Tuesday, February 3, 2009

25 Things

So I did this on facebook but I thought I would add it here too. I realize that I am always the one to post surveys on here...I guess they aren't really David's thing.

1. This is my first facebook note! (Doesn't really apply to the blog).
2. My first name and my last name have the majority of the same letters making them flow very nicely.
3. I love mexican food...I think David and I eat at least three meals of it a week.
4. I was a cheerleader for 8 years, including one at UIS. It consumed a large part of my life. (That one is for my mom-n-law who loves me despite the fact that I was cheerleader :) )
4. I flew on my first airplane when I was 3 weeks old. Flying has never been a fear of mine, I love adventures!
5. I am really shy until I get to know someone and then I probably won't shut up.
6. I used to not watch much TV until I discovered the Office and John and Kate + 8.
7. David and I dated twice. I am glad the second ended much better than the first :)
8. Campus ministry changed my life and I am blessed to give back to it everyday.
9. I went to 6 different schools, 3 were different grade schools. These schools were in three states and one on a military base overseas.
10. My dad was in the Air Force for the first 13 years of my life. I thought everyone moved every couple of years for a long time.
11. On my first day of school in Meredosia (I was starting 8th grade) all the old teachers thought I was my Aunt Julie's daughter(my dad's sis). It was really weird because my cousin Corey (her son) is only 3 months younger than me and was in the same class...never could figure that out. Still to this day everyone thinks I look like my aunt...sorry mom.
12. I really enjoy reading fiction books and recently it has been pop fantasy like Harry Potter, Eragon and Twilight.
13. Jenny and I did what lots of college students say they will do. We went to Europe for two weeks when we graduated college.
14. I am blessed to work with some of my best friends everyday.
15. Until Junior High I only had freckles on half of my forehead.
16. I am very clusty (?), have bad depth perception and issues with fourwheelers/go karts. My cousins like to tell stories of all my accidents like when I ran over my foot with a 4wheeler or when I ran the go kart into the house.
17. I worked in a corn field every summer for 5 years. I don't have issues driving farm equipment or cars.
18. I want to read all of Jane Austin's books someday.
19. I would like to live in another country for at least month during my adult life.
20. God changed David and I's lives through our trip to Kenya last summer...no not changed but is continually changing.
21. I love dessert!
22. I like spontaneity but also organization and planning. My brain has lots of internal struggles.
23. I like open communication...when it is not there my brain starts shutting down. I need to be more patient in this area.
24. Small talk scares me. It intimidates me more than anything else.
25. My husband is my best friend, I am soo fortunate that I get to learn from him for the next 80 years.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Reflections on living with a Kenyan

Yesterday, David and I drove to Chicago to pick up our friend James. James is in charge of Fadhili Helpers, the organization that we went through for our trip to Kenya last July. We are so excited that James is here in the US! We had no idea we would see him again so soon...and have him in our apartment...it is crazy.

Today, as we having been doing our normal everyday things, I have been trying to see things of America for the first time. Walmart, pizza, cheese, snow! So many different things than what we experienced in Kenya.

Here are a few snippets from James:

1. "So this street, Toronto, doesn't lead to Canada?" (In Kenya streets are about location, a roads name often tells where it is headed.) He was also confused if the subway stop for California St in Chicago lead to California. I can see why this would be so confusing.

2. We must eat everything that is served to us. Even if it is an entire Chicago style pizza. David and I would have left a couple of pieces when we were full because we couldn't transport them around Chicago with us.

3. Wanted to know why the snow in Chicago tasted bad... :)

more to come...it is so exciting to see things through new eyes and understand how he must have felt when we were in Kenya.
-linds

Monday, January 12, 2009

Atheist Matthew Parris: "Africa needs God"

Check out this post by worship leader/blogger Jeff Miller and make sure to read this article he references. Unreal.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Celebration



So this post is a week late but most things are in my life and I didn't want to miss a chance to celebrate my anniversary.

December 29, as David posted was our one year anniversary. It is so crazy to think we have made it through 12 months, 365 days as a married couple. I have an amazing, kind, and strong Husband. Our anniversary falls two short days away from news year, the time of reflection and change. This is something I don't do near enough...here is a little bit into our year.

This year we traveled farther than we ever have together, we learned how to grieve together, we tipped the ice berg of learning how to love selflessly, we challenged each other to read through the Bible together, and we jumped into the wonderful world of Campus Ministry together.

The journey together has made 2008 the wildest, craziest, greatest year yet. I can't wait to see what 2009 brings us.

Monday, December 29, 2008

My Wonderful Wife

This day 1 year ago, I got married to the most amazing woman in the world!
Happy Anniversary Lindsey! I love you!


Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Peace and Justice Christmas

We've been exposed this year to some creative ways to continue to follow Jesus (instead of the consumerism of our culture) as we celebrate His birth. This one has been especially exciting--Advent Conspiracy--"substituting compassion for consumption."

In our apartment, we're pretty excited about the "relational gift giving" where the focus is giving the gift of presence as opposed to just the purchase of an item to own. I'm kind of sensing that we're going to be trying it out on each other this year, but I'm still not sure what it looks like...seeing as it's still a surprise!!! ;)

Thought this "song" was interesting. It's what got me rambling about this today. It was in the weekly email from www.sojo.net. Sojourners is a faith-based organization whose mission "is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world." I love this time of year with the traditions, Chrstmas lights, movies and songs and the amazing time to spend with family. Hopefully, like this song says, Jesus' call to love others doesn't get lost in the mix by those of us who are His followers.

Have Yourself a Peace and Justice Christmas
Have yourself a peace and justice Christmas,
Set your heart a-right.
Flee the malls and focus on Christ’s guiding light.
Have yourself a peace and justice Christmas,

Give your time a way.
Share God’s love,
And serve “the least of these” today.
Here we are, as we pray for peace,

We’ll live simply and give more.
We care for those far and near to us,
Which brings cheer to us, once more.
God brings down

The haughty from high places,
And lifts up the low.
God cares for the hungry and the humble,
so –Forget the stress and let the peace and justice flow!