18 - Today, I am grateful for my in-laws. They're kind of amazing. They've been incredibly supportive - financially, emotionally, and spiritually. I'm especially grateful that during the times when I was too blinded by all the chaos surrounding us to see the big picture, they were able to be a source of constant support for my hubs. They've given selflessly over the past couple of years and are there anytime we need prayer, a chat or rent to be paid. They've made our successes their successes and have encouraged us through every bump in the road. They have believed for us when we haven't been able to believe in ourselves. Or God for that matter.
Their support has been a source of strength and motivation for us. If someone believes that you can achieve the world, what's stopping you from pursuing it? They're already proud of us, but we're inspired to blow them away and become all that they believe we can be.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
It may be ghetto...
...but that can't stop it from being beautiful.
(you can click that for a full view; I guess blogger doesn't like it's size)
-J
(you can click that for a full view; I guess blogger doesn't like it's size)
-J
Sunday, February 22, 2009
More than I deserve
So I've got some catch up to do with this 21 days of thankfulness. I've been thinking about what I'm grateful for every day - sometimes with the help of the hubs who picks the times when I'm bitching about life and bills to ask me what I'm grateful for. Gotta love it. But I have been bad about writing all of them down in this place. I think keeping a record of some of the things I'm grateful for in this season will be useful in the future for the times that I forget (or choose not to see) all the wonderful things that God has blessed me with. So without further adieu...
5. More than enough tasty food to eat. We haven't had to go to a food bank thus far and man, am I grateful. Have you seen the food they hand out there? What are you supposed to do with dry beans, a giant can of grapefruit juice, and a bottle of canola oil? (No joke, that's the exact contents of a bag that I've seen handed out.)
6. God's timing. It's just so much better than ours. And I love that most times, you don't get it until it's over. Hindsight is 20/20 - and the view is phenomenal.
7. A family in which love is the bottom line. I've discovered some absolutely horrible things about my family in the last few months, but through all the garbage, love has endured.
8. My husband. He's an absolutely amazing man. He is incredibly humble. (I didn't know until a couple of weeks ago that he's won multiple prestigious awards for his jazz performances - and he's a classical musician!) He's super smart and silly and affectionate. I laugh really hard every day with him and that makes me a lucky, lucky girl.
9. God's love. I was driving back from an interview the other day and I got a little teary as the profound nature of God's call for us hit me. The Bible *repeatedly* says that God's most important mandate for us is to love him and love each other. Do you get how earth shattering that is? I got a glimpse the other day and it was beautiful.
10. Massages. I beg aforementioned amazing husband for them nearly daily. They're just so good. I love that God created our bodies to benefit from other people's touch.
11. Creative outlets. I love that I can get lost in painting or writing and it makes me feel better. It feels good to express myself.
12. Crocheting. I'm grateful to Katy for teaching me. And I'm grateful to have a way to bless my friends and family with gifts when I couldn't afford to do anything else.
13. LA. I used to hate it. And there are parts of it that I still do. But it's in this city that I've grown in some incredible ways. Any sort of comfort zone I have has been challenged and that's been a very good thing.
14. Every hardship over the last 2 and a half years. Every unpaid bill, every creditor calling, every fight with my beloved, every death, every leaky window, every awful soul-draining job, every gang shooting... Because who I am now and who I was on our wedding day are two very different people. And while this one is a little more banged up, I like her better and I think God does too.
15. Peace. And the opportunity to choose it even when the list above is happening.
16. Music. It has the ability to transport my soul and gently turn my sorrows into dancing.
17. Room to grow. Cause I'm not even close to being done yet.
5. More than enough tasty food to eat. We haven't had to go to a food bank thus far and man, am I grateful. Have you seen the food they hand out there? What are you supposed to do with dry beans, a giant can of grapefruit juice, and a bottle of canola oil? (No joke, that's the exact contents of a bag that I've seen handed out.)
6. God's timing. It's just so much better than ours. And I love that most times, you don't get it until it's over. Hindsight is 20/20 - and the view is phenomenal.
7. A family in which love is the bottom line. I've discovered some absolutely horrible things about my family in the last few months, but through all the garbage, love has endured.
8. My husband. He's an absolutely amazing man. He is incredibly humble. (I didn't know until a couple of weeks ago that he's won multiple prestigious awards for his jazz performances - and he's a classical musician!) He's super smart and silly and affectionate. I laugh really hard every day with him and that makes me a lucky, lucky girl.
9. God's love. I was driving back from an interview the other day and I got a little teary as the profound nature of God's call for us hit me. The Bible *repeatedly* says that God's most important mandate for us is to love him and love each other. Do you get how earth shattering that is? I got a glimpse the other day and it was beautiful.
10. Massages. I beg aforementioned amazing husband for them nearly daily. They're just so good. I love that God created our bodies to benefit from other people's touch.
11. Creative outlets. I love that I can get lost in painting or writing and it makes me feel better. It feels good to express myself.
12. Crocheting. I'm grateful to Katy for teaching me. And I'm grateful to have a way to bless my friends and family with gifts when I couldn't afford to do anything else.
13. LA. I used to hate it. And there are parts of it that I still do. But it's in this city that I've grown in some incredible ways. Any sort of comfort zone I have has been challenged and that's been a very good thing.
14. Every hardship over the last 2 and a half years. Every unpaid bill, every creditor calling, every fight with my beloved, every death, every leaky window, every awful soul-draining job, every gang shooting... Because who I am now and who I was on our wedding day are two very different people. And while this one is a little more banged up, I like her better and I think God does too.
15. Peace. And the opportunity to choose it even when the list above is happening.
16. Music. It has the ability to transport my soul and gently turn my sorrows into dancing.
17. Room to grow. Cause I'm not even close to being done yet.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Appreciative
~4~ I am grateful for our little apartment. It's small. It's in the ghetto. It's rotting from the inside out. But I'm grateful for it because it's a roof over our head. It's more than we deserve. It's also nice that it's so small because it forces me and the hubs to be in close quarters all the time. A bonding experience, to be sure. Plus it makes you REALLY appreciate alone time.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Gracias
Since I didn't have something I was thankful for yesterday, I'm gonna write about 2 today.
(3) I am thankful for good friends. I had a walk and a talk with a kindred spirit today and it was so refreshing.
I've been feeling anxious about our current situation for no good reason. God's promised and it's been confirmed that this year will be one of significant change and increase for us. But now that I see that change start to happen, I'm getting nervous that it won't really happen or that they'll be trouble along the way or that it will somehow be more difficult than our current situation. I was talking about this with my friend and she voiced feeling the same way. We decided that when, in life, we reach a point of no return, we get scared because we can't go back - even though we *know* that what's in front of us is infinitely better than what we've been through. It's just that forward trajectory and the recognition of a chapter closing that's inducing anxiety.
But somehow, talking about this with her made that anxiety go away. It helps knowing that you've got friends that are along for the same ride you are. There's someone to hold your hand as the roller coaster takes off. It seems that company turns anxiety into excitement.
Yay for that.
(3) I am thankful for good friends. I had a walk and a talk with a kindred spirit today and it was so refreshing.
I've been feeling anxious about our current situation for no good reason. God's promised and it's been confirmed that this year will be one of significant change and increase for us. But now that I see that change start to happen, I'm getting nervous that it won't really happen or that they'll be trouble along the way or that it will somehow be more difficult than our current situation. I was talking about this with my friend and she voiced feeling the same way. We decided that when, in life, we reach a point of no return, we get scared because we can't go back - even though we *know* that what's in front of us is infinitely better than what we've been through. It's just that forward trajectory and the recognition of a chapter closing that's inducing anxiety.
But somehow, talking about this with her made that anxiety go away. It helps knowing that you've got friends that are along for the same ride you are. There's someone to hold your hand as the roller coaster takes off. It seems that company turns anxiety into excitement.
Yay for that.
Thankful
#2 - God's provision in the little things.
On Sunday, we received a $100 check from this piece o' cake babysitting job we did and I just happened to have $10 cash in my wallet with which to tithe. Why is that God's provision? Well, I rarely have cash on hand, I was going to spend it earlier that day and uncharacteristically decided to use the debit card instead and it was the exact amount of money we needed to tithe. Also, we resolved to be much more faithful about tithing this year and it just felt warm and cozy to have God facilitate that for us.
Another one of God's provisions - I've asked Him to wake me up at 8am (which is sadly early for me these days) so that I can spend time with him. Generally, I'm okay at waking up when I tell my body to, but this has been uncanny. The last two days, I've woken up at 8:01 and 8:02, respectively. A God who cares enough to give us a literal wake up call? Astounding.
He's been showing me that He's right there with me - even in life's itty bitty moments. The Creator of the Universe woke me up this morning. Doesn't it make you want to cuddle up with Him?
On Sunday, we received a $100 check from this piece o' cake babysitting job we did and I just happened to have $10 cash in my wallet with which to tithe. Why is that God's provision? Well, I rarely have cash on hand, I was going to spend it earlier that day and uncharacteristically decided to use the debit card instead and it was the exact amount of money we needed to tithe. Also, we resolved to be much more faithful about tithing this year and it just felt warm and cozy to have God facilitate that for us.
Another one of God's provisions - I've asked Him to wake me up at 8am (which is sadly early for me these days) so that I can spend time with him. Generally, I'm okay at waking up when I tell my body to, but this has been uncanny. The last two days, I've woken up at 8:01 and 8:02, respectively. A God who cares enough to give us a literal wake up call? Astounding.
He's been showing me that He's right there with me - even in life's itty bitty moments. The Creator of the Universe woke me up this morning. Doesn't it make you want to cuddle up with Him?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Grateful
I've decided that for the rest of February (at least) I'm going to meditate every day on something for which I'm grateful. So here's the first...
1. I am grateful that our church family really cares about one another and wants to take care of each other. Tonight, I had two people approach me about networking opportunities, several people ask how my job search is going, and last week, someone I barely even know at church called me up to tell me about a job opportunity - even though it would put me in direct competition with her. We really care about how each other's lives are going and make genuine efforts to help in any way we can.
That's rare and special and I'm grateful for it.
1. I am grateful that our church family really cares about one another and wants to take care of each other. Tonight, I had two people approach me about networking opportunities, several people ask how my job search is going, and last week, someone I barely even know at church called me up to tell me about a job opportunity - even though it would put me in direct competition with her. We really care about how each other's lives are going and make genuine efforts to help in any way we can.
That's rare and special and I'm grateful for it.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Turns out that being unemployed leaves you with a great deal of time on your hands. Job listings have been quickly dwindling on every site so my job search takes less than an hour everyday, whereas it would take a good 4-6 hours when I first began my search.
Until now, I've mostly used this extra time to get antsy and tell my hubby to pay attention to me. I've recently gotten so bored that I started cleaning - if you know me, you know how absolutely absurd that is. I genuinely appreciate that this time I have is an amazing alternative to being stuck behind a desk all day fuming about all the bureaucracy. However, I've recently decided that using this precious time to be more productive would be a much better use of it.
So here's a list of my goals for this season of too much time on my hands:
1. Read the Bible. I'm ashamed that I haven't read every word of the book I base my life on, so I'm going to get down to business. I'm a little over halfway through Genesis.
2. Crochet and screenprint enough stuff to get a store started on Etsy.
2a) But finish the scarves for my cousin and brother first!
3. Finish my wedding album. (Two and a half years after the wedding - whatever, don't judge.)
4. Have someone over for dinner at least once a week. (So far, so good.)
5. Write encouraging notes to friends and family.
6. Go to a farmer's market for produce twice a month.
7. Get outside more!
I think that's all for now. If anyone has any brilliant ideas, let me know!
Until now, I've mostly used this extra time to get antsy and tell my hubby to pay attention to me. I've recently gotten so bored that I started cleaning - if you know me, you know how absolutely absurd that is. I genuinely appreciate that this time I have is an amazing alternative to being stuck behind a desk all day fuming about all the bureaucracy. However, I've recently decided that using this precious time to be more productive would be a much better use of it.
So here's a list of my goals for this season of too much time on my hands:
1. Read the Bible. I'm ashamed that I haven't read every word of the book I base my life on, so I'm going to get down to business. I'm a little over halfway through Genesis.
2. Crochet and screenprint enough stuff to get a store started on Etsy.
2a) But finish the scarves for my cousin and brother first!
3. Finish my wedding album. (Two and a half years after the wedding - whatever, don't judge.)
4. Have someone over for dinner at least once a week. (So far, so good.)
5. Write encouraging notes to friends and family.
6. Go to a farmer's market for produce twice a month.
7. Get outside more!
I think that's all for now. If anyone has any brilliant ideas, let me know!
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