A Few Thank You's

To Tim Lin for researching and purchasing ram for my computer

To John Armstrong for installing aforementioned ram

To Ryan Mullarkey for making my phone more time efficient

Because of the efforts of these fine men hours of my day will be available for greater pursuits.  

A few more things I love

* cards, margaritas and theology with the Shelleys
* shopping with Erin while discussing the beauty of being co-heirs of the Kingdom, the bride of Christ and daughters of the Living God
* marveling with Breanne over the rare occasion that eat n'park coffee doesn't taste like dirt

* oh and savoring "dosay" remembrances with LAK. nothing beats secret languages created at 2 a.m. in 8th grade.


I do love visiting my hometown, but I am ready to be back in Tucson. It's home now.

Highlights of Christmas Break thus far

Since leaving Arizona I have loved:

* making new friends while traveling

* late night dates at the place for smiles, a.k.a. eat n'park with brad and breanne
* an early morning visit to starbucks with jasmine
* 4 hours at panera with sherry
* hours of settlers playing with the fam
* talking to annie
* anne of green gables
* seeing my niece and nephews
* a lot of football
* seeing joey get all riled up while watching football
* seeing joey get all riled up while playing settlers (oh and did i mention he lost 4 games in a row?)
* anticipating the PENN STATE game
* mornings with my mom

and I still have 6 days left at home :)

In case you were confused...

I love the Strudel!

And apparently, so does Meaghan

I love Carol, the newest member of the Strudel and if I may say so, an excellent addition!

Tonight we had strudel dinner, note all of the food at the beginning of the meal...

Diana made us this delicious Korean feast

The end of the meal which fortunately coincided with the end of the food

And in other news, I got my hair chopped off today. Then I was hit on by a 35 year old. hmmm.

Relationships are Hard

I have known this. I have learned it time and time again. Sometimes if I am honest, I am not convinced that they are worth the effort they require. But even as I have been wrestling through this, I am increasingly convinced of God's great love for His people and of His sovereign hand. I am so thankful for His Word, which gently rebukes, corrects, admonishes and teaches. Oh yes, and it daily reminds me of the depths of His love and grace and of my great need for these precious friendships.

On a lighter note, here are some of my favorite pictures from the last few weeks.

a classic strudel bonding ritual

I love having teammates that encourage my ice cream addiction...at 9:30 a.m.

a great camping trip with wonderful friends

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one anonther above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer...Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another"

Romans 15

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

Colossians 3

Wedding Palooza

I have been to a lot of weddings in my life. I have been to a lot of weddings this year and I have a lot more weddings to go to in the next few months. Most of these weddings have been really enjoyable, but I have to say that the two from this past weekend are always going to stand out in my memory as some of the sweetest pictures of what God intended when He created marriage.

Jasmine's wedding this weekend was a beautiful reminder of God's relentless pursuit of us in the midst of other lesser lovers. I loved how Jasmine and Aaron seamlessly incorporated the Gospel into their ceremony, reception and their relationship. Individually and as a couple they love people so well. I have no doubt that their marriage will be a testimony of God's faithfulness to us as His Bride.

the girls from 401. (beth, jasmine, leah and i).
jasmine's wedding was such a sweet opportunity to catch up with dear old friends.

It was such a joy to see my dear friend Krista at the Butlers' wedding!

And then the Butler wedding. I absolutely loved living with Lori as her relationship with Dustin progressed. Her excitement and eagerness for her wedding day often brought to my mind the excitement and eagerness that we, as the Bride of Christ, should have for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. I love that Lori did not give up hope as she waited for Dustin, but rather, waited patiently, obediently, eagerly and rejoiced in the midst of it. That is how I want to wait for the coming of Christ. I would hate for that sweet day to come and me to have become inpatient in the waiting and have given myself to lesser lovers. How incredibly sweet it is that just as Dustin pursued Lori prior to their wedding day, Christ passionately pursues us!

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as bride adorns herself with her jewels.

~ Isaiah 61:10 ~

As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”

~ Isaiah 62:5 ~

Another Beautiful Day in Tucson

I woke up this morning with the news that my car had been broken into for a second time. And after calling the police, my insurance company, and the glass repairman, I was struck by what a different response to this I would have if I did not believe in God.

If I didn't believe in God, I would probably hate Tucson. I would be overwhelmed by and perhaps even paralyzed by fear. I would allow anger to fester and take control of my attitude and emotions. Anxiety would be the theme of my life.

But by the grace of God I do believe in a good, protector God. I believe He is always sovereignly in control. He is infinite in wisdom and perfect in love. And in the words of Jerry Bridges I know, "God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about." As I think about it, this morning has been a sweet reminder of His transforming grace. Of course all of the repairs and phone calls are a momentary frustration and annoyance and I truly do hate cleaning broken glass, but that is all it is. By His grace my heart has been transformed and now instead of being controlled by fear, anger and anxiety, I trust Him at His Word. I cannot imagine life without these freeing beliefs.

The glass repairman just called and he'll be here around 10 and my day will thankfully go on. I am in charge of buying the food for our sweet Welcome Back BBQ tonight and am currently at a complete loss of how much food to buy. hmmmm. Maybe I'll go make some brownies now.

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
~ Psalm 16:7-11 ~