across the country?
She gets me. I get her. A look is all we need. In the past year, we started writing letters. WOW! Thought we were close then....writing letters is so....intimate, especially for an introvert who pours her heart out on paper and then sends across the country. We have both shared so much of our life in these letters. I wait for the mail to be delivered and anticipate my next letter with great joy. Sometimes reading the letters I laugh out loud, I remember times together, I stop and pray, I get all mushy, and sometimes I cry over the hard stuff that we experience in life.
Back to the assignment.
What a joy to be asked to share my thoughts on how I have experienced her in those different situations. Part of it is hard, because we do live far apart.
What a joy to know that I am in a relationship that is close enough to not only be asked those questions, but to have good and solid answers to give as feedback.
What a joy to know that in the midst of my daily struggle with relationships ( I have NEVER been good with relationships...) I have one that is constant. One where we are holding each other up, and living life together.
Today I am blessed by the reminder that I love Krista dearly. One of the closest and best relationships I have ever had with anyone.
I cherish deep relationships, especially this one.
And without further ado, a series of K&K photos:)
The assignment: Explain how I experience her when she is hurt, lonely, afraid, confident, jubilant and at rest. For an introspective introvert this is sooo fun, and easy. It is easy because a) She and I respond to things in very similar ways, and b) I am close enough to her, that I actually felt like I knew those answers well.
These days, miles separate us. We are literally on opposite ends of the country, but our friendship is as close as it was when we saw each other 15 times a day in college. I think about the days of college and how we saw each other...A L L T H E T I M E. I think about our obsession with nacho cheese and brownies. I think about how we worked in the dining all together....next to each other. I think about our adventures in my car, that was more like a pond. I think about the times we prayed, poured our hearts out, and were real. I think about the frustrating times. I think about how she was influential in putting the night together when Jon proposed. How could I ever let my beloved friend move across the country?
She gets me. I get her. A look is all we need. In the past year, we started writing letters. WOW! Thought we were close then....writing letters is so....intimate, especially for an introvert who pours her heart out on paper and then sends across the country. We have both shared so much of our life in these letters. I wait for the mail to be delivered and anticipate my next letter with great joy. Sometimes reading the letters I laugh out loud, I remember times together, I stop and pray, I get all mushy, and sometimes I cry over the hard stuff that we experience in life.
Back to the assignment.
What a joy to be asked to share my thoughts on how I have experienced her in those different situations. Part of it is hard, because we do live far apart.
What a joy to know that I am in a relationship that is close enough to not only be asked those questions, but to have good and solid answers to give as feedback.
What a joy to know that in the midst of my daily struggle with relationships ( I have NEVER been good with relationships...) I have one that is constant. One where we are holding each other up, and living life together.
Today I am blessed by the reminder that I love Krista dearly. One of the closest and best relationships I have ever had with anyone.
I cherish deep relationships, especially this one.
And without further ado, a series of K&K photos:)
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Ending the night on a very very good note
These days have been long and tiring. The past few have been someone difficult as I figure out a schedule for our family, process through some of what the Lord is showing me and walking obedience that is simply terrifying at times. I didn't even want to start today, because I knew what was ahead. I knew that there could be some hard conversations with students, I knew that I would be on campus until 9pm at the earliest and would have to come home and put in a few hours of work and my house is...well, you can tell it is NSO season.
And yet.
What a fabulous day.
So different than I had anticipated.
Difficult small group leaders meeting as we wrestled with scripture and what God might be saying. I had to eat some humble pie during this time. Lord, are you REALLY leading us to step out in faith this way. (I know the answer is yes, but I am hoping that if I keep asking God will change His mind. It works that way, right?)
In spite of the above, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE that God has allowed me to partner with Him in His work There is nothing about me that is good that deserves this. I am so grateful for the students I work with. I am constantly blessed and humbled by them.
Ah, the greatness of good conversation.
And then, I had leftovers in my fridge to make some quesadillas for 2 students. A fun impromtu lunch!
Those same students sat on my couch, played guitar and sang for about an hour. Lovely!
Caleb went down for a fabulous nap.
Caleb calls me "George." I have no idea why, but it cracks me up, and I call him George. I think he has started an inside joke with me that I don't know about. Whatever the reason, he gets a pretty big laugh out of me every time he says it.
More greatness....Another great conversation with a student
More greatness....receiving mail from my other half...er....my other 1/3. I went to the mail box today, found a post card from China and Chinese stationary and a card. I simply had to take time to START my letter back to Krista, still not finished. I could write a whole post about Krista and our relationship. Maybe another time. But receiving mail from her....so good. Good news from a distant land.
More greatness......God is working on campus in UNbelievable ways. WOW. I know, vague, right?
More greatness......Jon has had a song idea brewing in his head for months. Tonight, he sat on the couch and played it for me. It is the mesh of two songs and I LOVE it. I love the music, the lyrics, my husband playing it, but most of all I am inspired by his vision of choosing these two songs. It shows me how God is working in His heart and speaking to him through music.
And just as I thought I was going to bed I receive this email from a friend...and cried....because seriously, I am blessed today.
Hey Kristin,
Thinking of you...
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6)
2 I always thank God for ... you, mentioning you in my prayers. 3 I continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For I know, you Kristin loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers... (I Thess. 1:2-7)
Was sharing a few stories from the past and thought you should know what came to mind. Thanks.
In Christ,
M
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