Moving...and an update

I moved on Sunday. I wasn't expecting to, but an opportunity for a cute little yellow house with a balcony presented itself, and I just couldn't pass it up. It's a great little place, and sooo much better than the place we were before.
But there was just one problem: moving. I hate moving. It is one of my least favorite things in the entire world. The process of neatly packing everything up, just to drive a little ways and unpack is so frustrating and exhausting!

Also, I have really weak arms - did I mention that? Well they are uncharacteristically weak - very unlike my friend, Lindsay, who is freakishly strong. It's true - don't mess with her.


As I was getting things ready to move, I stopped just for a moment and considered calling it off. That's how much I hate moving. But you know what motivated me to keep going? A new balcony. Washer/dryer hookups. Two bathrooms. More than one outlet. A dishwasher. The place I was going to was so much better than the place I was leaving. And I knew it.

But what if I didn't?

There is not a chance that you could get me to move somewhere I'd never seen. No way, no how. What if my new place had no outlets? What if I had to share a room with a girl named Helga (no offense to you Helgas out there)? Without knowing where I was moving to, the work would not be worth it. It would be too great a risk.


And then I realized: God asks me to do that all the time. He asks me to pack up my mindsets, my neatly organized perceptions, my comfortable ways of doing things, and asks me to move them into a better place. Somewhere that they will be challenged and changed. The catch is that I've never seen that place...but He has. And suddenly my battle is not with the work it takes to move, but with my faith in who God is. Because if I really believe that He is good, then He will take me to a good place - even if it is hard to get there. But too often I've dreaded the task of moving, and missed out on God's plan for me.

Change can be intimidating, seasons are shifting, and moving sucks...but God is good.

"Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard. He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For You, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance." - Psalm 66:8-12 (NIV - UK)

I long for the faith it takes to get to the place of abundance. Don't you?
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UPDATE: There was an ornament hook, a few pens, a highlighter, crumbs, 7 cents, and a receipt in my couch cushions.

God save me from my own twisted brain

I woke up this morning thinking about a lot of things:

• Orphans
• Money
• What my laugh sounds like to other people
• If I'll get my laundry done today

AND...

• What is in my couch cushions.

Yes, I know - I'm sick. I have a severe problem. My brain gets shut off for 8 hours, and suddenly the alarm rings and it goes into overdrive. And even worse is that then I started thinking about what could be in your couch cushions! Oh, God save me from my own twisted brain indeed!

So if you could help me out and tell me what is in your couch cushions, I think there could be hope. That giant question could be set aside and room could be made for much more important questions, like: What is under your bed?

Oh no! There I go again...

Why Computers Are Sissies

So, my computer has been having a hard time lately. It all started one winter day, not so very long ago. I would like to make this small disclaimer - that my computer was purchased in the ancient time of 2003, so it's bound to have issues anyway. That being said... It was a beautiful winter day - the kind of day you want to just sit by a fireplace and read and nap all day long.


On this particular day, I was at Backporch enjoying a delicious coffee beverage and was joined by a friend (who shall remain nameless). On snowy days, sometimes coffee just doesn't cut it. Sometimes you need something a little more comforting...something like tea...tea with honey. Anyway, you can guess what happened next - the tea somehow fell in love with my computer and decided to give it a little smooch...okay the entire cup of tea was poured onto my computer. And since that day it has had...issues.


Needless to say, the days of the beautiful blue Dell Inspiron are over. It has gotten to the point where I can no longer handle it. But here's the thing. I've had tea with honey spilled on me. I've been dropped. I've been shut down. But you don't see me slowing down or shutting off - refusing to get the job done.



Oh no, I press on dear friends. I press on. I don't give up, and I don't quit doing what I was created to do. No matter what information I have to download, or what errors I face, I am faithful to continue on.

And that, my friends, is why computers are sissies.

Sophia

Meet my newest little cousin, Sophia Mei Schulz. My uncle Matt sent me this pic, and I can't get over how stinking cute she is! I will be flying to Iowa to see her get baptized the end of this month, and I'm excited to squeeze her chubby little face.

Here's one thing that is just an undeniable fact when it comes to babies: chubbier is better!

Vacation Is Where It's At!

Okay, so after (finally) finding my camera cord, I realized I didn't take all that many pictures. Sorry - I was having too much fun! So here is a very small synopsis of the awesomeness that was Lake Tahoe (shut up it is too a word!)


Friends...

Prehistoric mini-golf...

Winners!

Bears...

Jesus...

Skip-bo!

Casino (It was only a dollar, don't worry)

Birthday (Mekenzie's, not mine)

Massages (Yikes!)

BEAUTIFUL...

Water...

Jetski (My new fav)

Cabin... (I'm the most tan! Yes I am, yes I am, YES I AM!!!!)

Homeward bound...

Now you know all the details about my vacation. But really, Tahoe was great. Thanlks, Mekenzie's family for inviting me! I hope to come back someday!

Can You Handle This?

The anticipation builds. You wring your hands and your palms start to sweat. Thoughts, questions race through your head so fast it makes you dizzy.

"Will she? Won't she?"

Oh great, here comes the nausea. Who knew you could feel your heartbeat in your head? As if a very small, but very loud drummer has set up shop in between your ears.

"When will it happen? Could it be today?"

You attempt to swallow the lump in your throat, and then... you make a move. The arrow slides ever so gracefully to the left, and selects a name. Suddenly the mini-head-drummer has managed to clone himself (herself?) and triple the volume. It's all you've thought about for weeks. You're sick with anxiety.

"Could it have happened? Please, let it be so!"

Click! Somewhere a symphony begins to play At Last, and a wave of relief and ecstasy sweeps over you. The nausea settles, the drummer leaves and you are left in a deep sea of joy, eyes wide with wonder, heart filled with satisfaction. All those memories of disappointment seem to fade, and you smile and laugh content in the knowledge that...

Katie blogged today.