In January, I had a couple of weeks where I had some great college students over to eat. The thing about college students is that they are much like high school students but more verbal. You ask a question and you actually get coherent content and thoughtful responses. I made a disgusting soup that somehow the first group of wonderful students choked down. The second group got a better meal that I wish I could remember. Ah well. Both groups allowed me to roast marshmallows around a fire, and we made smores too. These college girls are smart, not just looking for a husband, and they just are fun to be around.
In February, I had one of these same college girls and a couple of new ones over to my house to make cupcakes. Plus our friend Ragan came for the day to join in the fun! What a treat. I have missed that gal. Our cupcakes came in second place and they were mocha chocolate flavored with a coffee icing. They had beautiful candy decorations made by these same students. And we had fun talking about topics like majoring in English, majoring in engineering, what types of hearts work best when freehanding candy decorations, and learning about common friends. Add on to that a soup for lunch and cupcakes for dessert, what could be better?
Also, a couple of weeks ago, K invited three high school girls to spend the night for "Galentine's" day. They watched "Sleepover" and spent the night. I made a yummy shrimp pasta for them and for my boyfriend. The next morning I had bacon biscuits at the ready. These girls talked with me about Jesus. How God used technology to spread the gospel, what they were learning in their bible studies, what they loved about serving...Saturday morning was quite the blessing that day.
I think the thing we forget in our day to day is that life is really about relationships. It matters that you're organized (somewhat), it matters that you have a capacity to learn and read intellectually about politics/science/world news/fiction, it matters that you know how to capably do what you are supposed to do. But the reason we care most about personal relationships is because we have a relational God. We see it reflected in the Trinity; God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three-in-one. The ultimate relationship, right? And this is the gospel: we love one another as He first loved us - but even better, He commanded us to love our neighbor like ourselves. We may be introverts, quiet, or anti-social, but we can't escape that we need others. And that is a reflection of Him.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
A visit with family
As usual, I have let time go by and I haven't written about my activities. One thing I have realized is that my mind is like an hourglass. The sands of time slip by and the details in my memories fade, never to be recovered. And this blog helps me remember not just the factual activities, but sometimes even the emotions, the visual experience, sometimes even the olfactory sensation that comes from being in a place. I love that the written word has that impact.
Over the last two weeks I have realized that I have too much stress at work. It is almost constant, and I cried about it to both my boyfriend and my boss. I have to admit I sometimes think about it and try to think of an "exit strategy" but I know that an exit has its own perils, its own disasters. I would have to get reacquainted with new co-workers, new processes, a new boss, new duties...new everything. Sometimes that thought does excite me but most of the time it fills me with fear. I am a creature of habit. So I had a day off last Friday. And I didn't hardly think about my work life at all. How awesome is that!
My sister came into the state with her baby girl, who will be two in June. How has time flown? I drove to my parents' to see all of them, and my daughters joined me the next day. It wasn't the most exciting visit, admittedly. Her daughter is still pretty wary of me and refuses to leave her side. My sister was also not feeling well so she struggled with maintaining a chipper attitude. But, we watched the Olympics and the women figure skaters, we watched my niece play, and we saw how smart she is. She would say "nose running!" and come over to get her nose wiped. She would say "Okay?" asking her mom if she was feeling okay. She would sing little songs and sing a Lithuanian ditty called "Doogy Dolly" or something crazy like that. She definitely was opinionated and would say "No!" She could pronounce some of our names. My sister had to spell words because my niece definitely knew what we were saying most of the time. Smart girl!
I dropped them both off at the airport yesterday to go home. My sister and I did get to talk and we finally shared some more personal thoughts. I reflected after dropping her off, that I always have this strange experience in going to my parents' because I remember how it was like before I became a believer. I am not, of course, better. However, what God has done for me has given me peace, and an overall feeling that "it's going to be okay." Not a made up feeling, or something we just assume will happen, but a real sense of knowing that I belong to the One who is in control, who will do a great work in me and in His followers, and that I have a place with Him, and will be there one day. What a gift!
Over the last two weeks I have realized that I have too much stress at work. It is almost constant, and I cried about it to both my boyfriend and my boss. I have to admit I sometimes think about it and try to think of an "exit strategy" but I know that an exit has its own perils, its own disasters. I would have to get reacquainted with new co-workers, new processes, a new boss, new duties...new everything. Sometimes that thought does excite me but most of the time it fills me with fear. I am a creature of habit. So I had a day off last Friday. And I didn't hardly think about my work life at all. How awesome is that!
My sister came into the state with her baby girl, who will be two in June. How has time flown? I drove to my parents' to see all of them, and my daughters joined me the next day. It wasn't the most exciting visit, admittedly. Her daughter is still pretty wary of me and refuses to leave her side. My sister was also not feeling well so she struggled with maintaining a chipper attitude. But, we watched the Olympics and the women figure skaters, we watched my niece play, and we saw how smart she is. She would say "nose running!" and come over to get her nose wiped. She would say "Okay?" asking her mom if she was feeling okay. She would sing little songs and sing a Lithuanian ditty called "Doogy Dolly" or something crazy like that. She definitely was opinionated and would say "No!" She could pronounce some of our names. My sister had to spell words because my niece definitely knew what we were saying most of the time. Smart girl!
I dropped them both off at the airport yesterday to go home. My sister and I did get to talk and we finally shared some more personal thoughts. I reflected after dropping her off, that I always have this strange experience in going to my parents' because I remember how it was like before I became a believer. I am not, of course, better. However, what God has done for me has given me peace, and an overall feeling that "it's going to be okay." Not a made up feeling, or something we just assume will happen, but a real sense of knowing that I belong to the One who is in control, who will do a great work in me and in His followers, and that I have a place with Him, and will be there one day. What a gift!
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