The Joys of an old book

See anything strange in the print? (something you wouldn't find in an e-book. Long live physical pages!)

"Because He Loves Me"

Because He loves me is a book by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick which keeps bringing me back to what compels me in life: Christ's love. Yes, God is wrathful, just & holy, but He also loved the world enough to give it His only Son to save people from sin. I hope to never stop being overwhelmed by this act of sacrifice. This is the gospel & this is what true Christianity is powered by. Fitzpatrick says it well:

"True Christianity is not a program of self-improvement; it's an acknowledgment that something more than self-improvement is needed. What's needed is death and resurrection: gospel power--a loving Redeemer." (pg. 25)

"The Big Brag"

Dr. Seuss books have a special place in my heart. I love the illustrations, clever lines, & imaginative stories. There are so many I still have never read including The Big Brag. I checked out this book to read to some kids Jeff & I babysat, but we didn't quite make it to the last two stories (this book had three) so Jeff read it to me on a walk to the library.

Lesson learned: Do not boast of your strengths

Take A Morning Walk

Jeff & I went camping in the mountains near Big Bear Lake. Just $30.00 for an adventure pass, but no fee for this first come first serve campsite. See my Facebook for more photos.  I took a video of the walk to our camp grounds. It was taken early in the morning. Hope the shake doesn't make you sick!

Finished Bathroom!

The front of the frames are still a little wet, but dry enough to hang up!   Voila!

A Conversation with the Living God

Our community group at church is studying Habbakuk, a book of the Bible in which a prophet asks God hard questions & God answers. God's answers, however, are difficult for Habbakuk to accept. I really appreciate the prophet's approach:

"...I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved" (Chp 2:1)

Habbakuk prepares his heart for the Lord's response. How often do I purpose to do that? Habbakuk sees the wickedness of Judah & asks: Why? The Lord says he will use the Chaldeans, a more wicked nation, to punish Judah. God reminds Habbakuk that He has the ultimate control over these nations:

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Chp2:14)


"But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him." (Chp2:20)

What an awesome God to serve! One who does not tolerate wickedness & injustice.

Baby Steps

Let me explain...Jeff & I sort of have this yearly pact going that will supposedly prepare us for the responsibility of raising children (the real reason is that we have so much school to finish before having kids that we have to have hobbies in the meantime;).  It started out as a joke & then became fact. It goes like this-start by caring for living things that are low-maintenance & slowly build the level of responsibility each year. So marriage year #1 which we just completed in June was the year of no dependents. Year #2: Plants! My sister-in-law Jenn was nice enough to give us some plants when her & Adam moved to Ohio:

Plant#1 This one here only needs its water changed

ever so often & now reflects the words on Caitlin's

painting

Plant #2

 

Plant #3: has soil so I MUST remember to water it

Recent Decorations

I am pleased to say that I have finally hung up our wedding & family pictures. Take a look!

Once again, I have changed the contents of the boxes in our living room for summer:

Moved the print of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night over the Rhône to the back of couch to make room for other art in the kitchen. We can see it from our dinner table & imagine we are under the stars:

Pages from the children's book Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs
are framed next to the fridge. Breakfast, lunch, & dinner catastrophes are framed respectively from top to bottom:

This new addition hanging over the piano is a turkish lamp brought back from Turkey by my brother T.J.. Jeff did a good job wiring it so that we can easily switch it on & off:

                                                                                         How the colors change!

Graphic Design Print by Devin Dailey, My family, Jeff's family at our wedding, us:

Collage Hanging over our bed:wedding party, rings, vows, us, back of my wedding dress, painting of our engagement by T.J.:

"Hanna", a nice surprise

I was not dying to see the relatively new movie Hanna after watching a preview, but it intrigued me enough to see it at a 3 dollar theater. I ended up liking it quite a bit...good plot, character development, cinematography, and soundtrack (in my opinion). Here is a link to a free "listen" (click Play All after link opens).

"Summertime & the Livin' is Easy"

There is nothing like a little Billie Holiday jazz in the summer heat. If you are going to sweat, do it with Class.

Clover, feather, dandelion, leaf.

I have many projects I would love to start & finish this summer for our small apartment. A little more decorating & some organizing are the biggest goals. My first completed project is for our bathroom which has somewhat of a forest on the coast theme. It consists of four square-shaped white frames(which I painted a deep & bright blue-my favorite color!) displaying raw nature itself on cardboard squares.

Anyone would have laughed at me had they seen me carefully cupping the dandelion (now framed) on the way back up to my apartment. Oh-what a feeling of satisfaction to have finished something! The downside is that I happen to be one of the most impatient artists I know. I only had oil paints which is what I used which basically means these may not be dry for 3 weeks. At least Jeff stopped me from hanging them on the walls (I've done this before). What would I do without a reasonable man in my life?

Would you like a Cup of paint? I must add that painting again was just as reviving as a cup of tea.

Tandem Bike Night

Newly weds often goes hand-in-hand with the word "Cheap". It does not stop Jeff & I from going on dates, however, so I thought I would keep a record of some of the good ones;)We try to have date night once a week so this is what the last one consisted of:

1. Borrowing a tandem bike from friends of ours (free)
2. Reading Watership Down on a blanket under a tree (free)
2. Borrowing the movie It Happened One Night (free)
3. Breyer's Oreo Cookie & Cream mint ice cream ($4.00)

Credit to flickriver.com



The best part of the night was definitely the biking! We wandered throughout neighborhoods as the sun went down. The cool evening breeze made it all the more enjoyable as well as the looks on the faces of pedestrians we passed---try it!

Wisdom from Charlotte Bronte

I have taken on Jane Eyre this summer (which has been recommended many a time by friends, but the movie actually convinced me-lame huh?) & am pleased with it so far. It sure has depth. Today I found these parts thought provoking:


"...I am far younger than you, and I could not bear it." (says Jane regarding punishment)
(Helen responds) "Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be required to bear." - from page 67


Helen again: "Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs.  We are, and must be, one and all, burdened with faults in this world: but the time will soon come when, I trust, we shall put them off in putting off our corruptible bodies; when debasement and sin will fall from us with this cumbrous frame of flesh, and only the spark of the spirit will remain,"- pg70-71