Most everyone is on Facebook these days. I don't spend a lot of time on Facebook outside of the quick check of the news feed. I don't put many status updates or photos and the like. But I was on it the other day and it was one of those rainy, dreary days when you just want to sit inside and watch a movie. Suddenly I found myself checking up on all kinds of people from the past. People I went to college with, people I went to high school with or people I just knew for a month or two while working at a camp.
What I found myself thinking is how different my life would be with even the slightest change in my decisions. What would have happend if I didn't go to that school, or work at that camp, or stayed in touch with this group of people. I suppose my mind goes places like that on rainy days. I have a feeling that God will have quite a story to share with me when I see him face to face. How many nudges he had to give me to end up where I am today. I am blessed in a hundred ways and yet sometimes I don't quite know how all the chips fell into place.
An old friend of mine said she loved introducing her friends to other circles of friends. I think heaven will be a lot like that. I am looking forward to hearing God share the story of how all the chips fall into place.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Something Interesting to Say
Another couple weeks has gone by and we are getting closer and closer to our baby boy making his debut. He has been kicking Renee nonstop but I think he knows when someone wants to feel him kick because he seems to stop as soon as I put my hand on her stomache. I'm gonna take that as a sign that I have a soothing effect on him.
We are pretty sure on what we are going to name him, but I think we are keeping it under wraps till the big day. That is if Renee can keep a secret for a few more months (I'm guessing she can't haha).
So with this blog thing I think I should make sure it is not just a bunch of updates on our life but also has some substance. I think there should be stuff on here that I would enjoy reading. I guess that has to do with that fact that I'm a nerd and actually enjoy learning (I hope thats one thing my son gets from me).
This year I'm trying to stay invested in books. I like reading for fun, for growth, or for learning. I'm reading Brave New World right now. It's a cool book and makes you think about a lot of cool stuff. Probably the most interesting idea is that we all need the freedom to experience pain or we are really just numb to everything. It is only through experiencing the storms that we can appreciate the sunshine. The book basically boils down to the idea that it is quite sad to live a life only of happiness. I suppose a lot of lottery winners could attest to that idea. Hopefully I can appreciate this concept in the tougher times.
Thats all for now.
We are pretty sure on what we are going to name him, but I think we are keeping it under wraps till the big day. That is if Renee can keep a secret for a few more months (I'm guessing she can't haha).
So with this blog thing I think I should make sure it is not just a bunch of updates on our life but also has some substance. I think there should be stuff on here that I would enjoy reading. I guess that has to do with that fact that I'm a nerd and actually enjoy learning (I hope thats one thing my son gets from me).
This year I'm trying to stay invested in books. I like reading for fun, for growth, or for learning. I'm reading Brave New World right now. It's a cool book and makes you think about a lot of cool stuff. Probably the most interesting idea is that we all need the freedom to experience pain or we are really just numb to everything. It is only through experiencing the storms that we can appreciate the sunshine. The book basically boils down to the idea that it is quite sad to live a life only of happiness. I suppose a lot of lottery winners could attest to that idea. Hopefully I can appreciate this concept in the tougher times.
Thats all for now.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
New Year, New Life
So neither Renee or myself have put anything up here in a long time and we might as well start this all over with the amount of change we've seen in the past 6 months. Of course if you know either of us you know that at this point Renee is fully 21 weeks along with our baby boy.
All I can say is that I'm super excited about what he will bring to our life and really a little freaked out because we have no idea what to expect. I'm looking forward to reading to him a whole lot and teaching him how to be a good packer/cubs/gamecock fan (a wide assortment I know).
One thing I have been thinking about is how I have given advice to others. I've always that my job was to present both sides to someone so they could make the best decision for themselves... my opinion was not what matters. But now, my opinion will matter. I get to decide what my kid will experience. What he will see. What values we teach him. When to fight the battles and when to let them slide. So much to think about.
Anyway, I'm hoping to put more of my thoughts down so maybe one day my kid (or kids) can look back see what was going through my head when they are having kids of their own.
God bless.
All I can say is that I'm super excited about what he will bring to our life and really a little freaked out because we have no idea what to expect. I'm looking forward to reading to him a whole lot and teaching him how to be a good packer/cubs/gamecock fan (a wide assortment I know).
One thing I have been thinking about is how I have given advice to others. I've always that my job was to present both sides to someone so they could make the best decision for themselves... my opinion was not what matters. But now, my opinion will matter. I get to decide what my kid will experience. What he will see. What values we teach him. When to fight the battles and when to let them slide. So much to think about.
Anyway, I'm hoping to put more of my thoughts down so maybe one day my kid (or kids) can look back see what was going through my head when they are having kids of their own.
God bless.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
WHHHHEWWWW!
So an entire semester has gone by and I have already enjoyed one month of being out of school. Is there some way to push the pause button? I pretty much have been traveling since school got out. I have been blessed with the opportunity to spend about 11 days at home, a romantic weekend hiking in the smoky mountains and a memorial day weekend with great friends in Myrtle Beach. It has been an awesome busy time but I am looking forward to lazy sunday afternoons reading a book by the pool and not panicking about the fact I have one more year left of nursing school and back out into the real world I go. Ah. One more year? Now most of you might not see the reason to panic but for Errik and I, we have been waiting for this period of our life for what feels like a long time. We have been planning for May 2012 since 2008. "Our" timeline ends there. How did it sneak up on us so fast? We know God has awesome plans for us but right now we are at this be patient time in our walk with Christ. If any of you know me, I am not patient. Not at all. Not even a little. I'm working on it. But right now, I see this big blank slate after May. It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time. But, we sit and wait. I hope Errik and I can enjoy this place we are at and be thankful for everything the Lord has blessed us with and continue to live our lives for Him. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
No Place Like Home
After this last Christmas, I have realized that I am so blessed to have 2 "homes." Chicago will always hold a piece of my heart, where most of Errik and I's family live. Then, I have discovered that Columbia, slowly but surely, is becoming home. And not because it's a place where they get 3 snow days for about 5 inches of snow and some ice or having the hustle and bustle of city life (ha) or being home to the South Carolina Gamecocks but Columbia is home to so many great friends and a church we just love even in its slight brokeness. Although Errik and I may be here for a season, Columbia is the first place Errik and I made home. So I apologize to those I have confused when chatting about home, because right now I am not exactly sure which one is home. And I am okay with that.
I was so blessed to be home (chicago) for 2 whole weeks! I miss my amazing family and our crazy hilarious nieces with a nephew on the way to spice things up. Errik and I wish we could be there for their birthdays, to catch their funny sayings, to babysit and spoil the heck out of them but I know the Lord continues to call us elsewhere for now.
Finally this past Christmas, I was DETERMINED to go back to my home church. The one that taught me what church was, who Christ is, what it means to follow Him, and encouraged me to grow in my faith. God had placed some pretty amazing people along my path there. It was SO refreshing to be back after 3 years. To see all what God has accomplished and continues to accomplish. I felt like a stranger but at home all in the same moment. I remember roller blading on cement floor that are now filled with the nursery, only 500 people attended at my first service where currently thousands of people attend on 3 different campuses not including the roughly 25 church plants worldwide, the crazy lock ins, the camping trips in Canada and Vermont.I even ran into my small group leader from 6th grade who I had prayed with to accept Christ. The list goes on. Lord, thank you for reminding me of a child-like faith and for placing so many people in my life to encourage me to grow in you, no matter where we live.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
2011 can be the best year of your life
I'm back home from IL and I loved spending time with family and probably most of all my new nieces (one nephew on the way). While home we had the chance to go to church and Pastor James talked about 2 Tim 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. It was great for me because I often struggle with certain types of fear. Usually the fear of what will happen if I really let God take the reins. Non the less God has given us power (over that which we can not control), love (to over come pain, hurt and disappointment), and self control (power over the self). Pretty cool to think about.
Anyway it was great to hear a challenging and convicting message. So when I think about what I want to be great this year it really boils down to a few key things. I want to be a man after God's own heart, I want to be a devoted husband, I want to be a disciple with my guys, I want to work each day as if for God and finally to be more healthy (thats a major self control one there). So it is January 4th and there are still 361 days to get these things done...
Anyway it was great to hear a challenging and convicting message. So when I think about what I want to be great this year it really boils down to a few key things. I want to be a man after God's own heart, I want to be a devoted husband, I want to be a disciple with my guys, I want to work each day as if for God and finally to be more healthy (thats a major self control one there). So it is January 4th and there are still 361 days to get these things done...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
It's December?!
I love nursing school. No actually I don't. I love the people I have met in class and love the thought of becoming a nurse. School stinks. Haha, and thats maybe the first time I have really ever said that because I truly love learning new things. Yeah, I think I just admitted to being a nerd. Oh well.
Today, I am one week away from temporary freedom and going home to Chicago (Chicago will just always be home). Thanksgiving break provided just enough re-energizing to hopefully get me through to the rest of finals. It was great to cook a Thanksgiving meal (thats almost 3 times now, thank you!). And I may still have a lot to learn in the cooking realm but it was fun anyways. We were able to hang out with family, which was one of the greatest blessings. It was quint and quiet...which I am definitely not used to. Holidays are always a hustle and bustle in our family. I was blessed to grow up with such a big loving family. And Errik and I were close to spending this Thanksgiving alone, which may sound super romantic but growing up with BIG holiday gatherings...it just wouldn't quite feel the same. It was wonderful and the Lord knew just what we needed.
Now, its December and my countdown until the end of finals and going home begins. But that's what I am afraid of right now. Countdowns. With going back to nursing school, my life is a schedule of deadlines and where I have to be and when. However, my hope this Christmas season is that I find time to stop and enjoy just being with friends and family that I cherish so much and to remember what Christmas is TRULY all about. Christ. I hope that as my calendar continues to fill up this month, that I will have time to just sit. Patiently. And enjoy where I am in life, right now... and not let life become all about deadlines and countdowns or maybe what's to come next in life.
Today, I am one week away from temporary freedom and going home to Chicago (Chicago will just always be home). Thanksgiving break provided just enough re-energizing to hopefully get me through to the rest of finals. It was great to cook a Thanksgiving meal (thats almost 3 times now, thank you!). And I may still have a lot to learn in the cooking realm but it was fun anyways. We were able to hang out with family, which was one of the greatest blessings. It was quint and quiet...which I am definitely not used to. Holidays are always a hustle and bustle in our family. I was blessed to grow up with such a big loving family. And Errik and I were close to spending this Thanksgiving alone, which may sound super romantic but growing up with BIG holiday gatherings...it just wouldn't quite feel the same. It was wonderful and the Lord knew just what we needed.
Now, its December and my countdown until the end of finals and going home begins. But that's what I am afraid of right now. Countdowns. With going back to nursing school, my life is a schedule of deadlines and where I have to be and when. However, my hope this Christmas season is that I find time to stop and enjoy just being with friends and family that I cherish so much and to remember what Christmas is TRULY all about. Christ. I hope that as my calendar continues to fill up this month, that I will have time to just sit. Patiently. And enjoy where I am in life, right now... and not let life become all about deadlines and countdowns or maybe what's to come next in life.
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