T$ and I have some dear friends, that you may have heard who put together a group named Ivan & Alyosha. They're simply quality men who sing and play their instruments - a noise which I am sure is pleasing to the Lord. And their wives are some of my favorite people around.
There are four of them: Pete, Ryan, Tim, and Tim. I have a thing with alphabetical order. You should ask me about it sometime (eeimmost).
Anyway, this post is not about me, but about them and my new favorite song. I'm a sucker for lyrics and here is an excerpt from my new favorite tune to hit my ears...
If I could wake my crooked heart If I was there right from the start To feel what it was like to be turned on.
If you could fight the battle and win, To miss the mark, correct within If your wish came true, your dreams made real.
Running for cover. Running to hide.
If I could be a wiser man, To rest my head and trust the plan, Been fighting like a child to get my way.
If I could see the garden place, Before the fall would things have changed? I wasn't there and neither were you, but I take the blame as you should too my friend. -Ivan & Alyosha (Disclaimer: Sorry sorry if I didn't get the lyrics 100% correct...did my best to type what I heard).
As I reflect back on the year of 2011 I am amazed at God's constant companionship throughout each month, day, and even at very specific moments.
The year started with uncertainty of my future but a desperate desire to no longer work at my job and truly seek after my vocation (thank-you Pepperdine). I was REJECTED, rejected from my very very first educational institution ever in January. I was frustrated, defeated, and irritated. January was the month of buckling down and trying again. My boss at the time was one of the most encouraging people in my life towards trying again and wrote a very kind recommendation. My dearest kindred spirit had her heart broken in January. Both were tough, but not insurmountable. God is faithful.
February - me and my love turned another year older. I had to say good-bye to my co-worker TK as he moved on to greener pastures with Ivan & Alyosha. I vowed to not be far behind him in taking my leave from work (but not for a spot in any touring band).
March, April, May - The application process continued. I went salsa dancing for the first time. T$ and I bought a house (OK, a townhouse that's actually a condo). Also, somewhere in that time, I was accepted to SPU!!! Thank the Lord. God is faithful.
June - Most likely the most difficult month and time period I have experienced. Also the most beautiful if in our brokenness we lean on Christ. On days that I wanted to crawl into dark spaces and disappear, God remained by my side. We were also given some wonderful memories in the month of June - a faraway Rhode Island wedding vacation and Shasta. God is so faithful.
July - Surgery to say goodbye to metal that was part of my life for 400ish days. Closed the chapter on the saga of 6.9.10. July also saw me closing the chapter on my life at the Bone & Joint. A two-and-a-half year chapter on learning to grow thick skin, answer phone calls FAST, plan bomb potlucks, and spend 40 hours a week with some of the nicest people I am happy to know. Opened the chapter on what I like to call: grad school. God is faithful.
August, September - Grad school. Marriage. Homework (what the...). Continual healing of relationships, an engagement for my kindred spirit, and a lifesaving surgery for my cousin Tommy. Stay at home wife life launches with a memorable camping trip. Oh! And a very quick, lovely trip to Malibu to witness a dear friend marry her love. God is faithful.
October - An internship! An anniversary! The year of Cotton commences for me and T$. Two years of marriage. God is faithful.
November, December - Dark, rainy nights. Days filled with my internship. Evenings spent writing papers and blogs about how much I love teaching, reflecting, reworking, rewriting, rethinking. A very fun November weekend spent with our brother in Chicago. Happy birth day Zelen! Evenings also spent in bible study with some dear friends - we are learning to be secure women who daily remember they are FILLEDwith Christ.
Thank you to the people in my little life in the year 2011. Thank you for the walks around Green Lake, the coffee dates, the time spent quietly knitting, traveling together, studying God's Word, crying, laughing, dancing together.
Thank you 2011 - I pray that I am a wiser woman who knows her full security, beauty, and peace comes from an all-wise God who holds her in His hand.
Twenty-one mosquito bites and 48 hours later, T$ and I are home again from having spent a wonderful, relaxing, picturesque weekend away with my favorite kindredest of spirits and her Mr. W. I have some things to share later as far as cooking on a campfire goes (we feasted like royalty this weekend thanks to Mr. W's kitchen/camping tools), but for now here are just a few photos...
So, first thing's first, I can finally say in public that my kindred spirit is ENGAGED to her love! . Her future husband designed her ring on CAD and it is BEAUTIFUL. Their engagement story is even more romantic & beautiful. Way to go Mr. W!
And tonight (after nine long days) I finally get to be reunited with this face...
Until tonight I am creating a lesson plan in my parent's backyard with a puppy they're watching (Oakley) and brother Daniel keeping me company. All in all, an excellent Saturday & Sunday. Thank you Jesus for weekends.
Today was spent with some very dear friends. Started off with literally meeting Madeline halfway at Starbucks where I discovered that the store was decked out in legitimate Kaas Tailored furniture! I then made my way to meet up with Linnea for some relaxing at Olympus Spa. Thank you Mr. Chris Wheaton (so glad we're still friends). The rest of the day was spent doing homework, attending T$'s softball game (they won!), and getting a head start on my Christmas gifts via knitting (I vow to have them all done by Christmas this year). For dinner we had Braised Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives (aka Poulet Provencal). Thanks to Sierra for the recipe! It was so good and will definitely make its way into the family recipe book.
Today I had a very low key day at home. Started off with making my T$ a chai latte, skype date with my fellow wife-friend who lives far far away in Croatia, breakfast with Brynn Oliver and we made these really yummy muffins courtesy of Pioneer Woman. Oh! And Oliver brought over some Kona coffee which went great with our little breakfast. The rest of the afternoon was spent doing homework, some art projects, and putting dinner on the table.
Per Madeline's desire for my safety, I got a chair instead. Good idea!
Day 2 and I still love being a stay-at-home-wife. Not pictured from my day: dishes, laundry, coffee with brother & Windy, time at SPU (so beautiful!), zoo date with Linnea and her sweet nanny kids, driving in the rain, dinner on the table for T$ when he came home.
This past weekend was spent "on vacation" approximately 1 hour north from home (but it felt much further away). Time was spent reading, relaxing, enjoying the SUNSHINE & tulips, our bed & breakfast, devouring delicious homemade breakfasts, Jerry, Mazy, and female friendship.
I don't know if you can tell, but this photo was taken by a VERY tall (& nice) man.
hello, Sunshine.
P.S. And I was lucky enough to come home to a husband that missed me, and a completed kitchen! The post on the hardwood floor to come later at a date to be determined by my hard working T$. :)
A couple weekends ago, Jena, Emily, and I decided it was time to join the ranks of womanhood and attend AMCC's "every-other-annual" woman's retreat. More than anything else, I think I was blessed by being in the company of wise women who love Christ, but more specifically by being in Carol Hopson's presence - our speaker for the weekend. As she simply preached the Word and used examples of her testimony and life I felt myself drawn to her and my need to truly love the Word as she so clearly does. Being there reminded me of how crappy life can be sometimes, but was also reminded that God never wastes our trials. He always uses them. Always for His glory. That alone fills me with peace.
Our "bed&breakfast" we got to stay at (aka Mammo's beach)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
