Popcorn for Breakfast?

Last night Derek worked until 1 AM at the theater. Well, I meant to wait up for him but fell asleep instead. So this morning I roll over, and smell a whiff of...popcorn! I opened my eyes to see this sitting in our room:

Yes, that's a lot of popcorn. Apparently he had two bags but dropped one of at his family's house. My question is, how in the world are we going to even eat half of this?!? Well, I guess I know what I'm having for breakfast!

May 2012 Update

This month flew by and has been so full.

Derek finished up school the second week of May, and promptly went out and started filling out applications. One of the places he stopped by was the local movie theater, and he asked for the manager to give his application in. She thanked him but told him that they were not hiring. He hadn't expected much so he just said that he was unemployed, looking for a job, and a hard worker. She responded by saying "Well...I have a few free minutes--do you want to interview?" He walked out with a job. God provided again in a surprising way but we are thankful. There have been no problems about our conviction to not work on the Lord's Day, and he enjoys the people and the busyness of the job. 

The middle of May was a little rough for me as I caught a stomach flu bug that was going around the family that I work for. I got sick Sunday night and was absolutely miserable until late Monday night and was exhausted and weak all Tuesday. Those kind of sicknesses are awful but I'm glad they are short-lived. Derek was sweet and made trips to the store for Vernors and popsicles and listened to me complain (I'm afraid I wasn't the most patient person through this).

Last week we got to see my sister graduate from High School! My mother-in-law runs a homeschool program that provides co-op classes, sports, and a commencement ceremony for homeschool graduates. There were 26  graduates this year. The ceremony includes special music from the graduates and Allison and her friend Lindsay sang a beautiful and fitting song called "Every Road." They did a great job.  We are so proud of Allison! She has worked hard at the tech center cosmetology school and graduates High School as a licensed cosmetologist (we definitely benefit from this!). Congratulations, Allison, and all the graduates and their parents--it's definitely a joint accomplishment! 

This month is also my brother Evan's birthday and we got to celebrate it with my Pake and Beppe in town for graduation weekend! It was so nice to spend time with family. Evan is now 12, and its been so fun to see him grow up and talk about his interests. His favorite gift was a rifle from my dad and they are practicing how to use it safely :o). 

This week we've been house/bird-sitting for a friend and enjoyed a little break from our normal, even though we still had to go to work. It was was nice just to relax and enjoy a change of scenery. And Derek liked making friends with the bird...he liked to get him out often and talk to him and let him stand on his shoulder. 

June promises to be a busy month for us as well, with a trip to Cedar Point, open-houses and bridal-shower planning and a whole bunch of other things! We are enjoying the warmer weather and the beginning of the summer season so much! We hope all of you are doing well!

Searching for Beauty

Life feels full when I pause to search for beauty. All too often, that search is forgotten is the shuffle of busy that fills up my days, weeks, months.

My senses dull and my stomach forgets the fiery ache in my belly when I glimpse wonder of God's creativity in the sights, tastes, smells, sound, feels, words, relationships, and itch to put inspiration or thankfulness in action.

I clearly remember moments as a child, when life was slower, where I paused, looked up from a page of words and almost gasped at the longing to see the sights the character was experiencing. Those moments...laying on a picnic table and gazing into endless blue and content to soak up the joy of those minutes and hear the hum of bugs in summer evening, the sparkle of diamonds on white snow with one blemish--rabbit tracks trailing to the woods, and the blinding brilliance of light catching trees after an ice storm, stooping low to peek at the shimmering white coals among the orange and yellow bonfire sending sparks into the black sky, sticky fingers from gooey, golden marshmallows roasted while conversing with family, twisting back in my seat along the bumpy dirt road--with hair flying in my face and mouth--to catch a glimpse of the purple streaked yellow sky deepening to a dark blue. I remember reading a book that described the trees against a watercolor sunset sky as black lace, and feeling that familiar burn in my belly as I knew exactly what they meant.

When you pause, put down that smart phone, and savor a moment you notice the light streaming over a pile of pebbles, you hear the song of birds blending in the wind, and you feel the grit in your sandals. When you stop worrying about the next thing, you slow down time and take a mental snapshot of family laughing around the table, the taste of a homecooked meal in your mouth, the feel of bubbles and dishes in the sink, the child banging on piano keys, and joy springs into your heart.

Life should never be to busy to fill the soul with beauty. This is an attitude, not an appointment. I need to stop waiting for "enough" time to start appreciating loveliness, to get inspired, to create. No matter where I am or how busy I am, there is beauty to be found in the world and events my Creator has placed me in. It fills me with peace to stop and notice the ways He blesses me and fills my longing for creativity with the beauty of life hidden amid the busy events and to-do lists and chores. It reflects His creative character when I get inspiration and express it in the midst of everyday life, even in small or unnoticed ways.  

Today, I pause to think (simply think for the sake of reflection, not accomplishment...something that should be done more often)... and I realize that this is one of the characteristics I want my life to be about...never to be too busy to find joy in God's moment by moment gifts, to search for the inexhaustible riches of beauty He has put in my everyday life, and to pass the fullness of beauty on to others--to help them hunt for and see the joy too, and praise God because of it.




  

A New Computer

Hello there!

Surprised to see me writing here again? Me too.

Obviously, this blogging thing has been really hit and miss for me. In part because I just haven't gotten around to it, in part because we've been sharing the laptop and since Derek is taking college courses online, during the semester I have avoided blogging so he can use the computer whenever.

But, we've been blessed to have gotten a new (to-us) computer so now while he's working at school and I can do my own thing--which I hope will include more faithful blogging.

We want to keep family updated on the things going on in our life, especially those that live a distance from us. Also, I think this blogging habit would be nice to have when we eventually move away to a seminary, Lord-willing.

And of course, I look forward to this place as a journal of my personal growth as a wife and homemaker, to write bits and pieces of things I want to remember for the future/what I am learning/am sorta getting the hang of, because it is just good sometimes to think things through in writing (and for me-list making!!). I hope it might encourage others, too.

So do you guys want a life update?

Not much has been going on here...we feel like we are just coming up to breathe after a busy season of basketball coaching, getting involved in our new church, more school, and work. I am so looking forward to a summer of refocusing and growing and moving forward to be more intentional in life, and I know Derek is too.

I am still babysitting part-time for a family with a little boy and girl. They keep me on my toes and I always have a funny story to share. Yesterday we were watching How to Train Your Dragon, and got to ending part where Astrid kisses Hiccup. Luke (5) threw his hands up to shield his eyes and awkwardly gasped, "Oh my gosh--they just got married!" Today, he spilled some cheese curls on the floor and Faith (2) rushed over to pick them up and started singing "Clean up, clean up, everybody clean it up!" Too funny. At bedtime she sang "Jesus Loves Me" along with me. So precious. 

Right now Derek is finishing up his final week  of school and then anticipating a break (from school anyways!) for the next couple months. First on his to-do list is find a job! Please pray that he would be able to find a good job that pays decently, is ok with him not working on Sundays, and will be more long term (we are hoping not to be looking for another job in a few months like in the past due to seasonal layoffs).

Looking forward to keeping this place updated regularly in the future!