Wednesday, December 24, 2008

update!

Jacob has had a couple of call backs on his resume. one from rosetta stone and another from a former manager at Sheetz, where he worked in college.

Rosetta stone called today to talk about his resume, and it sounds like they're proceeding on with a potential position.

then he talked with Shane from sheetz. they can give him 32 hours a week in the meantime, and they're looking for an assistant manager position for him!

so...

the story continued:

God intervened, and no matter what happens, we WILL be okay. we WILL be taken care of.

God is good!

Praise you Jesus!

Friday, December 19, 2008

christmas sometimes comes early

with our crazy christmas schedule, jacob and i have been trying to work out when we get to do our gifts to and from each other.

we decided that with all the bad stuff lately, that we should be able to do some today.

we exchanged one gift a piece.

I gave him my gift of a Redskin throw.

and he gave me:

a 10.3 MP digital camera!

my husband is SOO good to me! it's a Kodak, black, and WAY better than my old one! at least so far! i'm having fun playing with it! Yay!

thanks love!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

hope.

i got this verse in my email inbox today:

Psalm 33:22:

"May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you."

i started thinking about the verse, Jeremiah 29:11:

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

then i started thinking about hope.

it's kinda a funny thing. hope.

i mean, i used to hope for a date on saturday night. or those concert tickets. or a good grade on a test i studied really hard for.

but that's not really hope. that's wishful thinking.

hope is trusting when there is no reason to trust. hope is believing even when you don't see anything happening. hope is Jesus.

let's see:

in the last year, i had hoped for good weather on June 28th. i had hoped for vacation time showing up on my paycheck on time. i even hoped for saturdays off so that i can take that hot date! ;o)

never would i ever think that i would hope for a job. for my husband. for the "bread winner" so to speak. never would i think that we would be in a position, like so many other people, who will struggle over the holidays. never would i think that we would be given something wonderful....a REAL gift from God...only to have it taken away 6 months later.

part of me wants to say that i feel like that woman in 2 Kings 4. she asked for a son, and one was given to her, only to have him become sick, and then die.

verse 28:

"Did i ask you for a son, my lord? Didn't i tell you, "don't raise my hopes"?"

God, didn't i ask you not to raise my hopes?

what happens in the story?

Elisha intervenes, and the son is brought back to life.

God interevenes, and.....

To be continued.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

wow

about a year ago, my life changed. it has created probably the worst thing in me. because of family issues i left my house and basically moved out for a time, until jacob and i got engaged.

this "issue" has not been repaired, and probably will never be. i just survive around this person(s) and deal for the time being.

i vowed, when i moved out that my family would never be that way. jacob and i love each other with every fiber of our being, and we work things out. it may not always be pleasant, but we suck it up and do it.

about two months before our wedding, Jacob lost his full-time status at his job. meaning he would be making enough just to be paying the bills for what he had at the time. a month later, still no job, we were getting a bit panicky. 3 weeks before the wedding, God came through and supplied him with a job making at $10,000 more than what we were even hoping for.

six months later- that's been taken away. his last day will be this friday, which ironically he had taken off for vacation time.

God, what are you doing?? all these loops in the last year....i might as well be jumping through fire...if not rolling through it.

i know you will take care of us. even through this uncertainty, it is sooo hard for me to say this: we will trust you.

Monday, December 1, 2008

under the weather

soon after church yesterday, i started feeling the effects of a migrane.

took some medicine, and prescribed myself some rest.

rest did not come as i suffered through the annoying affects of a fever. my body was a steaming hot (i don't have a thermometer, so i don't know the temperature exactly, but jacob said i was burning up), while i shivered from the cold.

i thought that going to bed would help, but i would get cold, put lots of blankets on, then get hot. unbearably hot. so i was constantly shifting. i'm surprised my poor husband got any sleep.

i battled nausea last night, and battled it some today. ate half of a bowl of cereal, and then didn't eat anything until dinner, which jacob made.

i probably shouldn't have eaten dinner, because now i just feel sick. i think soup and crackers are in store for me tomorrow...

i think it's the flu. but i'm not sure. i just take it moment by moment.

hopefully i will feel better in the morning, because i do have to work.

i tried calling in, and they said, "call around, see if anyone can take your shift." i did, no one can/will, or have called me back, so, i'll probably end up going in and hoping that i can get off early.

hope you all are well!

Monday, November 24, 2008

thankful

sometimes the bad things are actually good...and it may take years for us to realize it.

for example:

the reason i have been so easily hurt by "friends" over the last couple of years is that two of my very close friends from high school hurt me very deeply; spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically (meaning my self esteem, self confidence, etc.).

i know they didn't intend for it to happen...and in fact, i am pretty sure it was God's doing. not that He wanted me to be shaken up so much that i doubted my salvation...that was my doing. but...the experience did indeed shake me to my inner core.

yet, somehow, i knew i couldn't just walk away from Him.

anyway...

several times over the last several months, i have run into one of these persons on a number of occasions...innocent enough...once i was having coffee with some girlfriends, and other times, i was alone. i did always take the time to say hi, and make some sort of conversation. now...if it were a year ago...or even 6 months ago, it would've been an awkward situation for me. but now that i've run into them, it wasn't at all awkward. it was very....i dunno...peaceful? i was at complete peace while talking to them...i was comfortable? i even thought about maybe just meeting up for coffee or something light to catch up.

but i am TRULY glad that i have not done so. it would just lead to the same heartache as before. i do hope that our friendship can be restored...but it cannot be initiated from my end. THEY have to do it.

the day after i ran into this person the first time, i left a comment on their facebook saying how good it was to see them, and wished them an enjoyable week ahead.

no response. didn't expect one....didn't want one.

one week later, i see comments on several mutual friends pages from this person...i'm not sure why, as one of these persons lives out of the area, but as it was, obviously God layed them on their heart for some reason...

anyhow...

remember how i said i was having coffee with some girlfriends? well, one of my girlfriends had a comment....yet...not me.

this is a vicious pattern that i saw at the very end of our friendship. this friend would spend hours on the phone with other friends in "our circle" then neither of those friends would call me. after MONTHS of that happening, i began to feel like i was being "phased out." i wasn't attending their church or their "special services." what did we have in common anymore? i mean...really? they were so preoccupied with their ministries, they forgot that their friends were hurting....

at least, that's how i felt. like i said earlier, i feel like God had a hand in it.

the patterns...

though...

they are still there.

and as long as the patterns are still there, i can't put myself out there to these particular people.

i just can't.

but..i am truly thankful for God's protection. He is taking care of my heart where i would be foolish with it. Thank you, Lord...for your gentle protection...

Sunday, November 23, 2008

down days

sometimes, i have what i call, "down days."

i had one of those today. i'm not fully convinced that i feel completely better...

i had a rough night last night.

combine that with waking up this morning to go to a place where i had to struggle to feel like i belong....didn't make for a promising morning...

i have a ministry idea, but am a little scared to attempt what i have in mind.

i have a desire to get involved, but with what i've experienced, i don't know if i can go through it all over again.

last christmas was wonderful at this place. now...i wonder what to expect for the christmas dinner this year.

we learned this morning to give thanks in all things:

"Thank you Lord for the family you have given me...and thank you for the husband you've given me. thank you for our disagreements as they make us stronger. and more importantly...thank you Lord, that i have someone who loves me...and that the generational curses being held onto my family are stopping with us. Thank you for your true faithfulness--even when we are so unfaithful!"

some news:

i'm learning more sign language. one thing that i would like to do in the new year is interpret for my sisters-in-law at church. so, i'm going through the process of learning the appropriate signs.

pray for me please! that i can retain the signs i learn!

thanks all!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

i wonder...

i often wonder why we choose to live in the small things.

i do it. and i know why i do it. but i don't at the same time. the small things can make my day or make me want to shoot myself.

so what? why do we choose to live in the fact that someone disagrees with us? why do we just assume that they are an idiot b/c they voted democrat/republican (insert your own belief here)?

why do we treat them like they don't exist just because they are different from us?

why do we choose to not listen to their beliefs with an open mind just because they aren't our beliefs?

why do we say we're an open-minded group of people (church, political group, religious belief, etc...) when we barrage others with insults the first time someone disagrees with us?

why do we comment on people's blogs automatically assuming they believe what we believe and assume that is the ONLY way to believe?

why do we think we know the truth when we don't know the One who is true?

why do we automatically assume the worst about someone even though we have known them for years and at this point should know their heart...and even if the worst is true, why can't we still love them....because after all...isn't that what we should do?

just because Jesus is the only way to Heaven and He is true and the Bible is true, doesn't mean you aren't entitled to think differently. you can think whatever you want. but...there is absolute truth....his name is Jesus. he is absolutely true.

i wrote this blog and posted it on facebook a couple of days ago.

some might think it's because of what i've been through.

but actually it was based on a comment from a "friend" on my husbands facebook.

"oh...i thought you meant..."

seems to be a favorite saying of our "friends".

i think next time i'm approached with this saying, i'm going to simply reply with:

"of course that's what i meant! cuz i'd rather wish harm on you than prosperity....and i'd rather see you crumble than see you succeed. cuz...that's what being friends with you is all about, and i'll be darned if i see anything else!"

Friday, November 14, 2008

YAY!

i feel somewhat successful!

one thing i've been wanting to get done is to print off some of the wedding pictures. i finally got the ordered and now have them in my possession. tonight...i'm going to frame them as i wait for my bestest friend Kristin to come over. it's going to be our long-awaited margarita night. :o)

Jacob is taking his little cousin out to see a movie. originally, i was supposed to go, but i wasn't really feeling seeing this movie....again. jacob loved it so he's going to see it for his third time.

i cleaned all day at work...which is great! i feel GREAT about what i had done....but i also feel disgusting. cleaning at work usually means something along the lines of spoiled milk and coffee messes. so...i feel disgusting and am about to go take a shower before i do much else. :o)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

holiday

where i work, i see lots of people who claim to be christians.

i'm not sure what they mean by that because how they treat me (as a server) makes me angry.

for example: today i had a woman buying a christian living book chastise me for offering her a member card.

it's my job to offer a membercard.

now:

i understand that we are to be stewards with our resources...and that includes our income...

however....

Fellow believers in the Almighty God...

don't forsake your witness just to save a dollar.

if you find yourself coming up with a hurtful comment to the cashier who just offered you something that would cost you an extra dollar or so...

DON'T SAY IT.

say, "no thanks! have a great day!"

a lot of people i work with know that i love Jesus. they don't necessarily understand it, but they come to me when people who are buying a Bible or a christian living book and complain about these customers who are hurtful and just down right mean.

in fact...Christians are usually the worst customers. which is ironic.

sunday is the worst time to work retail. especially after noon....when all the churches are let out.

maybe it's a good thing you're buying this stuff....cuz you sure could use it.

at least...that's how i look at it. my co-workers who don't believe in God or choose not to follow Him, think: "figures...if that's what their god is like, i don't wanna follow him."

this holiday season (thanksgiving, Christmas, and new years), let's show our service people that we have a God who is not only worth following, but loves them in a way they can't fathom.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

it's late...

i don't really even know what day it technically is:

sunday night?

monday morning?

it's at that point in the evening when it all just kinda blurs together.

jacob and i have had a looong weekend, yet, that doesn't deter me from staying up late....

actually, it's because i feel like i have something to share with you guys, but for the life of me, i don't know what it is.

life has been....well...weird since my blog about church.

my husband read it, and was blessed by it, which in turn, blesses me.

yet, i can't help but feel that as i sit on my couch in my living room, with the giants/eagles game in the last 4 minutes, my husband in bed, sleeping...exhausted by our long weekend, and even longer day....that there is something out there.

i don't know how to explain it.

my heart is burdened, but not heavy...

my mind is racing, but focused.

my soul is searching, but knows i've found something....

i am not satisfied.

this may come off as "woe is me."

in reality...i'm not satisfied, b/c i know i'm created for something more. we all are. don't limit yourselves....i'm learning not to limit myself.

God is strong....

let's be strong by HIS strength!

Friday, November 7, 2008

church

on wednesday evenings, i attend what my old church calls a cell group meeting. if you are not familiar with this term, i'll try to BRIEFLY describe it to you.

Basically, it's like a small group--we get together and sometimes we study the word, or we gather around each other in prayer, or sometimes, we do some fun stuff to help us get through the week. the term "cell group" comes from the fact that the church is the body of Christ; each of these smaller meetings throughout the week is called cell because a cell is a smaller part of the body.

the thing i miss most about my old church is the emphasis on experiencing church like we read about in the new testament. when Jacob and i got married, i made the transition into his church. partly because i didn't want to fight about it, but mainly because he was already so involved; much more than i was in my old church.

less than a year of attending this church, i already regret that decision. first of all, it is a small church. coming from a big church, i really didn't think that it would be different. but, it really is. the dynamics of a small church are very different than that of a big church.

i'll give an example:

i had heard that someone was talking about me behind my back about things that weren't very...well...nice. and this person knew nothing of what they were saying. i know this because i don't particularly talk to them....ever. especially about the topic at hand.

the next morning, i went to someone i trusted, feeling hurt and needing some affirmation, BADLY. this person thought i was badmouthing, talking negatively, spreading gossip about this person, and basically did an "about-face." this just added to the hurt and insecurity i was already feeling.

now, the difference is here: i know this person didn't mean to cause hurt, but at my old church, the ladies that i commune with, they would KNOW that i wasn't trying to badmouth or spread negativity or gossip about someone....they would know that i was hurting.

in fact, they did. this past wednesday evening, they asked me how i was doing in the transition from one church to another....i explained the situation without any names, to be on the safe side, and just explained how hurt i was. they were the church to me.

they didn't judge me.

they didn't assume bad things about me, just because of what i was saying...

and nor did they talk to me like it was MY fault.

these are all things that i have felt non-stop since attending my husbands church.

instead, they gathered around me, and prayed for me and these relationships. they even said, "how ridiculous! of course you were hurting!"

it was such a blessing...and i will never forget it. it is something that i pray i can take to my current church and spread.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

note on blog below

i have to write a disclaimer....

i just published a blog where i talked about my job and what i said to customers...

i in fact did not say that to customers about enjoying pike place on port republic. i mumbled under my breath after they walked away.

likewise, i only told them about the starbucks on port road if they asked.

i tried to offer them a cup of our coffee, but they never really stood around long enough for me to say: we have coffee for $1.83. so....forgive me for not pushing that enough....

election day and coffee...

i must say i hate election day.

when i was in school, i loved it b/c it meant going to my grandmothers for the day.

however, now, there are so many things involved with politics that has made me very cynical when i go to vote. now, i do feel very strongly that we should all be involved in our government and society, because we have to live in it, we should get a say about what happens.

however...

the politics (notice i use government and politics NOT interchangably....they are NOT the same thing.) of our society have made things very unfair. the whole voting process has never been fair and it doesn't matter who is declared victor tonight (or early tomorrow morning for us east coast folks), it will never be fair. there will always be something that this person does that will upset some group of people, or multiple groups of people.

we all think we know what the government needs....i do this too....however, if we all think we know and what we all think is not the same, then....who's right?

i think no one is and at the same time, we all are.

it's also become too much about the parties. "vote democratic" "vote republican" is written up on signs in multiple places in our city and county. for one election, i think we should not say a WORD about who's with what party, and show previous voting records (for congressmen) and previous failures and successes for those who desire to run for ANY government office--local or national.

how many people would be thrown off because of that? really? how many people have voted a certain party b/c that's all they've known for however many years?

for the most part this election season, i have avoided most conversations about politics that make me uncomfortable. i nod when anyone would talk about the candidate opposite of my choosing. and i would smile whenever talk turned to the candidate i preferred. but today has sent me over the edge.....

starbucks was offering a free cup of coffee to anyone who voted.

i work in a coffee shop that is NOT a starbucks....

but...i have been yelled at and chastised by these idiotic people for not offering them the free cup of coffee....

if only i could be sarcastic back without fear of losing my job....

and believe me, i was NOT in the mood today to take this crap from people.

in my head: "SHUT UP! TAKE YOUR FREAKIN CUP OF COFFEE! I HOPE YOU SPILL IT ON YOU AND BURN YOUR HAND!"

what came out: "go to port road. they're offering the worst cup of coffee i've had in years. pike place. enjoy."

Jacob dragged me to starbucks to get a free cup of coffee today. and it was seriously the worst cup i've ever had. i had one sip and had to pour it out. thank God it was free.

i don't get starbucks...given that i don't go there if i don't need to b/c why pay full price for coffee when i can get it 50% off? but...the few times i have been there (and maybe this is only the one here?? dunno!) they stopped brewing coffee after like 12 noon. meaning...when i WOULD'VE waited 5 minutes for a cup, there would be no waiting b/c they weren't making it.

but...you're a coffee shop.

then, their brewed coffee...literally sucks.

but you're an internationally known business.

can ANYONE explain this to me?

Saturday, November 1, 2008

worlds apart

unfortunately, i am the only one to blame for this.

i was selfish.

i tried to be in a world that didn't belong to me and that i didn't belong in.

how can i start to sacrifice again? i know how hard it was to begin with....so to do it knowingly again; how hard it is!

i struggle with much, but to make the attempt to come back into God's will after being out of it for so long is harder than....just about anything.

"I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
my sin soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart
halleluia"

Lord, I come before you knowing that You have so much more meant for me. Lord, i ask that You would take my world apart. Love the ones i despise....love those that mean harm for me. love those that talk about me behind my back...love those that don't understand me, and those i don't understand. Forgive them, Lord, for they have no idea how much i hurt.

Lord, break me. break my heart in such a way i have no choice but to come back to You. Lord, stay near to me. i need You. i can't live without You and don't want to. I love You Lord.

The image of Jesus being beaten beyond recognition, the idea that Jesus' skin being pierced with holes in His hands and feet, the spear that went through his side; his three days he spent in hell, paying for MY SIN...all that I DESERVE he took on himself. i can't fully comprehend. i have no idea. yet, he did it. and he'd do it all over again. How do i know this? well...he didn't have to do it in the beginning. he had the power to say no. to say, "you're not worth all this work and sacrifice i have to give." but he didn't. nope.

"Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay. if you're looking for this specific version, it can be found on the live cd on their Furthermore compilation.

"I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loved
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache

and Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart
so i pray...

take my world apart,
i am on my knees
take my world apart,
broken on my knees
on my knees, yeah...

Additional lyrics:

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take my beauty, take my tears
my sin soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
take my beauty take my tears
sin soaked heart, make me yours
all the things i cannot hide
take my beauty take my tears,
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart
halleluia (repeated) "

Saturday, October 25, 2008

rainy days and mondays...

or so the song goes....

today was actually a really beautiful day. it rained, which isn't always fun, but the view of the weather from my house was truly beautiful! The clouds hovered over Massanutten, and when they lifted all you could see were the beautiful colors that remained on the trees. unfortunately my camera doesn't do well with lots of moisture in the air, so, no pictures, however, just imagine a beautiful mountain covered by fluffy clouds and then beautiful colors in a clear sky later on in the day.

if only words could express the beauty that surrounds us...

One of my dear friends came over for a late breakfast this morning. we had so much fun catching up with things! she's the most recent (after me) to get engaged of my group of High school friends...and we're also (distantly) related!!

i don't have many friends...and the few i do have i rarely get to see, and there is a smaller few who i consider friends- but i think i'm being a bit generous when i call them friends.

but Kim, my friend, is a true friend. she's there for me, i called her at one point when i was at a very low place, and she sat on the phone with me while i cried and talked my way into a paper bag and got stuck, and prayed with me for help to get out of that paper bag...

i only hope that she knows i'm there for her whenever she needs me to be.

i know that i am truly blessed, because i do have people that love me...i couldn't even begin to name them all, but thank you! I know you are reading, and you know who you are.

God is good. hm...yes in deed.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

marriage retreat pictures

okay....these are pictures of the beach and of a stop my husband and i made: Horton Vineyard. Gorgeous!


Horton Vineyard














There is an "H" in the stone!


























































Early Sunday morning the sun shone onto the ocean. it had been dark and rainy, cloudy and cold all weekend, then suddenly the suns beautiful rays came shining through!






















































































fall!!!

I do not consider myself artistic, however, i like to play. i have a cheap camera and a cheap program on my cheap computer. i have never really spent money on something that i would consider a hobby, so, maybe that's why i don't consider photography a hobby. maybe one day....my friends...maybe one day.

here are some pictures i took and played around with. This tree is in what i consider my front yard, but really it is in my only yard....renters....


























































































































































Monday, October 20, 2008

marriage retreat

Over the weekend, Jacob and i went to VA Beach with other couples from the church network to attend a marriage retreat. Pastor Tony has said that this is just a reason to get away for the weekend, and the main thing was to have fun. He and his wife, Kathy, made us promise...no arguing. we promised, and for the most part, kept it.

I came away blessed. Jacob came away with something else, and i hope to let him blog about it on our other blog, if he chooses to.

it was a very simple retreat. we gathered in a small conference room on the first level of the hotel, pulled down a screen, and Pastor Tony and/or Kathy hit play. (it was a DVD series.)

from my understanding, all of the videos can be found on www.marriagetoday.org. His name was Jimmy and his wife was Karen. I can't remember their last names, but i also have yet to visit the website.

one of the things Jimmy said in one of the sessions was that divorce and adultery runs together. His point was how to divorce-proof and adultery-proof your marriage. typically, i don't believe you can sum life up in twelve steps, but that isn't what this was about. the whole point in divorce-proofing and adultery-proofing your marriage was put family first; let me be more specific...put your spouse first. period. i am not going to go too much further in this because it isn't MY message, but it is his message, and i have no desire to take credit for learning something that he had to learn the hard way and nearly experienced a divorce or separation for it.

however, i have been thinking about that statement..."Divorce and adultery runs together."

to expand: he said that if your support group or friends or family are supportive of an affair or divorce, then you are more likely to end up experiencing a divorce or affair.

i really wonder if that's how it is with not just divorce or adultery, but other sins as well. let's say sexual sin. a man who is ashamed of his pornography addiction goes to his friends for prayer and help, yet finds that his friends take part in habitual pornography. he feels though that it still is bad, yet, kind of feels some sense of satisfaction and affirmation. he isn't the only one who struggles. maybe this isn't THAT bad....?

now, i used that example, b/c that is an example he used often....men and pornography. i really don't have an example that is a GOOD example for women, but, here's how i look at it:

it just has to be something that as a follower of Christ one knows he/she should not be taking part in this. it also has to be something that is definitely not of God and therefore is a sin. Then this sin should be shared with a few close knit friends primarily to seek help and prayer but then receives a response of shame..."yeah. i'm in the same boat. can we help each other?"

while this plea seems honorable, i wonder if it's harmful. i mean, we don't want to lie to our brothers and sister in the Lord, by not telling them that we struggle with the same sin, but at the same time...are we damaging them even more by telling them that we struggle?

i dunno...maybe i'm overthinking this, but i sincerely hope that i do not cause my sisters in Christ more damage by sharing with them.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

I wanna run but i don't know how...

I was listening to the local radio station when this song by Bebo Norman came on. usually, i like Bebo Norman. he has never really touched my life by his music, which means nothing because i tend to not listen to this particular radio station. however, this song that they've been playing like crazy (because they do that...play a song to death), i feel like i just heard it for the first time. now, i'm constantly listening to this song, curtesy of free.napster.com.

http://play.napster.com/track/25140866

The song is called "Pull Me Out."

"Tell me now, when does this start feeling
like I understand everything I’m dealing with
first I was young, now it’s all just happening.
And what about the way I said that
made you turn around and shake your head
like I don’t even know what I’m asking for

This could be all about just letting go
or this could be all about just holding on

I can’t get my feet off of the ground
I wanna run but I don’t know how
can You reach down here and pull me out, can you pull me out, yeah
I wanna scream but there’s no sound
I wanna fly to you somehow
can you reach me here and pull me out, can you pull me out

remember when I was young and hungry,
I could take it in, without much money,
I had nothing at all but dreams and time to kill
and now I feel like I’m treading water
and I’m hardly real - I’m just trying harder
to make my way on the earth by standing still

this could be all about just letting go
or this could be all about just holding on

I can’t get my feet off of the ground
I wanna run but I don’t know how
Can you reach down here and pull me out, can you pull me out, yeah
I wanna scream but there’s no sound
I wanna fly to you somehow
Can you reach me here and pull me out, can you pull me out

not a moment too soon You will be my rescue
but tell me how long will it take?

I can’t get my feet off of the ground
I wanna run but I don’t know how
can you reach down here and pull me out, can you pull me out
I can’t get my feet off of the ground
I wanna run but I don’t know how
Can you reach down here and pull me out, can you pull me out, yeah
I wanna scream but there’s no sound
I wanna fly to you somehow
can you reach me here and pull me out – can you pull me out
can you pull me out? can you reach down and pull me out?"

The reason this song speaks to me is that the bridge is just where i am right now: "This could all be about letting go, or this could be all about holding on."

The chorus screams what i've been screaming:
"i can't get my feet off of the ground. i wanna run but i don't know how. can you reach down here and pull me out, can you pull me out?"

just the fact that Bebo Norman sings this part twice (can you pull me out, can you pull me out, yeah) screams how i've been feeling!

Can you pull me out, Lord....LORD! Please! CAN YOU PULL ME OUT?!?!

I know that God is capable of doing so much, including pulling me out of this situation. but the sheer fact that he hasn't says that he is doing something different. And since i KNOW God's character, i know that it isn't worse than what i am in now. For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his will (Romans 8:28).

and in this. we are more than conquerers.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

i hurt...:o\

an update on my back....

this past wednesday, October 8, i pulled some muscles in my back at work unloading the cafe shipment.

wednesday, i spent the afternoon and evening home in pain. I got up and made jacob some dinner, and made myself a little something about 2 hours later.

thursday, i went to work, but was sent home after 12:30 and spent that day in pain on the couch, with a heating pad and some tylenol.

friday, i went to the doctor where i got some muscle relaxers, and was told to take it easy.

yesterday, (saturday), i spent most of the day (after i got home from work at 11:30) on the couch and asleep from the relaxers, until jacob and i went to his grandmothers to visit some family in from out of town.

today, i'm staying home and sleeping. jacob invited a bunch of people over, so i'm hoping to be up and ready to watch some football by the time they come over.

i'm in pain, and the muscle relaxers just kinda dull the pain.

ugh. i hurt....:o\

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Honey's Rum Cake

Ever since I entered into the Dobscha Family as an outsider, there has been ONE thing that EVERYONE raves about: Honey's Rum Cake.

Honey is Jacob's Great Grandmother. She has most of her recipies from scratch and are her own concoctions. She is a dear old lady, and when we asked her for her recipe, gave it freely. however, this is a family recipe, so i cannot divulge this recipe.

However, her giving the recipe to me was not only special, but very intimidating. Honey's Rum Cake is Jacob's favorite. it could be the one thing that he may be close to coveting. he ALWAYS looks for it when we go over there.

it is, however, a very easy recipe and actually kinda fun to make.

and when i made it, it came out PERFECTLY!

so...in the life of a new wife, this is one victory, encouragement, and blessing to me!

Friday, September 26, 2008

still unpacking

so, my husband and i are still unpacking. we've lived here since july 16th, yet, i have worked almost 40 hours a week since moving in (which is unusual), and am usually too tired to unpack when i get home. my limit of space is partly due to that fact and i can't stand it. i had today off of work and now i feel very satisfied...i got a LOT done. i:

-did two loads of laundry
-unpacked my winter clothes (as it is very cold outside)
-packed up my summer clothes
-cleaned up the closet to utilize the space in there
-packed up some holiday decorations (can't wait for christmas!)
-and i've gotten some big boxes out of the living room!

now, when i say cleaned up the closet...it WAS a task and a half! all the cleaning has been a task and a half!

made spaghetti for dinner. very basic, quick and easy....and cheap too!

the other day i made egg salad for my lunch. jacob doesn't like egg salad, so i didn't plan on him eating any. but he tried some of mine and said he only likes mine! (yay!)

all i did was:

4 hard boiled eggs (of course)
2 or so tablespoons of light mayo
1.5-2 tablespoons of mustard (maybe less...to your taste)
salt and pepper to taste
then i used some chives seasoning to add a little flavor to it..

it was very good!

in the meantime, it is so good to have a husband who is very concerned with my spiritual wellbeing. he is challenging me to help him with a Bible study for Romans.

he is so great!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

God is good.

I haven't been close to God lately. i acknowledge him, and when Jacob and i pray, i sincerely come before God. yet, with things that have been happening over the last year or so, i have a hard time being a true follower.


yet, God is still so good. He blesses us beyond what we imagine.

I had a doctors appointment today, and got a clear bill of health.

i then went to the post office, where i was involved in a small fender bender. I was so scared because the car is not yet insured in my name. and if the insurance company finds out that we haven't switched it over yet, we may receive an intense fine. (as soon as my dad and i can get a day off together, we are switching it into my name).

yet, when i got out of the car....nothing. no dent. only a small scratch, which will come off with a little soap and water and a good wax.

Praise God. see...it's kinda complicated. my dad's cars are his children. we've always taken second (or third) place to his cars, and have always been harshly punished for any sort of damage. the one thing is he has a tendency of calling me names, and is always telling me how i shouldn't be driving.

well..it's not his car anymore, yet, he is still very controlling. so, i freaked out. yet, God is so good. he can handle a small scratch...especially when i tell him that it wasn't my fault but the old man who bumped into me! :o)

My life as a new wife

Welcome to MY blog! if you are coming from my other blog, Dobscha family, then you know a little of my story. if you haven't been to my other blog, please visit! it will be updated about the happenings of the Dobschas....myself and my husband, Jacob...so far. :o)

dobscha.blogspot.com

This one, however, will tell a different story. the life of a new wife.

For example, I am always trying to cook an interesting and delicious meal for my husband. however, on a tight budget and limited knowledge on combinations, i'm quickly running out of ideas. but as i come onto something new, i will share them here, and (with permission of others) share what is given to me.

also, stories of what I am dealing with as i go through this CRAZY transition in life, i will share, and hopefully encourage others who are or about to go through these same things. i don't ever desire to be a downer, but will definitely be real about what is going on. sometimes it will be hilarious, and other times, it will be less than happy. but that's who i am...a woman with many emotions. and that's ok.