midwest freedom

people help the people

2012-02-08T13:11:00.000-08:00

Life is full right now. The contrast between last fall and winter is unreal, seriously, black and white, night from day. Literally, I've been working more days this past month than nights. Refreshing moments are found in between work, to play and cook and entertain friends and see family and watch Downton Abbey and go to church. Since working as a nurse, I've wrestled with my understanding of life calling. I believe God calls us to work in places where our strengths and passions meet His needs in the world. Work, for every person, can be used for God's kingdom. I'm not sure that is as simplistic as I imagined in college. Work does not define me nor will it sustain me. Work cannot measure my worth. Work cannot fulfill me. Only God can do this. My successes and failures at work do not validate or invalidate my ministry. When I say ministry, I'm referring to the way in which God asks me to act in the world, to experience His love and transformation, and in thanks be missional, expressing His love to others and taking His Church to the world.

When I look at my career to be affirming and rewarding, not only am I disappointed, but I become bitter and ungrateful. This has been my struggle. Learning to rest in God, seeking his love and affirmation. Learning to care for my patients and fellow staff with boundaries so I do not become slaves to their expectations. To react with God's love when patients are upset and angry. It's hard to keep my mind like Him. "God, seriously, these people today are not being awesome. What do I do?" I ask His Spirit that dwells in me, "Be my glasses, correct my vision, help me see through your love and compassion." Because my ministry and work isn't about me or how it makes me feel. I must remind myself of how God sees them, they are not their circumstances, but who they really are is rooted in who He is. They are His children just like me, no more important and no less worthy. They are loved.

I read physicians, social workers, and other nurses notes describing the hopelessness, broken relationships, sexual and physical abuse of my patients. My heart weeps. If only they knew how God sees them, if only they knew how God loves them, they are His children, and this world has not treated them in His light. My heart breaks for the fullness of life they are missing, the healing God can give them, and love God has for them. Depression is barren of hope. Addiction is slavery. They are His. I must be His hands in this world, loving and caring. God, they need your freedom.

Slowly, I am giving away my need to feel excited to go to work or comfortable at work. I'm realizing my strengths are not based off what makes me happy or content. That is not discussed enough in life calling and strengths tests. God gives us gifts not so that we can be fulfilled but so that His work can be done. In this process I am being transformed which creates fullness. But quite frankly, it's hard. I wrestle with my fears daily. I am desperately asking God to shift my mind to gratitude, thanking Him for the good and difficult. Regardless if I see any change in my patients, I remain responsible for praying for them, being patient and caring, taking time to listen, and inviting God's Spirit into our facility. This is my calling for this season.

"I wonder too... if the rent in the canvas of our life backdrop, the losses that puncture our world, our own emptiness, might actually become places to see.

To see through to God.

That that which tears open our souls, those holes that splatter our sight, may actually become the thin, open places to see through the mess of this place to the heart-aching beauty beyond. To Him. To the God whom we endlessly crave."

- Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

eat more vegetables

2012-01-31T07:07:00.000-08:00

Precook a week's worth of vegetables, makes so much sense, needs to happen more in this household. Let's be real. When you live with a boy, meat is first priority. When it's only two of you, most vegetable side dishes are extra work. Routinely, Logan and I eat lots of chili and meat/potatoes combinations. At least chili is loaded with fiber. Potatoes count as vegetables.

Still, it's time to add more veggies to our lives. Prepping a ton of veggies on a day off or a free afternoon (like today) is perfect. For more food ideas and tips, check out Tamar Alder's other videos or her book An Everlasting Meal. Oh, and watch her first video of "How to Stride Ahead" series, makes me itch for summer and farmer's markets.

(discovered via ktchn)

happy birthday, ari

2012-01-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

This kid. Seriously, look at him. He's cute, and funny, and awesome, and last week he turned two. Since Logan and I've been in Jersey, we tend to mimic the little voices, noises, and faces he makes in our daily conversations. Our recent favorite is his battle cry. Seriously, he makes us laugh. When he smiles, your heart melts over and over again.

He is all boy. Climbing, swiping everything electronic, sneaky. His parents already have a ton of stories to prove this. At the same time, he has a big heart. When he hugs my dad, he wraps his little arms around his neck and rests his head on his shoulder. I love it, such a sweet kid deep down. He is still such a baby to me, but he's growing. Two, already.

I love you, Ari.

more mumford

2012-01-19T08:41:00.000-08:00

I am loving this UK film preview for Wuthering Heights featuring a new Mumford & Sons' song. I want to see it. For those who have been wanting more Mumford, check out these new-ish songs floating around the internet: Ghosts, Lovers Eyes, Home & Below My Feet.

Let me learn from where I have been.
Keep my eyes to serve and my hands to learn.

Next album is going to be good.

orb community church

2012-01-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

Logan is taking a class called Missional Theology for January term. It's been incredible to watch him come home every day inspired. One of the professors for the class is the pastor of a church in Redbank, NJ, and invited students and their families to attend their worship service.

I'm not really sure where to begin, but it was a really neat service. The church has a worship team who writes most of their songs. The congregation was diverse for a new church and smaller congregation: older, young, single, married, lots of kids. It was cool, really cool. Of course, I loved the kids dancing to the last worship song after they finished their own service, such joy.

Afterwards, we drank tea and met others. We felt welcomed and were touched by the deep relationships between those in the congregation. Logan's professor invited us into his home with an awesome fireplace, and his wife fed us all sorts of amazing soups. We climbed in forts with his kids and shared our stories.

On the way home, I prayed to God that He might use Logan and I to help others feel that way. To invite them into our church and home, to share our stories, to find and encourage others to live in God's story and participate in whatever ministry He has called of them.

For more about the church, check them out here. And I also need to say the sermon, it was perfect, felt like something Logan and I needed to hear before leaving for New Zealand, appropriately stretching and provoking. For those neat worship songs, listen to The New Ancients (also here, Dying Faith is my favorite). But trust me, it was (and is) much better singing these songs together as the body of Christ.

(photo via virginiahall)

sleepy saturday

2012-01-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Happy to have a chance to sleep in this morning. I trained on day shift this week for work. Since I'm a little paranoid, I woke up at five every day. And now, I have to remind my body that it's working nights this weekend. Given that, I probably will be in bed until church tonight and when I leave for work.

Yesterday was my last day to train. It was a typical shift and then the chaos began. In the last three hours, we had patients being put in the quiet room, on contracts, new admissions. Even if it was busy, I'm glad I experienced it. I feel more prepared the next time it happens. Plus, I had the new admission, a very sweet girl. She was my hope that shift. Some people really do want better things for themselves and others. She wants to try.

(photo via cat who loves cat)

addison hope

2012-01-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

I need to share this beautiful moment that happened while home for Christmas. This tiny bundle of light and blessing.

My childhood best friend, her husband and their daughter brought this little one into their family the Tuesday before Christmas. As I watched Breanna through this difficult pregnancy, she taught me physical and emotional surrender to God. With each unknown as she carried her, Breanna prayed and opened her hands.

Before you were born, Addison, you were given to God. You have been prayed for by your family and friends. We are so thankful you're here. We know that not all pregnancies end this hopeful. You remind us that life is a blessing. When I look at you, I realize all who enter the world are fragile and beautiful. Addison is not more special than any other baby born, no, she is exactly like every baby created in that she is special. I want to look at others the way that I see you. Full of hope and a testimony of God's grace.

You are a gift.

my friend katelyn

2012-01-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

First, can we talk about this 60 degree weather in Jersey? Live it up.

And next, more importantly and excitingly, I purchased my bridesmaid dress for ktb's wedding. I'll wait to share the dress until we have the works. You know, wedding photos next July with that pretty little bride and us lady friends who are like her flowers that hold flowers, looking at her and smiling, adoring her smitten face.

I can't wait.

Did I mention after the bride's yes to the dress the second confirmation... dress on sale. Glad that Katelyn is a good reason to buy an Anthro dress because I haven't ever had a real excuse. Yeah, she's worth it. I miss this girl.

haley is five

2012-01-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

This girl, sheesh, she's pretty. Today, my niece Haley turns five. As I mentioned on Daylen's birthday, five seems like a big deal to me because I vividly remember my fifth birthday.

She is creative and strong. Seems weird to describe a five year old that way, but she is all girl with her stamps, coloring, and singing then she has this pleasant courage and strength. She can stand up to all her boy cousins that outnumber her. Luckily, this past year she gained two more girl cousins.

Plus, who knows whether she'll have a baby brother or sister next June? Either way, Monica and I both think she'll be pretty motherly to her new sibling. She received an American Girl doll for Christmas, and tomorrow, she's going to the store in Chicago to have tea. I am super jealous.

Happy Birthday, Haley. Your aunt and uncle love you.

chili cheese étouffée

2012-01-03T21:02:00.000-08:00

Yats is this Cajun restaurant around Indianapolis. Gosh, I love it. Good memories at Yats: Court and Ashley during May term, dinner before Coldplay, old staffs and hanging out in Broad Ripple, rewarding myself after twelve hour clinicals.

Last night, we asked our neighbors/friends over dinner, and I really wanted to make them something special, something new, something comfort. I found the recipe for my favorite Yats dish: chili cheese étouffée with crawfish.

First, I really don't know how to pronounce étouffée or any other French/Creole words. Clearly, I needed to research this recipe. Then questions started, worse than the pronunciation, not really. How do I cook the chicken and crawfish? Is it better marinated? What the heck is a roux? What color of roux do I need? Don't worry that it looks like a lot of ingredients - it's mostly spices. Hopefully, my additions are helpful:

Chili Cheese Etouffée with Crawfish, Shrimp and/or Chicken
1 stick of butter
½ cup flour
1 cup chopped green onions
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced bell peppers
1 cup diced onions
2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 cup Rotel Original diced tomatoes
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon white pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 cups chicken stock
3 cups shredded aged cheddar
8 ounces half and half (or heavy cream)
1 teaspoon chili powder
pinch ground coriander
pinch ground cumin
pinch ground cloves
dash worcestershire sauce
dash hot sauce sauce (optional)
1 pound cooked crawfish, shrimp and/or chicken
Cooked white rice

Honestly, I looked up how to make fajita style chicken and substituted cajun spices. Cut chicken into small strips. Marinate the chicken with a couple spoons of Cajun seasoning. We didn't have any so I made my seasoning from scratch using this recipe. Cook in skillet with oil. Set aside. (If you want a quick Cajun fix and don't have time to make this recipe, you can just do the chicken with the Cajun seasoning and serve it over rice. Boom.)

Make a roux by heating the butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat then blending in the flour, consistently stirring and scraping the bottom of the skillet. Do not walk away. It takes about 10-15 minutes on a gas stove. Cook until the roux is golden color. For different roux colors, look here. We did the color after the "blonde" roux.

Add the green onions, celery, bell peppers, onions, garlic and tomatoes. Cook until the onions have browned. At this point, Logan thought it looked really weird. Continue to stir to avoid burning.

Add the thyme, tomato paste, basil and peppers (black, white, and cayenne).

Add the stock, bring to a boil and simmer until the mixture becomes thick (7-12 minutes).

Add the cheese, half and half, chili powder, coriander, cumin, cloves, worcestershire sauce and hot sauce (or wait and let others add in hot sauce). Stir until the cheese and half and half are blended in well.

Gently stir in the chicken (or shrimp or crawfish). Serve over white rice (we used Jasmine -- it's what we had).

Buy a loaf of french bread, spread melted butter, season with garlic salt and cayenne pepper. Bake for 5-10 minutes on 425 F. This bread is your other fork, pushing it around the plate, scooping it up. Chili cheese étouffée rice crunchy bread, everybody loves it.

Serves 6-8

Tips: I cut and prepped everything before so that it was easy to add as I cooked. Separated the different spices into small bowls. It helps because you are stirring a lot to prevent it burning. No time to prep other things unless you find someone to stir for you. Oh hey Logan, thanks.

(source: The Burb Blog & Indianapolis Dine Magazine)

Do I love this recipe? Yes. Will I keep making it despite the stick of butter, three cups of cheddar cheese, and cup of half and half? Absolutely. Do I love people more than food? Yes. Am I glad food is a good way to spend time with people we love? Oh reader, please.

this year

2012-01-01T15:01:00.000-08:00

I'm not great at new year's resolutions, and that's okay. As two thousand eleven came to a close, Advent became such a time to listen to God's voice. We reflected this past year and began the anticipation of the next. Rather than resolutions, I am focusing on these promises, praying God allows them to be themes for this next year, reminding me of his plans, to be my hope.

1. Live in Freedom
To not live out of fear, obligation, or worry. Unfortunately, fear causes me to constantly predict the negative responses of others and forces me to live in the assumed negative uncertainty of what will happen (cognitive behavioral therapy calls this fortune telling). Fear is when I refuse to ask (not confront) about the condition of my relationships with others and God. Rather than allowing uncertainty to guide my steps, teach me to rest in your freedom, God. The peace you give us, allowing your Spirit to discern when it is appropriate to act or wait, to listen or speak.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?
- Psalm 56:3-4

One of the most pervasive emotions in the atmosphere around us is fear. People are afraid -- afraid of inner feelings, afraid of other people, and also afraid of the future. Fearful people have a hard time waiting, because when we are afraid we want to get away from where we are. But if we cannot flee, we may fight instead. Many of our destructive acts come from the fear that something harmful will be done to us. And if we take a broader perspective -- that not only individuals but whole communities and nations might be afraid of being harmed -- we can understand how hard it is to wait and how tempting it is to act. Here are the roots of a "first strike" approach to others. People who live in a a world of fear are more likely to make aggressive, hostile, destructive responses than people who are not so frightened. The more afraid we are, the harder waiting becomes.

2. Actively Wait
This past year was waiting replaced with more waiting. At times, I waited poorly, focusing on the outcomes, discouraging me from the transformation that comes with waiting, becoming more of a certain person. This is what Advent reminded me, waiting is preparation. God is active in waiting. It is not passive. God is at work.

My soul is waiting for the Lord.
I count on his word.
My soul is belonging for the Lord
more than a watchman for daybreak.
Because with the Lord there is
mercy and fullness of redemption.
- Psalm 130:5-7

For many people, waiting is an awful desert between where they are and where they want to go. And people do not like such a place. They want to get out of it by doing something... But what is the nature of waiting? What is the practice of waiting? How are they waiting and how are we called to wait with them?

Waiting, as we see it in the people on the first pages of the Gospel, is waiting with a sense of promise. "Zechariah,...your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son." "Mary,...Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son" (Luke 1:13, 31). People who wait have received a promise that allows them to wait. They have received something that is at work in them, like a seed that has started to grow. We can only really wait if what we are waiting for has already begun for us. So waiting is never a moment from nothing to something. It is always a movement from something to something more.

Second, waiting is active.... But there is none of this passivity in scripture. Those who are waiting are waiting very actively. They know that what they are waiting for is growing from the ground on which they are standing. That's the secret. The secret of waiting is the faith that the seed has been planted, that something begun. Active waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it. A waiting person is someone who is present to the moment, who believes that this moment is the moment.

Open-ended waiting is hard for us because we tend to wait for something very concrete, for something we wish to have. We want the future to go in a very specific direction, and if this does not happen we are disappointed and can even slip into despair. That is why we have such a hard time waiting: we want to do the things that will make the desired events take place. Here we can see how wishes tend to be connected with fears.

But Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary were not filled with wishes. They were filled with hope. Hope is something very different. Hope is trusting that something will be fulfilled, but fulfilled according to the promises and not just according to our wishes. Therefore, hope is always open-ended.

To wait open-endedly is an enormously radical attitude toward life. So is to trust that something will happen to us that is far beyond our own imaginings. So, too, is giving up control over our future and letting God define our life, trusting that God molds us according to God's love and not according to our fear. The spiritual life is a life in which we wait, actively present to the moment, trusting that new things will happen to us, new things that are beyond our own imagination, fantasy, or prediction. That, indeed, isa very radical stance toward life in a world preoccupied with control.

How do we wait? One of the most beautiful passages of scripture is Luke 1:39-56, which suggests that we wait together, as did Mary and Elizabeth. What happened when Mary received the words of promise? she went to Elizabeth. Something was happening to Elizabeth as well as to Mary. But how could they live that out?

I find the meeting of these two women very moving, because Elizabeth and Mary came together and enabled each other to wait. Mary's visit made Elizabeth aware of what she waiting for. The child leapt for joy in her. Mary affirmed Elizabeth's waiting. And then Elizabeth said to Mary, "Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary responded, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord" (Luke 1:45-46). She burst into joy herself. These two women created space for each other to wait. They affirmed for each other that something was aheppning that was worth waiting for.

The visit of Elizabeth and Mary is one of the Bible's most beautiful expressions of what it meanst to form community, to be together, gathered around a promise, affirming that something is really happening. This is what prayer is all about. It is coming together around the promise. This is what celebration is all about. It is lifting up what is already there.

(quotes via Henri Nouwen)

two thousand eleven

2011-12-31T10:17:00.000-08:00

memories: planning, dress making, snow day, jersey valentine's day, bridal showers, research thesis, late nights, niece kati, graduation, cardiac cath, husband & wife, whidbey island, alaska, harry potter, niece june, newlywed, barth & aquinas, friends married (x5), sleeping bear dunes, nclex, topanga camping, packing, family camp, move, nesting, progressive dinner, job search, babysitting, friends engaged, family visit 1, baby news, new zealand, family visit 2, nyc, new job, crock pot turkey, family visit 3, over the rhine, indiana christmas

themes: God's provision, waiting, new, transitions

indiana christmas

2011-12-30T08:24:00.000-08:00

How can I capture the week we had in Indiana for Christmas? Joy, peace, love. It was our first visit back since we moved. Thankfully, we managed to see most of our immediate family (except for my parents visiting my grandparents in Arizona). All seven nephews and nieces, four brothers and four sisters, parents and grandparents (an anniversary dinner for 65 years of marriage, amazing). Plus, some time with close friends in the area (one who had a beautiful baby girl). Praise God for safe traveling around northern Indiana. He even brought snow. I love Christmas, and my husband, and our families.

i done it for love

2011-12-21T19:12:00.000-08:00

"Leo, listen carefully to me. Don't be so preoccupied with the purity of your heart. Turn and look at Jesus. Admire him. Rejoice that he is what he is -- your Brother, your Friend, your Lord and Savior. That, little brother, is what it means to be pure of heart. And once you've turned to Jesus, don't turn back and look at yourself. Don't wonder where you stand with him."

- Brennan Manning

(photo via A Beautiful Mess)

advent

2011-12-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

"Advent, it becomes a time of self-examination. 'Put the desire of your heart in order, O human beings!' as the old song sings. God wants us to always be with us, wherever we may be -- in our sin, in our suffering and death. We are no longer alone; God is with us. We are no longer homeless; a bit of the eternal home has moved into us. Therefore, we adults can rejoice deeply within our hearts under the Christmas tree, perhaps more than children are able...

We know that God's goodness will once again draw near. We think of all of God's goodness that came our way last year and sense something of the marvelous home. Jesus comes... 'Behold I stand at the door... open wide the gates.' (Ps 24:8). One day, at the last judgement, he will separate the sheep and the goats and will say to those on his right: 'Come, you blessed. I was hungry and you fed me.' (Mt. 25:34)

To the astonished questions of when and where, he answered, "What you did to the least of these, you have done to me." (Mt 25:40) With that we are faced with the shocking reality: Jesus stands at the door and knocks, in complete reality. He asks you for help in the form of a beggar, in the form of a ruined human being in torn clothing. He confronts you in every person you meet. Christ walks on the earth as your neighbor as long as there are people. He wants on the earth as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you and makes His demands. That is the great seriousness and the great blessedness of the Advent message.

Christ stands at the door. He lives in the form of the person in our midsts. Will you keep the door locked or open it to him? Christ is still knocking.

It is not yet Christmas.

But it is also not the great final Advent, the final coming of Christ. Through all the Advents of our life that we celebrate goes the longing for the final Advent, where it says, 'Behold I make all things new.' (Rev 21:15)

Advent is a time of waiting. Our whole life, however is Advent... That is, a time of waiting for the ultimate, for the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. When all people are brothers and sisters. And one rejoices in the words of the angels: 'On earth, peace...'"

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

(via A Holy Experience)

monday before christmas list

2011-12-19T13:51:00.000-08:00

Hello, friend. Isn't our Christmas tree cute? Little and happy. Logan is driving to Indiana today -- Clint and him have partnership meetings for The Well (prayers appreciated). Jealous, I'm itching to be back in the Midwest. I fly out Friday after work. I can't wait to be home for Christmas.

Here's to a wonderful week of celebrating the coming of our Savior, time with family, resting, preparing for next year, such a season of reflecting and inspiration:

Enjoying Angela Hardison's Christmas playlists (1 & 2).

A year in reading.

Choosing present over perfect (not only appropriate for Christmas, but sharing this with every engaged friend and reading every holiday).

Kmart layaway accounts.

Pitchfork's 50 top albums of 2011.

3 gifts you really need this season.

Advent calls the darkness fertile.

baby cowl

2011-12-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

I've been making those cowls I posted a few weeks ago. Used Phoeberkins as my model (surprise? no). Really, Jamie deserves most of the credit. She started making some, and it rubbed off on me, well, and all of us in apartment complex 305.

I'm thinking of selling them. Is that a good idea? Anyone interested? Probably should have thought about this more than eight days before Christmas. Or I could start a photography business taking cute photos of kids? I'm not a professional. I feel bad asking anyone to pay me. Same with crochet, my grandma is legit. I'm not.

extrovert

2011-12-16T19:18:00.000-08:00

Spent my entire afternoon, five hours at least, on a couch with Bethany and Mike. Talking, sharing, remembering. This is when I know without a doubt, I am absolutely completely an extrovert, encouraged and inspired by friends, catching up and being together, no need to leave the house or do anything. It's better than tea and cookies. It fills me.

engagement & lemon bars

2011-12-15T15:51:00.000-08:00

Made this lemon bar recipe for our recently engaged friends. Its intense, literally you use the entire lemon, peel and all. And note, why didn't I register for a 8x8 glass pan? Hello, cake pan, lemon bar cake, wait no bars, lemon cake.

Really excited for Jonathan and Mariesa. Congrats, friends.

good covers

2011-12-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

Birdy, an English musician who won Open Mic UK in 2008, recently released a cover album in November. Here's a sampler of it:

Oh, and she's like fifteen.

praying

2011-12-14T13:03:00.000-08:00

My heart breaking for my neighbor and her family, the unknown they are facing. I'm reminded of what I read a few months ago:

"We are fearful people. We are afraid of conflict, war, an uncertain future, illness, and, most of all, death. This fear takes away our freedom and gives our society the power manipulate us with threats and promises. When we can reach beyond our fears to the One who loves us with a love that was there before we were born and will be there after we die, then oppression, persecution, and even death will be unable to take our freedom. Once we have come to the deep inner knowledge -- a knowledge more of the heart than of the mind -- that we are born out of life and will die into love, that every part of our being is deeply rooted in love and that this love is our true Father and, then all forms of evil, illness, and death lose their final power over us and become painful but hopeful reminders of our true divine childhood.

Still, when we keep our eyes fixed on the risen Lord, we may find not only that love is stronger than death, but also that our faith is stronger than our skepticism."

phoebe

2011-12-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

This is my neighbor Phoebe. We hang out sometimes.

sushi machine

2011-12-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

Last night, I learned how to make sushi. It was an incredible evening, consistently amazed by the generosity of friends in Jersey, George and Kim are amazing chefs: wonton soup, duck, salad, sushi. Nothing better than spending hours together in a kitchen. And so, eleven friends plus four kids gathered around a table to celebrate Clint and Jamie before they leave for New Zealand. I know, compared to everyone else, I should be the least sad. In less than a year, we will be joining them in Christchurch.

And I watch, a little scared, knowing another season of goodbye will come too soon for Logan and I. Trying my best to be intentional with the time we have. Excited to be with family at Christmas, enjoying our home and community in Princeton, and at the same time, excited how God is working and the anticipation of New Zealand. But that's been this year, learning to live in the waiting.

nobel peace prize

2011-12-10T05:43:00.001-08:00

Admirable women, amazing change. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, activist Leymah Gbowee of Liberia and rights activist Tawakkul Karman of Yemen received the Nobel Peace Prize today. I am most familiar with Gbowee who was the main focus of the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell and her efforts to end a 14-year long civil war. All three women deserve this honor. For more, read here.

(photo via CNN)

the language of flowers

2011-12-08T07:24:00.001-08:00

I am reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, the first fiction book I've read in months, possible a year even. Only sixty pages in, and I'm already head over heels, smitten with her descriptions of flowers, the emotions tied to petals and stems.

It's good. And it isn't just about flowers, but also relationships and communication. The ways in which we speak without words. It's making me think.

(photo of a wedding arrangement by florist Amy Merrick, gorgeous, absolutely beautiful)

Update (9:00 p.m): And I might only have the last fifty pages to read.