Sarah has been doing an awesome job blogging. Tbough I am the co-owner of this blog, I have not posted until now! I think you will enjoy my more concise sentence structure as evidenced thus far. =)
Sarah and I have been watching the "Anne of Green Gables" series on DVD during the last few days. I have been swept into the story line at times, and my masculinity has endured nicely. I love the beautiful shots of Prince Edward Island--amazing! And I also enjoy the heartwarming interaction between Merilla (I think that's how you spell it) and Anne.
This series has made me think a lot about where we find joy. Joy is something that everyone searches for and no one currently has enough of. I mean, most of the time we all would admit that we would love to have even just a thimble full more of joy.
In the "Anne of Green Gables" series, Anne expresses joy about so many things. When the audience first meets Anne, she is often finding joy in day dreams about what her life might be like if it weren't the same. She finds joy in nature on the carriage ride home with Matthew to Green Gables. She finds joy in attending the ball with what's her name...the girl friend of hers...brown hair...yea. In the sequel movie she finds joy in getting her writing published, in putting on an awesome school play, in returning home to the Green Gables, and especially in her and Gil's romance at the end.
We can all identify with these sources of joy, and they are all valid and important and good things to be joyful about. God has given us beautiful scenery, close personal relationships, parties, and romance to enjoy.
The overall portrayal of Anne in the movies raises a question for me...is Anne's joy lasting? Does it even last for hours, or days, or months, or years...let alone millenia or eternity? Also, are her sources of joy the ultimate source of joy or just vessels to point her to the ultimate source?
In relationship with God-the only true God revealed in Jesus Christ-is the only place that we will ever find lasting joy. We have all experienced getting that next thing that we want, finding joy for a brief period that then fades. For me, it's happened with my new job. Before I got a job, a part of me thought that getting one would bring me incredible joy. It did, in fact, but that joy has faded. My soul is again restless. It's no longer good enough that I have a job, I need a great commute, and so on, and so forth. God's unchanging nature and unbreakable promises allow those who trust in Him to have joy that lasts, no matter how high or how low life's circumstances take us.
In the person of God is where we find the ultimate source of joy...we were created with this in mind. Think about it...if the gifts (like the ones listed above) are so amazing, how much more amazing is the person who designed and crafted and gave us all the gifts? How much more able to give and sustain joy is that person? Infinitely more, and in fact, God's gifts are given to point us to himself, the magnificent and loving God that He is.
Perhaps the greatest gift God has given us is himself. God the Son (Jesus Christ) came to earth, leaving perfect and complete joy with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit while we, who had been created to love Him, were still turning against Him. He lived the life we should have lived, one that was perfectly obedient to God, and then died the death that we should have died for our rebellion. He defeated death (the penalty of our misdeeds) rising from the grave, making a way from us to God. This gift is given to us to make us see God as great. And, for those who receive this gift by believing that Jesus has done this incredible thing for them, this gift gives way to the highest joy we will ever know, knowing God forever.
The bible in 1 Peter 3:18 says: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,that he might bring us to God." Psalm 16:11 says, "In your presence [God's presence] there is fullness of joy."
What about when Anne and Gilbert fight and they can't stand the thought of each other for several hours? Will she have joy during that time? What about when she can't imagine herself out of an illness that she has, or a tough financial situation? When Merilla dies?
I would die for the truth that she will only find full joy throughout all circumstances in God himself.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Typical talk for the starving artist type....
Ben and I have been listening to Wayne Shorter this weekend. He is such a fabulous musician! Honestly, when I met Ben he introduced me to music that I had never listened to before. I always thought that if we were to get married, we would be rich in terms of our fusing musical collections and love ..... And both have turned out to true! :) That being said, having been nothing but musicians/students since we met, it has been good that we have had our music and our love for the past blissful almost-year of marriage! God is the great provider and we have never been in need of anything regardless of our circumstances. But as with other friends pursuing a career with their art, there is always the fun sport of taking on the "starving artist" persona, which we do for fun on occasion. That desperate, gold-digging, headstrong personality came over me with so much irony while we were listening to Mr. Shorter today and I just had to share:
"You know I really married you because I wanted all your music (Ben snorted). Yup, I married you for you music and your money."
Ben immediately replied, "Well that was a stupid idea." =)
"You know I really married you because I wanted all your music (Ben snorted). Yup, I married you for you music and your money."
Ben immediately replied, "Well that was a stupid idea." =)
Friday, July 8, 2011
Never a Dull Moment
....not having a lot on the "to-do" list doesn't mean that we can't get into trouble - oh no, quite the opposite! In the past 3 days we have called both 911 (Sarah and the boxcutter incident)and Poison Control (Sarah forgot the exterminator came to the house and ate something off the floor). I would like to point out that Ben was not the perpetrator of either of these events; however, he did most of the dirty work in order to get things right again....because he's just THE MAN like that. Meanwhile, I have managed to stay out of trouble for almost 24 hrs and am trying my best to keep it that way!
The boxcutter incident happened as a result of cutting holes around teeny tiny nails that held a bookshelf backing in place (the backing happened to have been nailed on backwards). After about 50 nails were done and 4 were left I decided to defy the laws of knife-handling (never a good idea) in my haste to finish and sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the bookshelf - in the line of fire. And it did feel like fire, actually. After we called 911 looking for the hospital or an urgent care place (we had neither internet nor a phone book), the operator decided, against our protesting, that we needed an ambulance. The embarrassing exchange between us and the paramedics is actually comical in hinds' sight....we all knew they didn't need to be there, we simply needed directions to Urgent Care. I hope nobody was in serious condition during their visit. They literally took my blood pressure and gave me a Band-aid, telling me the wound may or may not even need stitching. Urgent Care sewed me up right away, and we were off. 4 stitches and quite a tale to tell for all of it!
In other news, we have been cooking and eating fabulous food! I have been searching out local farmer's markets, and found a close one with great deals. I bought all of the food in the photo below for just a bit over $10!
Lettuce, Zucchini, Corn, Yellow Squash, Mango, FL Oranges, Tomatoes, Cucumber....
I'm the most excited about the mango!
Did I mention that I am exceedingly excited about this?
This food tends to make very good meals as well. The other night we had oven-roasted veggies with alfredo pasta and garlic toast on the side. One of my favorites so far! - I liked it so much that I took a picture! :)
We also found out that we are permitted to paint our place! I am ecstatic about this! One of my girlhood dreams was to have a place of my own that I could paint and decorate. I used to plan whenever I would go to the hardware store with my dad. :) We picked out the colors together, and I picked them and all the paint supplies up at Home Depot today. Thanks to my Grandpa Fortney's graduation gift to Ben of a Home Depot gift card, we are able to start this project sooner rather than later. Stay tuned for before-and-after shots!
The boxcutter incident happened as a result of cutting holes around teeny tiny nails that held a bookshelf backing in place (the backing happened to have been nailed on backwards). After about 50 nails were done and 4 were left I decided to defy the laws of knife-handling (never a good idea) in my haste to finish and sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the bookshelf - in the line of fire. And it did feel like fire, actually. After we called 911 looking for the hospital or an urgent care place (we had neither internet nor a phone book), the operator decided, against our protesting, that we needed an ambulance. The embarrassing exchange between us and the paramedics is actually comical in hinds' sight....we all knew they didn't need to be there, we simply needed directions to Urgent Care. I hope nobody was in serious condition during their visit. They literally took my blood pressure and gave me a Band-aid, telling me the wound may or may not even need stitching. Urgent Care sewed me up right away, and we were off. 4 stitches and quite a tale to tell for all of it!
In other news, we have been cooking and eating fabulous food! I have been searching out local farmer's markets, and found a close one with great deals. I bought all of the food in the photo below for just a bit over $10!
This food tends to make very good meals as well. The other night we had oven-roasted veggies with alfredo pasta and garlic toast on the side. One of my favorites so far! - I liked it so much that I took a picture! :)
We also found out that we are permitted to paint our place! I am ecstatic about this! One of my girlhood dreams was to have a place of my own that I could paint and decorate. I used to plan whenever I would go to the hardware store with my dad. :) We picked out the colors together, and I picked them and all the paint supplies up at Home Depot today. Thanks to my Grandpa Fortney's graduation gift to Ben of a Home Depot gift card, we are able to start this project sooner rather than later. Stay tuned for before-and-after shots!
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Big Move
So we are officially living in South Florida now! First of all, I would like to dispel the myth that South Florida is hotter than any other place in the southern regions of the US. Just because it's further south does not make it hotter. If you have never visited Greenville, NC and West Palm Beach, FL in succession, you must do so before making an informed decision on this subject. Let's just say that hot, humid, stagnant air FEELS ridiculously more smothering than hot, humid air which is mingled with a gentle breeze from the Atlantic Ocean! So all you G-vegas people --- come visit us! :)
We had a very smooth trip down. Ben is a master Budget truck driver; the only incident he had was with a garbage can at a gas station (Budget truck = 1, trash can = 0; thankfully plastic cans can be bent back into shape!). Although I went a little crazy driving the Honda all alone, I finished Anne of Green Gables on audiobook, my phone battery never died, and my appendages never completely went to sleep - win! We made a pit stop in Jacksonville, FL on Day 1 to visit some dear old friends of mine (they're not old in years, but I have known them a long time!). Thanks to our pastor in Greenville, the next day we were able to meet up with some members of a local church body who helped us move into our new apartment. It was not the best moving conditions, as the rain made the truck ramp slippery, but nothing was broken, and more importantly, nobody was injured. :)
So of course there are adjustments to be made as it is with any new town, but we are loving this area. I particularly enjoy the beachy breeze and the SUPER TARGET 3 minutes down the road. :) We are slowly making some friends in the area from the church we visited yesterday as well as some neighbors. My favorite part, by far, is the abundance of time that we have had since moving here. The last year has been fabulous, don't get me wrong - God has been good to us in our marriage and our school endeavors - but finding quality time together while meeting the demands of our lives has been interesting to say the least. The lavish amount of time that we have had to set up our home, unpack our things, take breaks from that to sit on the porch and talk, walk down to the pool and check our e-mail, explore the area, and get lots and lots of sleep has been a gift for which we are incredibly thankful. Being a first year teacher, Ben will more than likely be quite busy, and I believe that my internship will require a lot from me as well. It has been lovely to begin our lives here slowly.
Enough for all my chatty words, here are some pictures from the last few days:
Pit stop for gas: this truck sucked it down!
My view = I-95 and the moving truck!
This photo was taken right after we crossed the GA-FL border. The sign's caption? "Welcome to the Sunshine State." Ironic.
Right after this, the camera battery died. I was unable to take any more photos until all of our stuff was in piles in the living room, as seen below. :)
Unpacking Day 1: I thought this was the last kitchen box. I had been misinformed. :)
Sunday after church we visited the City Place: probably a real tourist trap, but it's a gorgeous area!
Hi Mom! ;-)
More to come....
We had a very smooth trip down. Ben is a master Budget truck driver; the only incident he had was with a garbage can at a gas station (Budget truck = 1, trash can = 0; thankfully plastic cans can be bent back into shape!). Although I went a little crazy driving the Honda all alone, I finished Anne of Green Gables on audiobook, my phone battery never died, and my appendages never completely went to sleep - win! We made a pit stop in Jacksonville, FL on Day 1 to visit some dear old friends of mine (they're not old in years, but I have known them a long time!). Thanks to our pastor in Greenville, the next day we were able to meet up with some members of a local church body who helped us move into our new apartment. It was not the best moving conditions, as the rain made the truck ramp slippery, but nothing was broken, and more importantly, nobody was injured. :)
So of course there are adjustments to be made as it is with any new town, but we are loving this area. I particularly enjoy the beachy breeze and the SUPER TARGET 3 minutes down the road. :) We are slowly making some friends in the area from the church we visited yesterday as well as some neighbors. My favorite part, by far, is the abundance of time that we have had since moving here. The last year has been fabulous, don't get me wrong - God has been good to us in our marriage and our school endeavors - but finding quality time together while meeting the demands of our lives has been interesting to say the least. The lavish amount of time that we have had to set up our home, unpack our things, take breaks from that to sit on the porch and talk, walk down to the pool and check our e-mail, explore the area, and get lots and lots of sleep has been a gift for which we are incredibly thankful. Being a first year teacher, Ben will more than likely be quite busy, and I believe that my internship will require a lot from me as well. It has been lovely to begin our lives here slowly.
Enough for all my chatty words, here are some pictures from the last few days:
Right after this, the camera battery died. I was unable to take any more photos until all of our stuff was in piles in the living room, as seen below. :)
More to come....
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