Made for more?

Joe and I have been listening to a lot of B. Reith this weekend.  We were trying to figure out why he hasn't been boosted to serious stardom. He can rap with the best of them, while singing like he could be on Broadway (to some, that's a weird complement, to me, it means he's amazing).  Joe plainly said that his lyrics are real.  Therefore making people feel uncomfortable, some people would rather listen to "let's smile and be happy, joy joy joy" music.  Granted, there is something to that, however we've got to think! We need to be challenged every once in a while.

This song below has quickly become my favorite B. Reith song, it features Lecrae and Lisa Gungor.  The video is not a music video, just a lyric video with the music.  Let's listen...

"The one who conquered death can raise us from the ground"  - He's the only one who can save us now.  AMEN!  Has any one looked around in our world recently?  There's no one, and we cannot believe any man or woman can save us, in any way, except for the ONLY one who has conquered death.

Check this video out as well.  Seriously, why is this dude not huge!?  Incredible stuff.

So everyone, go to www.breith.com and buy his album, beautiful work! 

Do's and Don'ts

I learned a huge lesson this weekend... When it's your birthday in a few weeks, and your husband tells you not to go in the guest room closet... don't.

I bet you can guess the story i'm about to tell...

On Saturday, Joe and I were doing some organizing cleaning and everything not that enjoyable.  So I'm roaming around the house looking for good places for items from boxes (yes, it's taken us over 6 months to fully unpack, don't judge).  I'm going in every room, contemplating placement, can you see me with my hands on my hips with a "hmm" look on my face?  Well.... I go into this exact guest room where the "don't look" closet is... and what do i do? Open the closet.

I see this beautiful guitar on a lovely stand in the middle of the closet.  And i think, "that's odd, Joe doesn't have an acoustic, who left their guita..."  then it hit me.  I quickly shut the door, stand in front of the door with my hands over my mouth in horror (and excitement).  "What do i do now!??" i think.

Joe is busy at the time and downstairs, so i sit on the stairs for a few minutes having thoughts like...

-Do i call my mother, ask her what you do in times like this, i've never been married, how do i respond??  Is there some secret code that i should know about?

-Do i not tell him and act just as surprised on my birthday as if i never knew?

-Do i confess?

Well... shortly after my ponderings, Joe comes out of our room to see me with a troubled face...  I say, "I did something really bad", him being the wonderful, kind man he is, asks "oh no, are you okay, what's wrong?"...

"you see, there was this one time that i went somewhere i wasn't supposed to and saw something i wasn't supposed to see"... His face breaks out into a huge smile, "do you like it?", he says.

"YES!!!!" i say, then ask, "i'm really sorry, am i in trouble, i feel awful!!?"... he says no, i apologize a million times and then we run upstairs and he shows me the guitar and it's awesomeness. I had been telling him that if we had an acoustic in the house, i'd really love for him to teach me (he has an electric).  My wish came true!


I learn a few things from this.  1: When your husband asks you NOT to do something, don't.  2: When your husband asks you NOT to do something, DO put a sign in front of it for those times your brain is shut off.  3: I have a great husband, but i already knew that.




Want to see the pretty guitar??   I'm pumped about learning.  Thank you babe!!  I'll act super happy and surprised again on my birthday.  Promise.

Game Time.

One might think, "game time", the interaction of athletic people on a court, field, sweat, scores etc.

I think.  Parcheesi.   yup.  board games.  (granted i'm starting to like more things athletic thanks to my husband, more on that later).  Joe and I have been playing a lot of Parcheesi recently, I didn't know it could be so competitive and crazified.  But yes, it can.  We even started making up rules to make it more intense.

Then we had my brothers in law and their girls over and it was Jenga night.  Yes, it's balanced on a lovely tupperware with rice crispy treats inside.  

We've also been into playing spoons and Quelf.  It always gets funny.  

We really like games like Settlers of Cattan. Intensity.

Oh and watch out, we can get serious about some Skip-Bo.  Like for real.  

All this to say, "gaming" - it's seriously fun.  If you haven't played a board game in a while, turn the tv off, get your husband, call your friends and get your game on.  

Sometimes I think about how media oriented my life is, i like to watch Hulu while i fold clothes or listen to music while i'm getting ready for the day, Joe and i enjoy watching tv at night to wind down.  In fact, one of the shows that we watch is Wife Swap.  Yeah, i did say that.  And although sometimes the show is ridiculous (okay, all the time), we've learned a lot about different people groups (and whether we agree with that style or type of living, sparks fun conversations).  One of the things i have noticed is that there are far too many kids who don't play outside, or play boardgames or would even know what to do with themselves if they had all summer to just... play.  Playing now, means game consoles, watching hours of tv, watching movies, playing on the computer.  When i was "a kid" (I use quotes because i know i'm not old), i would play outside every second i got, and i used to play a ton of card games and dominos with my family.  At least i know there are still kids who aren't all about the media play (not that cool media oriented play/gaming is bad), because the kids in my neighborhood are in the road everyday and even knocked on our door last week to see if we had kids so they could come out and play.  So if you ever want to play a board game, get your game on!  Let's make it cool.  Yeah?  Well, for that matter, who cares if it's cool, it's so fun!

Home is?

A few years ago I probably would have smacked you if you had told me what I would be doing now. 


A wife, moved back to the hometown i grew up in, and at a desk job with my natural hair color and only one set of earrings.  Me?  Seriously?  That sounds soooo...BORING.  


There was so much that i didn't realize.  There was so much that i still have to learn, but a few years ago, all i saw was the excitement on paper and the thrill of what could be instead of focusing on one giant word.  


Right.  


You see, I may be at a desk job, with my natural hair color, in the town that i grew up in, but there is no where on this earth that i'd rather be.  


There is nothing boring about what has become of my life.  


There are moments when you realize things are right, I'm not speaking of the "I feel so happy and light, does not mean all perfect and hunky-dory or easy, but right. Last night I was waiting in the parking lot for my grandfather to be transported via ambulance from the hospital (where he'd been for a week) to a "rehab" facility for a few weeks, (aka - skilled nursing home care). As I sat there I called my husband to see what the plans were as far as heading home, meeting me etc (he was just getting off work as well). I suggested him to just meet me home.
He said, "As soon as I get off work I'll be heading directly home"

"Sounds good", I said.

He continues with, "and if home is in that parking lot, that's where I'll be headed". 


Not too much has been fun about our life in the past few weeks, it has included more hospital visits, ER's, surgeries, medications and tears than i want to admit.  And in all honesty, i want to be done with all of it, but i know one thing... 

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

I'm not saying the doc's and the tears are all against us, I'm just saying that, at times, or right now, it feels as though we can't take on any more... BUT, God is on our side, He knows what He's doing, even though I'm not sure of His plan or reasoning.  I just know, that i'm right where i'm supposed to be, there is no better peace that we can have as believers.  And please note, if anyone reads this, that i'm not saying that i'm "right", i'm just saying that i am WHERE i am supposed to be as i follow Christ.  And the peace, grace and thrill that follows that, is far better than what i thought i ever wanted. 

And now to finish off  the first post of our new blog, i'm leaving you with a great video and also to say happy one year anniversary to my beloved husband, Joe.  No, we haven't been married for a year, we started dating one year ago today.  The best year of my life.  

when death dies, all things live.