Top 5 Registry Items

I apologize for the discontinuity to this blog. It's just a random smattering of thoughts and pictures and experiences - none of which fit neatly into any one category, unless that category could be called "chaos." So one day you might like a post, and it could be 5 months before I post another one in that same genre... which I do apologize for, but I never wanted a theme because then I'd be limited in my rants. And let's be honest, I am not short of rant material. But I will spare you the details of my current work commute, distaste for pushy health nuts, and my overwhelming love for all things carbonated.

With that said, I stole this idea from another friend's blog. I figure we don't have too many mutual friends, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if I copied her (bc if we're being real, I copy everyone at some point - its my WOO tendency according to Strength Finders 2.0).

So here it is, my top 5 favorite things I registered for when I got married. And I say "I" because Patrick was somewhat limited in his opinions of fine china and placemats. I can't imagine why.

1. My blender. Which unfortunately bit the dust whilst mixing margaritas last year. But if I had to choose to go out in some way, I'd definitely choose to go out blending cocktails. *Now, I'm struggling with whether or not to make this post about common things...because everyone knows you need and use pots and pans, silverware, sheets, etc. So from here on out, I'll use random and surprisingly useful items.

2. Fancy candles. I love candles, and sometimes they can get expensive. Especially if you want Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel decorative ones. This is something I probably wouldn't buy myself (Wal-Mart has great candles that cost $5 a pop), but am thankful to have.

3. Wall decor. Seems cheesy, but wall art/sconces are expensive. I didn't register for anything super expensive in this department, but am grateful that I put in some frou-frou things.

4. Serving platters. Patrick loathes how many of these I registered for, but we use them all the time...well, the smaller ones. But they are so helpful and you can put anything on them- snacks for small group, desserts for a party, cookies to snack on throughout the week, etc. 

5. Coffee Maker. This one is a no brainer because we use it at least once a day. However I wish I would have discovered the French Press earlier in life. 

Things I wish I registered for (or for more of): food processor, furniture, better bedding, tupperware, a little nicer set of plates and no fine china, an extra set of sheets, a teapot, beach towels, baskets (to hold blankets or magazines), Apples to Apples, and a cooler of some sort. 

It's just so hard to know your style when you first register, so now that we're looking at houses, I'm completely over everything that we have. Crate and Barrel changed seasons twice during the process of our registering for our wedding, so half of our items were discontinued - which meant we sort of haphazardly threw extra things on it just to have full sets, but our bedding, towels, and blankets are all a mish mash of colors. Oh well, you live and you learn. And hopefully one day you have the money to get what you really want. :)

Upcoming Movies

I recently read two books that have been made into movies, and will be coming out this spring. I wanted to post the two trailers in case they prompted anyone to read either of these two fabulous novels before the movies come out.

Water for Elephants - This is about a 1930s circus that goes from town to town on a train. Some pieces of the story were really moving and some were somewhat hard to swallow, but all in all its a really neat story. One that has never been told.




Something Borrowed- I love all of Emily Giffin's books, and cannot wait until this movie! I actually prefer the second book, "Something Blue" to this one, but they both go hand in hand. The cast for this movie looks amazing (including Jon Krasinski and Kate Hudson) and it will probably be one I need to own for rainy days.



Hope you enjoy!

Home Decor

So we've been in the process of house hunting, which has prompted me to do some decorating research. I have a hard time picking out decorations, paint colors, and bedding because I change my mind every 3 weeks. So I'm trying to do some research ahead of time to figure out more what my style is (other than everything being lime green). Here are some things that I've found that I'd love to incorporate into our new home:

Answered Prayers

My prayers have been answered.

I can now have my blog title in a DIFFERENT font than the traditional 5 that are normally offered. Praise the Lord. I never thought this day would come.

Now, if only I could convince blogger that posting should also be allowed in said font.

The BIG House Hunt

Over the last few weeks, Patrick and I have embarked on the enjoyable, yet tedious journey of buying a house. And yes, I am mature enough and old enough to have my own house - although you might disagree with that, seeing as I can hardly keep the kitchen clean, let alone the bedroom or bathroom. Hey, at least I bathe right?

Now, I'm a quick decision maker, and was completely happy to look at one set of houses and make a decision out of those. However, Patrick likes to be a little bit more thoughtful when it comes to big purchases. I should have known that it would be at least ten more trips out with a realtor before Patrick would be open to making a decision. And I admit, that can drive me crazy. 

So we've taken three trips, and Patrick is insisting we take more. Mainly because all the places I like are in crappy school districts, and he thinks our children deserve good educational opportunities. ("I don't even own A gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack! What am I gonna do with a gun rack?" -Wayne's World) - Children are not even on the brain, so it's hard for me to research high schools when our first kid won't be attending one for another 14+ years. I get that it will influence the re-sell value of the house, but an area/neighborhood/school can change A LOT in 14 years. So for some reason, I'm just not sensing his same urgency to choose a house based upon its respective high school.

But alas, his points are valid, although I hate admitting defeat. 

So here goes round FOUR of touring homes. Homes in the same district that I grew up in (although the last thing I want to do is re-live my teen years vicariously through our un-born children). I'll keep you posted on the newest developments. If there are any.

Live.

One of my favorite quotes is by Mark Twain:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

I love this quote, and hope that I live my life according to it. Never passing up opportunities, and creating avenues to make my dreams happen. I don't want to ever be "too afraid" or "too nervous" to try something (save for sky-diving, cliff jumping, and bungee jumping). Even if it doesn't turn out well or perfect, I want to at least give it a shot. 

We only get one chance at life, and I don't want to have any regrets. 

It's a verb.

I have a hard time writing when I don't have a lightbulb of an idea of what to write about. But I love to write and communicate so I'm just going to get over my awkwardness.

Today I finished my third Emily Giffin book, "Something Blue." It took me roughly ten minutes to read because her books are just so fabulous. I loved this book in so many ways. Giffin (yes it kind of stresses me out that it's not gRiffin) really finds ways to articulate feelings and thoughts I've had for years, but never had the guts to admit.


It was love as a verb, as Rachel used to say. Love that made me more patient, more loyal, and stronger. Love that made me feel more complete than I had ever felt in my glamorous, Jimmy Choo-filled past.


When you're married and start to get past the giddiness of the first few months of your new life, you start seeing all the little flaws in your relationship. The ways that you don't quite connect. The things you don't have in common. The habits that aren't quite as easy to overlook as you'd hoped. And reality starts to kick in. You have dirty clothes and dishes, a garbage disposal that backs up and starts to reek. Upset stomachs and after-gym sweats. Sometimes (or most of the time), life isn't beautiful and glamorous.

But one thing that has been so consistently remarkable to me is how well Patrick loves me. There is never a moment in all of the mess that I flat out don't feel loved. He gives more than any man I know. He is always making an effort, always going the extra mile, and always sacrificing. There are days where I don't want to tell people some of the things he's done or said because they just seem too good. But I know they're not. He puts forth every effort to ensure that I have the best of everything, am listened to and encouraged, doted upon and valued. Patrick is truly one-of-a-kind, and my prayer is that every girl get to know the kind of love that Patrick shows me every single day. I love him.

According to Emily Giffin, love is a verb. And I couldn't agree more. 

God is Birthing Big Things

Background

Over the last two years, I have been a student at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. I finished the second-year program this past May and have been challenged with the idea that I must now learn to "burn alone." It's been 6 months since I graduated, so I've had some time to see if I was really up to that challenge. 

One thing that Bethel focuses very heavily on teaching is identity. Starting first with what God says about you through Scripture, then moving into what He says about you in your alone time with Him. So many believers have not learned how to live out of who GOD says that they are.  God said that we are dearly loved children. We can do all things through Him. We are good. We are whole. We are meant to do the "greater things."

It took awhile for some of this to start sinking in, but as it did I started to realize that God created me to be different. To have a unique set of skills and talents that no one else had. I had always known that I had a control problem, I liked to plan details, I could put an event together 10 minutes flat, and I liked to work and talk with people. ALL. THE. TIME. It never occurred to me that there was a reason I had all those skills. 

So Bethel started acknowledging that those talents of mine were not only present, but that they were actually useful. And they started telling me what God said about them, and how God wanted to use them. Now this was new for me because I figured I was wired in a specific way, but that that didn't matter. My unique "wiring" could just make some tasks harder or easier to do, but the abilities themselves were not of any relevant importance. But as I started to realize what my skills and talents were, and how to leverage them, I immediately became more confident and fulfilled day-to-day. 

So not only had my community at church brought these gifts and talents to the surface, they allowed me to actually start using them. Last December I planned my first real conference (800ish people) and last spring I was able to plan my first mission trip to the Middle East. I loved finally being able to do "jobs" that I was actually wired to do. 

Today

So starting last November, I began having dreams of being pregnant and going into labor early. Week after week I'd have these dreams, and they'd all be slightly different.  The first few had me going into labor in December (which was when my first conference was, but I was 4-5 months early).  Throughout the following months I still dreamed of being pregnant, but not necessarily going into labor any more. 

People at ministry school were also having dreams and getting words about pregnancy, so I knew God was obviously birthing something in me that was pretty significant. 

When I realized that I was 5 months early (still all in dream world- I am NOT actually pregnant), I looked at the dates to see what 5 months ahead of the conference was, and it was the day I was leaving for the Middle East, on the first trip I had ever planned. December 11 was the conference, May 11 was the day we left for the Middle East.

In ministry school, we did a lot of exercises concerning our dreams. We'd write them out, pick out words and phrases that were significant to us, and create a purpose statement. Throughout this time I started to realize that I wanted to plan trips, and lead and develop teams on the mission field. That would be my dream job if I had one. I wanted to reach every nation, and what better way than through planning trips and sending out teams. 

So like I said in my previous post, I'm starting a new job in 2 weeks. And this is the job that I've literally been dreaming about. I'll be planning mission trips, and periodically leading teams to the mission field. This job is exactly what I have dreamed of doing, and the cool thing is that there are hundreds of other details about this new company that line up 100% with what I want and what I've been praying about for so long. I feel so blessed and honored to be given this opportunity!!!

At church yesterday, one of our pastors got up and said "This is the year for dreams to manifest. It is time to birth the baby" - which she followed with several different metaphors for birthing a child. As if the Spirit couldn't be more clear- this is my season to birth something that has been in me for so long. To step into who I'm called and equipped to be. To rise up in my true identity and radiate the goodness of God to all of His children.

I can and I will change the world and disciple nations.

New Chapter

Over the next two weeks, I'll be transitioning into a new job. A job that I have sincerely dreamed about for years, but never had the guts to pursue.

It took two years of ministry school for me to start to see what components would make up my "dream" job. A job that I would do for free. One that I would ask to take home with me. One that would make me excited to wake up each morning and get to work. One that would constantly remind me that I can and I am making a difference in someone's life. And I believe that I've found that job.

So on February 21st, I begin the transition. Closing out one season of life and moving onto the next. Sometimes I'm great with change, and sometimes I'm not. But this change will hopefully be unlike any other change I've made before. My expectation is that this change will bring about abundant fruit, edifying friendships, and allow me to use skills that I have that I've never had the opportunity to fully develop. I feel like with this new season, I'll be stepping into more of me.

"All creation is longing for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed." Romans 8:19