Forecast - these grey clouds are gonna clear, baby

Its a drizzly day here. I just finished one last sip of a cranberry/sprite concoction flooded with crushed ice. Nothing hits the spot like a chilled and refreshingly juicy drink.

I can't really say that I have had a productive morning. Then again, I have not been lazy either. I had to get up before the sun to go to a leader's meeting and fellowship for BSF. . . it was a big mistake not to make coffee before I left the house. For 3 1/2 hours, I struggled to stay awake through singing, praying, training, and sharing time. I have a tendency to overestimate my energy levels, apparently. I think that I also forget that I am NOT in college anymore, and late-nite studying is not an option for me anymore.

You live and learn, I guess.


Anyway, I am giddy . . .

My hubby is flying me out to see him next weekend and I am so excited. He has a way of always surprising me even if I know what the plan is. :) I know we are going to have a day to spend in New York, and we'll probably be staying in New Jersey. Other than that, I am kind of clueless. What a fun way to spend our anniversary! Together!!!

A little Night Music

Screechy cicadas and throaty frogs, swooping owl wings, and my dog's heavy, excited breathing.

Nothing like an evening walk on a hot indian summer night.

With a pearl white moon illumating the way, I prod a 'gotta-take-a-pit-stop-every-ten-steps' pup along a broken weedy sidewalk. I try to help him ignore the scuffle of dogs behind backyard fences and the blindingly bright headlights of cars passing by. Kinda to no avail - I guess its kind of exciting being a dog in this neighborhood.

As we were walking, I was trying to work through a period of silence, kind of similar to a hard swallow. . . trying to think of ways to be a more encouraging wife, trying to overcome over 1,000 miles of distance.

I wish that I could get to my husband like I can get across 15 blocks south and 2 blocks east 30 minutes later. I wish I had a way to forward time like I can skip commercials with DVR. I wish I had a more patient spirit that would even pour out onto my hurried dog-walking.

Even my little dog is teaching me a lesson. The art of slowing down and actually enjoying the moment. In his case, that means never losing wonder in chasing hopping frogs. . .

Maybe I am not connecting the dots when it comes to getting to my husband. But it does come back to being patient, for that is surely required these days.

God is ever benevolent in making the days go by faster, all that He is requiring is to face each with hope and joy. There are only 24 hours each day, and only 7 days in each week. A week more will bring us to 3 more days and then a three or four hour plane trip to visit him. Oh yeah, and a heck of a celebration of 2 years of marriage.

But as for tonight, I am going to enjoy every hour of this 6 hour rest.

Goodnight.

Balance, part 2

I thought I'd share something that came up today. It reminded me, once again, how God is so powerfully at work in His children's lives, to protect them from even themselves.

I spent a lovely afternoon with my mother this afternoon, seeing 'Becoming Jane' and enjoying some girl time.

On our conversation on the drive home, mom brought up a time of life when I was 15, very weak, and very naive. I had a major crush on a guy who shared the same passion I had for horses and he had the whole 'bad boy' appeal.
But God really bubble-wrapped my heart and protected me from myself. Mom was telling me today how thankful she was that I didn't run off with him. I gave a hearty amen to that. Even though that probably would have never happened, it made me think. I don't know where I'd be if I did.

If I chose 'my' best over God's best for me, I probably wouldn't have gone to college. If I didn't go to college, I wouldn't have met my wonderful husband. And if I didn't meet my wonderful husband, I'd be in pretty bad shape right now. It sort of all has a domino effect.

Who knows where I'd be if I went with 'My' way.

I wouldn't give up this life, as confusing as it is sometimes, for ANYTHING.
God truly know what is best for us. Don't settle.

His blessings are far beyond what we could ask or think!

Balance

The teetering pole.

Often it seems like a teeter totter, that very fine line of staying on the straight and narrow and wandering off road.

Were it not for God's grace holding me upright, I'd be over the edge, off-roading myself into ditches.

Were it not.

Thanks be to God for balance. For placing temptations in our way to strengthen our resolve against sin. For giving us the power to deny them, the cleansing grace to wash away the stain they leave on the exit. For His faithfulness to the unfaithful.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Icky Allergies

This has been the worst two-day episode ever. I hate the fact that I am being licked by tiny little pollen clusters.

Nature's got my number.

Ragweed is of the devil.

Get some 'Hairapy'

Need a little 'pick-me-up'? This site is so much fun & too hilarious - It absorbed me for an hour! Go get a makeover

Roses dried

I always find dried roses to be a prettier decoration than the fresh ones - more effort goes into the drying, and it's only the really special ones that are dried.

My sister Michelle was right - dried roses are beautiful, in such a quiet and serene way. When roses are alive and in water, their petals slowly open, the color grows very vibrant and then, one day, the color starts to fade, the corners tinge dark brown and curl, and each petal falls off, one by one. . .

Such is the story of a lovely bouquet. It always begins so beautiful, but beauty fades.

But I threw out the roses tonight. I have roses from bouquets past. Bouquets of all sorts - from courtship, from engagement, from my wedding, and from the past two years (shy a few weeks) of marriage.


I washed a cookie rack, shaking off the crumbs from cookies made by my hubby, cleaned some other dishes and felt satisfied about this day.

Emotions, mute homeless man, a kind vendor I shunned with horrible rudeness, shame and frustration, conviction and repentance, rain, the love of my husband 1500 miles away, the thought of being alone for the next couple of weeks, my sisters . . .

All these things random speak of the ways that the Lord continually reminds me that He is faithful . . .

You are probably wondering, what the heck is she talking about???

Just life after a really good day.

All these things random come together to make a day sweeter, deeper, richer.

I cannot ever make sense of this life. It is altogether too wonderful and too exciting.

Psalm 139:17

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

Yesterday was filled with sorrow and tears. Today God filled an empty cup overflowing.

I've got roses on my table

There's a heavy haze settled over the city - with the sun sitting on top of it, its a warm and rosy glow. I am sipping coffee and appreciating the healthy hum of my computer, working obediently with the internet, to make this blogging experience possible.

Actually, I'll let the credit go to my repair man.

Yes, the man is home. Stronger, tanner, and more addicting than ever. I don't think I am going to let him leave again tomorrow.

Yes I am selfish.

To anyone who has ever said that marriage just gets better over time - I am beginning to realize this more and more. Through the hard times that we have faced, God has grown us closer together. I can't wait to go through more, with the hope and prayer that we'll be more in love than we are today because of where He has brought us.

I'm glad I took the day off. Today is my holiday.

Today is my 'husband appreciation day'.

Long time, no blog . . .

Its 'Amy outages' this week ;)

My internet router went kaputt - I got a new one, only to discover that it was not compatible with our DSL service. . . crudd.

Life is a little on hold until we get the new router. So, I am hit and miss here.


Oh yeah, my car brakes went kaputt on Saturday as well - thankfully, we got that problem fixed. Now, if everything can just wait until my hubby comes home . . .


5 more days . . .

My sky is grey, I miss you, Blue Eyes

Okay. . .

Only 8 more days to go . . .

I miss my hubby :(

What I've been up to lately . . .

Well, I finally got my camera back, and I had fresh batteries too. . . These are some pics of the house, in a new coat of color, some parts still have yet to be finished, but, you get the picture ;)
*(Some of these pics are a little bit blurry)

~Living room~

(I still need to hang my wrought iron candle sconce back above the fireplace);)

~Bedroom~

~Master Bath~

(for the 'Befores' go here)

California, calling me

The sand beneath my toes, the shriek of seagulls, salty misty air, seaweed stalks littering the beach, bonfire smoke, eucalyptus trees, the chilly pacific ocean.

Sigh - you can take a girl out of California, but you can't take California out of a girl . . .