The Jesus We're Getting To Know

Last night was our first small group meeting. There were 9 people there, which is a great start. Phil and Cassie are wonderful hosts...comfy chairs...peach pie...

I'm pretty good with names, but my biggest problem is remembering which wife goes with which husband. Hopefully everyone else can figure it out. Just for the record, though, it's Mike/Denise, Ben/Amy, Phil/Cassie, Chad/Becky, and Josh/Sarah.

I'm kind of a mnemonic device dork, but the other girls' names are helpfully alphabetic...A B C D. If you want to join our group, your (or your wife's) name needs to start with an E, please.

Josh and I have each been leaders of various small groups in the past, and it's now being an interesting challenge to lead a group together. It's been the source of some tension over this past week as we prepared for Thursday night, but ultimately we've both had to agree to trust one another's leadership style and allow this adventure to strengthen our relationship.

The book we're going to start studying is a Phillip Yancey book called "The Jesus I Never Knew." I think it will be a good pick for this group, most of whom grew up in church and have at least a basic understanding of scripture. But do we really know Jesus, in the sense that we walk and commune and seek and talk and relate with Him? Probably not very well, or very often, would be my answer.

So I'm humbled and blessed to be part of this group, to journey with these people, to spend time in worship, fellowship, Bible study and prayer. If you live in the KC/Liberty area and would like to join us next week, we'd love to share life with you. I think there's some leftover pie.

I am job!

I am pleased to announce that I am now the proud owner of a teaching position with the Greenbush organization.

The specific program is called 500 Reach, which partners with the Kansas City, KS, school district. My students are adults who initially did not finish high school, but are now returning to pursue their high school diplomas.

My work will include tutoring individual students as they take a variety of computer-based courses, tracking student progress, assigning appropriate lessons and homework, restructuring the 500 Reach writing program and doing writing workshops with students, and best of all?

No more grading papers at basketball games! Now there's something to cheer about!

In order to help each student, I'll have to brush up on my Chemistry, my Algebra II, and my Shakespeare, for that matter.

This job is a serious, specific answer to prayer. I am overwhelmed at the way the Lord allows us to come to a place of desperation...

(exhibit A: Me thinking it would be fun to have a baby, because I was getting bored at home)

so we will recognize our need for His providence and grace. Why do I forget to remember the promises of Philippians 4 ? "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

room on the couch

I've spent a lot of time on our couch recently. When I'm sick, I don't like to spend the day in bed...too far from the kitchen... DVD player is in the living room... I hate the term bedridden (too hard to say the d-r-d-combination)...etc.

Fortunately, Josh makes really great nests on the couch for me (even though he insists on calling them "forts"). Just the right number of blankets, pillows propped up just like I like them, easy access to the remote control, Kleenex and Sprite nearby. But I'm better now, and the couch is less of a nest/fort and more of a dining room table/movie theatre.

Yesterday when we were trying to decide what to do for the evening, Josh was wishing that his family lived closer than North Carolina, because it would be nice to just go sit on someone else's couch for a while.

We ended up hanging out with Cameron and Sharla. Usually when we get together, we play some kind of "plot to destroy eachother" game like Settlers of Catan or poker, but we were all pretty tired after a long week, so we ended up just drinking (coffee for the girls, beer for the boys, chocolate milk for the kiddos) and chatting.

What did we talk about? I don't even really remember now...plans for our new small group, their joys and challenges of parenting Caleb and Kiersten, spiritual warfare, my job interview, quirky habits of our pets, why men wouldn't take a wingman to go lingerie shopping for their wives... you know, just stuff.

And you know what? It was great to sit on someone else's couch. Josh and I love to spend time just the two of us, and we enjoy going exciting places and learning and serving and adventuring and playing, but sometimes we just need to sit and be with our loved ones. It's like a time to recharge our fellowship batteries, resting comfortably and restoring our strength with the family of God.

So thanks, Cam and Shar, for making room for us on your couch and in your life.

I look like a monkey

Happy 28th Birthday to me!

This birthday sort of snuck up on me.

I've been ridiculously sick for the past 6 days...I hope someone remembered to feed my husband and our cat, because I have not.

Last year I spent my birthday riding a bus home to South Dakota from a missions conference in Texas. That's a long ride, even (especially?) with good friends like Alyssa, Kylie, Kate, Jessica, Sue, Jenna and Char. I miss you, ladies! Also, Happy Birthday Buddy to Jamie! (and to the late great Gipper himself, Ronald Reagan.)

I was dreading turning 27 last year, feeling old and spinsterly and wanting very much to quit my masters program. I was also quite nervous because a few weeks after the Texas trip, I was planning a trip down to Kansas City to meet some e-harmony guy, Josh, for the first time. Needless to say, it's been quite a year!

So suddenly it's my birthday again. I live in a new state, have a new name, a husband and a cat, hopefully a new job, and a new understanding of God's provident grace.

Thanks to all the tremendously special people who have made it a great day and who will make this an amazing 28th year of my life.

Everybody, eat cake!

(p.s. Josh doesn't like icing, so that's win-win for us!)

sick of this

If I had a job, I would have called in sick today.

With all due respect to my sister's current illness, I have one of those colds that makes putting on slippers seem like a lot of work, to say nothing of going all the way downstairs to do some laundry.

My current attention span allows me to stare alternately at the closed blinds and then at the wall and then back again, making the paint look striped. Fun!

In one burst of energy earlier this morning, I managed to get Josh's laptop, make toast, and take any vitamins and unexpired cold meds I could find in the cabinet. Medicine head, anyone?

I've been catching up on re-caps of old Amazing Race episodes, one finger poking out of the blanket nest to hit the "next page" button. Momily and those crazy Guidos are currently racing through Tunisia, which brings back some good memories.

Josh gets home in a couple of hours...hopefully this box of Kleenex lasts that long. We're supposed to go to Topeka tomorrow to have lunch with the 'rents...maybe Mom will bring me the box of Adventures in Odyssey tapes and a pot to bang on when I need someone to come fluff my pillows!

Grandpa O

I just found this photo on my uncle David's website...thought it was worth sharing. Doesn't my Grandpa O look snazzy in that tie? He has such sparkly blue eyes!

You think he looks proud in this picture? Ask him about his lake...

I miss you, Grandpa. Stay warm...I'll see you at Schmeckfest.

Razor Blades and the Ex-Wife

Most of the time, I don't think about my husband's ex.

I mean, sometimes we get junk mail for her (why yes, she'd love to open another credit card account); she and Josh still have some mutual friends (we came across her MySpace page which was kind of awkward); and Josh and I have talked a lot about their relationship, and how the Lord has healed him from that pain. You can check out his blog entitled Redemption Draweth Nigh to read more of Josh's thoughts about his divorce.

Together we've prayed about it and closed the door on that part of Josh's life. We wish her healing and peace and that she'll stay out-of-state.

But mostly, I just don't think about her.

Until this week.

The front windows in our living room and our back kitchen door are painted white around the sills, and on the little strips of wood between the panes of glass. That looks nice.

What doesn't look nice is that the person who did that trim work didn't bother to mask anything, resulting in a one-inch smear of white paint on the glass.

Let's see... 4 separate panes of glass per window, times 5 living room windows, times 4 edges per pane, times how many inches per edge, times...HOW HARD IS IT TO USE A LITTLE MASKING TAPE?

I spent too many hours standing on a chair or kneeling on the floor with a spray bottle of some magical orange cleanser that says right on the bottle "Not Recommended for Use on Glass" that really did make the paint easier to scrape off. (hey...it was Josh's idea)

My hands cramped up severely and I have blisters on my thumbs from inching the razor blade along the glass.

Sometimes the paint would cooperate and peel off in satisfying 5 inch strips, but sometimes I had to pick pick pick at each little fleck. You know what a razor blade sounds like scratching on glass?

IT SOUNDS LIKE HIS EX-WIFE.

Scraping off all that paint was sort of a cathartic activity, allowing me to release some pent-up frustration with her that I didn't really realize I had. It's a good thing Josh wasn't around to listen to me curse as I almost slashed the razor blade through my rubber glove, or when the chair wobbled and I banged my forehead on the window sill.

Her fault...her fault...her fault...

It's weird to realize that if she had done things better in the first place, not only would I not be scraping paint off those windows, I wouldn't have Josh in my life at all. Not quite sure what to do with that line of reasoning. I think I continue to blame her for recurring pain that I see in my husband's life; Josh is better at releasing that hurt to the Lord than I am.

I'm grateful that God's love and providence comes from a perspective that is outside of human experience. I tend to just see smears of paint on every pane of glass...a cloudy vision of grace.

with glad and sincere hearts

This weekend Josh and I attended a two-part training session on leading small groups at our Vineyard Church. These verses from Acts 2 was the basis for the training, and while I'm not sure I learned anything especially new, it was a good review of how and why God wants His people to live in community and fellowship.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

For several months now, Josh and I have been talking and praying about the general need, and our personal desire, to connect young couples in fellowship with one another. The Vineyard has grown so large, and with 6 services every weekend, it's easy to feel disconnected from the few faces I do recognize.

After spending 2 1/2 years in leadership and precious fellowship at The Crossing in Sioux Falls, it has been a little intimidating to think about just starting up a new small group in a new town. We don't have that many friends...who would come? We live too far away...who could host? We don't know anyone else's phone numbers...how will we get the word out? Okay...time to pray.

A couple of weeks ago after church, we were chatting with our friend Bryan and his new fiancee Lori, and another couple we just met, Will and Brooke. Brooke sort of randomly said that she and Will were wanting to be in a small group; they just didn't know of one that fit what they were looking for. Bryan and Lori agreed. Yay! Answer to prayer # 1... People!

Then after the service last night, I decided to ask the couple sitting behind us if they were involved in a small group. Phil and Cassie said no, but that they just purchased a new house and really felt like they were supposed to use the space to host a Bible Study. Yay! Answer to prayer # 2 ... Place!

Then we found out from the young adult pastor, Cameron, that this upcoming weekend is Connect Weekend, where all the new small groups can advertise after each service. Yay! Answer to prayer # 3...Promotional Materials!

So basically I am just overwhelmed by the way this small group has come together, and the consistant provision and goodness that the Lord has shown through this situation. I am expectant of sweet hours of Bible study, friendship, prayer time and snacks.

Forever God is faithful, Forever God is strong, Forever God is with us, Forever!
Sing Praise!

The Year of the Vegetable

January. A month of grey skies, credit card bills, finding holiday M&M's and scraps of wrapping paper under the couch, and the determination to make life different this year.

At the beginning of 2006, I made two New Year's Resolutions:

1. Pray with people.

When I told someone "I'll pray for you," I would actually take a few moments to pray with them right then. This proved to be a great challenge and a blessing to both me and my surprised friends and co-workers.

2. Eat more vegetables.

This was sort of a cop-out resolution, cleverly and intentionally avoiding the unlikely resolutions of eating less dessert or exercising more. My path to a healthy lifestyle in '06 would be lined with broccoli stalks and carrot sticks.

I actually did pretty well. Every day in my lunch, I took some kind of veggie to munch on along with my sandwich and cookies, and I purposely spent more time shopping in the produce section. Steamed broccoli with cheese, spinach salads (with smoked salmon filets!), and frozen stir-fry snow peas, red peppers and bamboo shoots became common dinner essentials.

I could list so many ways in which the Lord prepared my heart to introduce Josh into my life during 2006, "The Year of the Vegetable" ...my parents' and grandparents' beautiful examples of marriage ...learning to share the bathroom mirror with phenomenal roommates (here's looking at you, Christa, Anna, Lindsey, April and Kate) ...a variety of friendships and church fellowships to both support me and remind me that there are always more people out there who want to be my friend ...a good painting buddy who was so delighted to be married to a strong-willed woman, and who gave me hope that someone would want to put up with me someday...

But also seriously essential has been my change in heart towards vegetables.

My husband loves vegetables. (I can hear my mother trying to hold back a gleeful smirk.)

Every time I go grocery shopping or plan meals, I have to remember this. I would be happy to live on bread and potatoes, but Josh needs green things. And things that are orange/yellow /leafy/ carmelized/steamed /garlicky/balsalmicky /cilantro-esque.

Over the past few days, we've eaten potato/carrot/spinach soup, bowtie pasta with red peppers/onions/mushrooms/spinach, spinach/broccoli/carrot/olive/mushroom/tomato/raisin salad, cous-cous with yellow squash/mushrooms/onions/tomato/garbanzo beans, and split pea/lentil/carrot/celery soup. We even chop up more vegetables to put on top of a frozen pizza! Onions for the universe!

We should be poster children for the produce section at our ghetto Price Chopper!

Josh is so good for me. And so are all those vegetables, I guess. And now that I think about it, so is the gym we joined. And don't forget the fact that Josh is allergic to chocolate and likes the taste of "lite" ice cream better.

Sheesh.

We're going back to our pre-marital counselor for a two-month check-up. I can only pray that all aspects of our relationship will prove to be as healthy as the food in our fridge!

I need to be careful what I make as my New Year's Resolutions for 2007...they might actually change my life!

Luck Be A Lady

This weekend Josh and I had date-night at Harrah's Casino. We dressed up like high rollers...Josh in his snappy velvet blazer and wing-collared shirt, and me in my black and silver swing dress and high heels. So much fun!

We each got $ 5 on our Casino Card. To my disappointment, you don't actually put nickels into the slot any more...it's all electronic. I'm sure it's easier for the casino, but when you win, there is no happy jingle of coins pouring out over your feet. Your Casino Card just adds 75 cents to your available balance. Not as cool as in the movies.

I'd never been to a casino before, so I was fascinated (and sort of overwhelmed) by the twinkly lights, happy-beepy machines, and sparkly waitresses. People of every hair-style imaginable pushing electronic pennies into hungry screen monitors; trying to line up pirates, pigs, or pineapple; greedy for a win.

Josh was a more agressive better, willing to risk up to 25 cents on every spin. He lost money quickly, but once won 2 whole dollars! I was more likely to bet a dime at a time. My money lasted longer, but I only won amounts like 40 cents. Our $ 10 lasted almost two hours. Good thing we don't have kids to feed!

I'm sure there's some moral lesson or deep metaphor to explore here, but we had to hurry off to the next party. We spent New Year's Day playing poker with our friends Cam and Sharla and Bryan.

The cards were stacked against Josh, and his chips dwindled quickly. Cameron and Bryan tried to read everyone at the table, betting and bluffing until they, too, lost their chips to Shar and me. No wonder they usually don't let the girls play!

All I know about playing poker comes from three sources: my buddy Schoney in Sioux Falls, the poker chapter in "Things You Should Know By Now," and Kenny Rogers' song "The Gambler."

You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when youre sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Overall, it was a weekend filled with the nagging thought of "maybe this time my luck will change." I got lots of time to practice my poker face and being a good loser.

I'm so grateful to rest on the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, where God says, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you."

Sure, it's fun to spend a few hours and a few bucks on games of chance. You're pretty much guaranteed to lose, but there's always that sparkly glimmer of hope for a few more pennies added to your Casino Card.

But what the Lord offers has nothing to do with chance and everything to do with certainty. His offer of eternal life is not about luck or about "maybe this will happen."

God knows the plans He has for us as we participate in His kingdom. He knows where we are, and He listens to us. The Lord is the treasure we seek, and He promises He will be found by us.

I'm betting on that.