Claire's Catalyst post...

Remember Claire's Clean Water blog?

Well, she's been asked by Catalyst bloggers to revamp her legacy-leaver post for their blog!

Pretty awesome stuff... Check it out here. ♥

the gift of grace... [thoughts on marriage]

We've been going and going around here, so it was great to take a break with each other last week.

It's a sweet gift to get to enjoy the company of another like this...

Whenever anyone asks, I am quick to declare the sweetness of marriage (especially with someone who is humble & kind like my guy!) -but there is a super hard part... Chip Judd described it during our wedding service (which I was recently reminded of when we snuggled up and watched the video of our ceremony the other night).

I'm going to go ahead and quote the part because he was kind enough to give us his words in writing...

The best metaphor I have come up with for marriage is a mirror. The only way we truly get to know ourselves is through interaction with others, the closer, the more consistent --the better. 

No relationship brings us closer more consistently than marriage. Within a marriage you are able to see yourself more accurately for who you really are than in any other relationship. 

When God says in Genesis 2 that Adam & Eve were "both naked but they felt no shame," He was stating a fact and a standard. The fact is inevitable --you will see each other without clothes or covering. The standard --"they felt no shame"-- is not automatic or inevitable. 

One of the greatest goals toward which your marriage can strive is to create an oasis of acceptance for your beloved. One place on earth that is always safe to return to. One place on earth where you are fully known but fully loved....

I just love those words...

Of course as any of us do life together closely, the friction rubs.. But sometimes, for me at least, the hard part of that friction is not the other, but the me-part. When I am ugly, crabby, or downright slothful, I don't want to be seen or known. When the other still loves and gives me undeserved kindess, the friction burns, I can't accept it. I want to run & hide.

I recently wrote in my 1000 Gifts journal a thanks for "vulnerability with J.. How I long for it, give it, cringe, & realize his constant love again & again!" This is my hard, beautiful cycle.

Thank God he loves us like he does- and that he uses the sweet love of others to make us realize the reality of that love- at our best, and especially at our worst! Thank God for loving husbands and parents and guardians. Thank God for Jesus- I can't imagine having to earn or deserve his love. What a sad, hopeless story that would be. I pray you're blessed with the sweet love of caring friends & family- and that you're able to bless others in this way- by loving them all the way -deserving or not! ♥

[[My goal here is not to put myself down- but it's somehow beneficial for me to realize that the hard part of loving for me is not so much loving the others' hard places, but letting then love me through mine..

I think even spiritually I hit the same road block: I don't expect God to bless me here or there, as I clearly don't deserve it.. And when he blesses me anyway, I am reminded it's not about deserving his love -or earning it- but that it's a gift to be received!]]

Skype...

My little Sis is up in NY visiting our extended family and she asked Mom if we could skype Sunday night.

This was the excellent result... 4 cousins + Sister laughing & playing -and Kayla putting her face too close to the camera for the better part of thirty-nine minutes.

Kind of awesome. :)

(yes they are eating corn in that pic.. I think Kayla was showing off that she was eating & liking a vegetable!:)

Cade...

The nephew is getting cuter and cuter!!

Love watching him grow!! ♥

(I had him for over an hour while he was sleeping!♥♥)

Love that A-fam. It was Shannon's birthday, but apparently Cade stole the show. Sorry, brother. Maybe next year. Or maybe not. ;)

catching up [with iPhonography]..

The driving test is over... We killed it! :)
So glad it's done.

I feel like we can get back to enjoying our last few weeks at home...(PS- Jeremy has a link to a 'cheat sheet' that really helped. If you ever have to take the NC Driver's test, let me know, we'll gladly share the wealth!!)

I've been adding most of my favorite phone pics to my Flickr stream lately, but I have missed some good ones, so here's a little [very mismatched] photo catch-up...

Saturday beach walk...

More pool-time with Sister...

after work Jill-family date + neighbor-friend...

Jeremy & Doug @ Fresh Brewed...

PF Chang's with some sweet ladies...

Kayla & Kenzie's purple streaks...

Jordan-twin time...

Baby Cade: already a month old...

BN visit from a high school friend, baby & lil sis! <3

Yard Sale goodness...

aaaand a glimpse at our little Raleigh space! :)

It's been a good couple of weeks... we definitely look forward to packing as much MB-friend-family-goodness into the next 3 & 1/2!! ♥

Early to bed... Early to rise...

That's my 1% change...

I must get to bed earlier
(norm: 11-ish; goal: before 10)

so that I can wake earlier
(norm: 6ish; goal: 5ish)

It's a hard discipline for me, buuut, the quiet morning-time before work is worth it!

I could probably elaborate, but I have Yard Sale signs to make for Saturday and this silly driver's manual to read for next week... soooo, that's all for now! ♥ ♥

So much for reading what we want to read...

Jeremy and I will have our noses in the NC Driver's Handbook for eight more days.

We spent the weekend prepping some of our big stuff (futon, coffee table, etc.) for our first official Raleigh-moving-session next Monday.

Then, Tuesday morning, we have driving test appointments (which puts us a step closer to in-state tuition for next year)!!

Little sister, Big story...

Some already know Kayla's adoption story, however, until last weekend, Kayla herself didn't realize what a great big story she had...

My dad wrote it out in a basic way he knew she'd be able to read and understand.

It's quite beautiful.

I'm just going to post the images, so you'll have to click on them to enlarge them if you want to read it...

She took it well, and has had really minimal questions so far...

I look forward to her knowing some of the more intimate details for sure, but for now, I'm just glad that they went for it and that she knows how much we absolutely love and treasure her.

Thankful for the gift of her life to ours. ♥

Quitter...

Jeremy & I made it through Quitter this weekend.
(For me at least, this is a testament to the ease of the read!!)

It was not only easy to read, it was quite hilarious and extremely helpful!

I kinda loved every minute of it... (& it's one of only two books I've ever read in so few sittings/days!!)

Whether you like your day job or not, whether you have a big dream in your heart or not, whether you're married or single, employed or unemployed, I'd recommend this book. It's that good. ♥

Mystery of Freedom (by Chip Judd)

Yesterday we went to Victory Christian Fellowship (our kinda-sorta second-home church & where Jeremy's parents regularly attend).

Chip Judd, one of our personal heroes and the founding pastor there, was speaking.

His sermon Mystery of Freedom was so good, I wanted to post my notes here... (That's a link to the audio... If you've got approximately 36 minutes, it's worth the listen!)

VCF- Sun. 7/3/11
Mystery of Freedom -Chip Judd

For all of us, there's a championships we want to win...
[Me: marriage, parent/family, [insert fully defined dream here]]

We proclaim Christ... So that you all may grow up/mature in him..(?)

[I think it was this verse: He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. -Col.1:28-29]

Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it! (Matthew 7:13-14)

John 8:31-32

Free: the power to direct our actions without the control or influence of any other person or thing; self-directed or governed

One of the greatest obstacles in life= our freedom.

If you really want a life the life of intimacy & impact, you need to find the narrow road... (Matthew 7:13-14)

The mystery of Freedom--
I am free, but...
Freedom is a gift I should never keep.

The moment you keep freedom, you go into slavery --to the meanest master you will ever serve-- yourself!

With self at the center:
...we put ourselves in the place of God.
...we create solutions to our needs / challenges.
...we take ourselves out from under God's protection.

He always has a solution for you!
--but it's not always comfortable
--& we don't always want to hear it!

Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it... (Luke 9:24)

No goal/desire will be achieved w/out self-denial & surrender to something...

You can't get what you want by always getting what you want!

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We seriously love this guy.
Love his wisdom.
Thankful for his speaking it into our lives over the years.

Happy Fourth, blogland! ♥

PS- Shameless husband plug: Jeremy happens to be the builder/designer of Chip's site, so there's the link again, in case you want to check out his handy work. ;)

Jeremy. Music. Friday.

Jeremy & Doug will be back at Fresh Brewed this Friday...

8:00 pm-ish...

Come hear and see and worship... ♥

turning the page...

Finished this beautiful book last night before sleep.

Thankful for this sweet Ann, full of grace, and for the journey of One Thousand Gifts.

As a result of this read, I'm still going strong on my own gratitude journal. It's small and wonderful, and I keep it handy at all times... (It's especially helpful when I'd rather complain.. It daily reminds me of all the great [and ugly-beautiful] things I have to be thankful for...)

With July being our last full month here at home before heading to Raleigh, I'm excited to be starting Quitter by Jon Acuff! (Jeremy's already half way through and continues to encourage me how much I will love this read. --Being the often very reluctant reader that I am, this is a great blessing!:)

Looking forward to closing the gap between my day job and my dream job with Jon Acuff- who works for Dave Ramsey, by the way... (Yep. That puts him waaay up in my book!:)

Happy Friday, Blogland!
♥