the gift of presence

I arrive home from a day at the office or running errands, and I am greeted with a joyful greeting from my little Easton. His routine is always the same. He will step out of his crate, tail-wagging, lower to the ground and wait for a rub down. He’ll stretch. He’ll then rush excitedly to search for a toy to come show me. The most important thing in his life is companionship, and he always looks back to make sure I’m watching, following, or listening. If I’m not, he is sure to get my attention in the ways he knows best. A cracked blackberry, destroyed camera card, chewed pair of eyeglasses, and shredded pair of panties later, I could not be any more certain that my dog knows how to get to me. Afterall, his greatest moments are those spent with his mama.

Everyone wants to be loved and to feel a sense of belonging in some way or other.

For those of us who have friends and family near and dear to us in the holiday season, we cherish the moments together. For me, I am most excited about the thought of simply gathering together, possibly celebrating with food, and possibly celebrating with a bit too much food. This is the season that traditionally affects our waistlines, our wallets, and possibly even our sanity. There is a countdown clock at work that plagues me with the greatest of anxiety, and I’m even keeping it simple this year! Despite these challenges during the busyness of the season, it is with the greatest of anticipation that I still countdown towards the day we celebrate the birth of our Saviour. Pastor Rick of the People’s Church shared a message this past Sunday, reminding us of the ultimate gift, stating, “God has come down to man…for a reason…and promises to never leave us.” In this it is made clear that we are children of God to which His presence was made known among us. Even more extraordinary is that Jesus gave up divine privileges so that He could make a way for US. He became the connection. This was the fulfillment of God’s promise to us, and further proof that He would never leave us or forsake us, as is written in His Word.

So it is in this holiday season that we get to enjoy the presence of God.

changing focus

This week I oficially started my new role at e+ CancerCare in Accounts Receivable doing insurance claims follow up. I'm very excited to take on new responsibilities and train closely with the AR management team. I don't think there's a better group to learn from!

The cover of FastCompany caught my eye the other day. Featured in the magazine was an article about Nike CEO Mark Parker. He shared some advice he learned as a child from his grandmother. She would often share her observations about the world, "...engaged and learning new things until she passed," said Parker. One of the resulting guiding principles that made it to the cover of this month's issue:

"Curiosity is life. Assumption is death. Look around. Be a sponge."

So where I was formally writing appeals for denied claims, I will now be handling the step just prior to that. I think that I have an opportunity to challenge the insurance payers and potentially bring in money quicker than with appeals. It will be interesting as I learn another facet of the business!

God's artistry and the human connection

There is something about the act of creating that makes me feel connected with God. Perhaps it's because this is a talent I feel He's gifted me with, or perhaps it's because He Himself is the Creator of all things...or possibly both. I feel a sense of connection, whether it be when I'm cooking, painting, jornaling, or photographing my surroundings. Part of it has to do with using what God has already created to make something new and beautiful, but there's also a connection with becoming like God, who loved us enough to think to even create humanity and the connection to Him through Christ His son.

I've been considering making gift-giving this Christmas season about art, and it hasn't been difficult to find inspiration for what projects I'd like to do. That said, I started to panic when I realized that Christmas is only two short months away! With only two projects complete so far, I have a ways yet to go!

home, sweet home

Today marks nearly two months since we moved into the new house. I've entered a new season in my life where I really need to be surrounded by friends and activities, and this move has been in keeping with this theme. Time has passed quickly, but it's been full of barbeques, firepits, cooking in the kitchen, movie nights, and time spent out on the back deck.

Welcome to your tour of 3403!


This is a view from the front of the house:


When you walk into the house, there is our living space to the right, stairwell leading to two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, and an entrance to my bedroom on the left.



There was a period of adjustment for Easton, but I don't think there's anywhere he'd rather be right now. He loves Katie and Stephanie, cuddles up to them on the couch after a long day, steals their laundry and gives them plenty of kisses. Sounds late at night still put him in protective mode. As soon as the front door opens, which is right next to my bedroom door, Easton pushes his nose under the door and wags his tail, recognizing who it is.


Here are a few pictures of my bathroom downstairs:


The most entertaining places to be are in the kitchen...


...and on the back deck.

Yum

This weekend we celebrated Daniel's 25th birthday (my roommate Stephanie's boyfriend), and his being a chef, I decided to try one of my mom's recipes that I was hoping he might enjoy. There was none left at the end of the night so I'd say it was a success! For those who might like to try this great fall recipe, here you go:

PUMPKIN ROLL WITH CREAM CHEESE FILLING

CAKE:
• Powdered sugar
• ¾ C. all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp. Baking powder
• ½ tsp. Baking soda
• ½ tsp. Ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. Ground cloves
• ¼ tsp. Salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 C. granulated sugar
• 2/3 C. Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 C. chopped walnuts (opt.)

FILLING:
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 1 C. sifted powdered sugar
• 6 TBS. Butter or margarine, softened
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease 15x10 inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Sprinkle towel with powdered sugar.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in small mixer bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts if desired.
Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Re-roll cake. Wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving. Makes approximately 10 servings.

Enjoy!

Bittersweet

The new book by Shauna Niequist titled Bittersweet just arrived in the mail! I’m very interested to delve into its pages, sharing her deepest thoughts on life’s changes, how we trust in God through it all, and how we have to learn amidst all that we go through. I echo these things in my own life, and I love sharing the similarity of these situations through Shauna’s beautiful writing.

As a twenty-something, there is so much pressure to establish your place in this world. It seems every decision carries weight. This past year has been a continuous trial for me personally, and I feel like I've often looked back rather than forward, but I'm beginning to understand that through every challenge I’ve gained valuable insight. Shauna states in her prologue: “Bitter is what makes us strong.” I feel that truth in my personal life. With constant financial struggles, the loss of feeling secure with the break-in and the resulting vulnerability, the lost friendships, and change in general, I’ve rekindled my faith in God. I've learned to trust in His provision, the security only He can provide, the constant companionship that He offers (and new friendships that he’s provided) and a knowledge that I am still within His control despite feeling that I’ve lost all control myself. I feel I’ve matured with the things I’ve gone through, looked at things differently, and have been taken outside myself to see that I’m surrounded by family and friends going through similar trials.

As I stop to take a break from looking back at all that’s happened, reminisce on all that I’ve learned, and look forward to what God has in store for me in the future, I realize there’s a lot happening in the now. Considering we are all at the stage where everything seems crucial, friends have cried out for prayer (in some form or fashion), and it's evident that i'm surrounded by people with aching needs: starting grad school; finishing grad school and wondering what lies in their future; friends and family and family members of friends struggling with illness, hospital visits, death; moving, both within the US and abroad; wanting children unable to conceive; job struggles; financial struggles; relationship struggles. The heartache is real. It serves to remind me daily that I’m not alone in my struggles. We all have things that we need to lay before God, asking for His help and guidance. Through this action, laying these things before God, we can be reminded constantly of God’s faithfulness. Shauna relates that she was once told by a friend, “that the central image of the Christian faith is death and rebirth.” These words ring off the pages into my life and my friends lives. We have to lose our need for control in the moments that seem to control us to truly understand God’s faithfulness. I know someone who recently reconnected with an very close, dear friend of several years and was told, “You’re not the same [person]”, to which she replied, “No, I’m not the same [person], nor do I wish to be that same [person].” It’s true. Through death, we find rebirth.

In Shauna’s prologue, she states this theme best in the following:

“This is what I’ve come to believe about change: it’s good, in the way that childbirth is good, and heartbreak is good, and failure is good. By that I mean that it’s incredibly painful, exponentially more so if you fight it, and also that it has the potential to open you up, to open life up, to deliver you right into the palm of God’s hand, which is where you wanted to be all along, except that you were too busy pushing and pulling your life into exactly what you thought it should be.

So this is the work I’m doing now, and the work I invite you into: when life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”

Thank you, Shauna; I couldn’t have stated it better myself! I look forward to sharing your world for a while; so as for now, I’m heading into the pages of your story with eager anticipation and iced latte in hand.

I Love...

There's a lot to be loved and celebrated in this world, and these are the things that bring me joy. So to celebrate the 200th day of the year, here's a list of 200 things I'm currently fond of:

I love Pillows (one can never have enough) · the other side of the pillow · sleeping with one leg under the covers and one leg out · Cathedral Window quilts · high thread count sateen sheets that get softer with every wash · the fetal position · the snooze button · the dog excuses (legitimate, in fact) · freshly- brewed Coffee · breakfast for dinner...or any meal for that matter · Cocoa Krispies and Fruit Loops and Cinnamon Toast Crunch · Entertainment from my dog, Easton · spending time with my family · Angela's salad recipe (a favorite) · weekend getaways · greeting cards · fireplaces · front porches · little villages · Helping people in need · Doing something right even when it's really hard · Doing something wrong but learning from it · day dreaming · bookshops · Sunday afternoon naps · Easton cuddling next to me · Celebrating my dog's birthday even though he has no idea what's going on · the loving welcome from my dog when I return home (wiggling back half of his body, head down waiting for a rub, and then goes to find his bone where he hid it and show me) · Having the most popular dog at the dog park · Park Café · finding the perfect parking spot · coffee shops · Dose · playing with a Canon D30 · vintage mix-and-match table settings/chairs · fabric beaded necklaces · floral headbands · aqua and teal shades with yellow or green color combinations · the color green in all shades · the smell of fresh-cut grass · the realization that socks are a thing of the past · pale nail polish · going barefoot · reading a good book · picnics minus bugs · Untamed Heart Photography (Missouri) · root beer floats · ballet flats · pearls · hydrangeas · tulip bouquets · large tote bags · lipgloss · Riesling · Fine dining · Country cooking · farmer's markets · herb and vegetable gardens (but I'm not a green thumb) · Local Taco · Dog parks · Knowing dog owners who visit the dog park by their dog's name · learning that talking to strangers is like a puzzle...and enjoying it more often · Pente · solving the newspaper brainteasers with my Grandpa · watching My Fair Lady with my Grandma until 1:30 in the morning · A surprise visit from Mom with homemade Chicken Noodle when not feeling well · The smell of onions and celery frying in butter · recycling · collecting and purging · my Macbook Pro (thank you, thieves, who stole my old laptop) · USB drives · Driving sans traffic · Turn signal synchronization · Passing my emissions test on the first try · Paying off a car loan · Online shopping and the joy of receiving presents on my doorstep · Finding Santa in the middle of summer in shorts and a t-shirt ·Frozen grapes · Coconut flavored ice cream (but without dried coconut in it) · Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist · Dole Pineapple Orange juice · Las Paletas · dancing to my own beat · playing copycat · trying new recipes · warm, homemade bread right out of the oven · running across cool names (I have a growing list of potential baby names should anyone need help there since I won’t be having any for a while) · A Gorgeous Sense of Hope: a love fable by Emma Magenta · Sarcasm · Bringing handmixers to flames · Free wifi · Eye glasses…just wish they would stay straight · Oversized sunglasses · opaque stockings · shortbread · Gingerale · Gouda · A Very Story Photography (Nashville) · Fresh flowers · Pinstripes · the sound of a lighted match · aged paper · Libraries · People who tell interesting and humorous stories · Receiving unexpected personal snail mail · Writing · Owning at least one amazing pen · Tide To Go Sticks · Having all areas of the house clean at the same time · Drinking straight from the carton so I don't have to wash a cup · Free samples at the grocery store · Coupons · the extra compartment in my stomach for desserts and taking advantage of that space · Bluebell Vanilla Ice Cream · On a similar note, Cracker Barrel Milkshakes (made with BlueBell ice cream) · songs with piano in them · Concerts · Rocking out to my ipod songs at work · Google image searching · Skype · the surge of energy that that comes when generating new ideas · finding joy in imperfection (everything is unique) · my faith in God · God’s faithfulness · conversations about spiritual growth, learning, and devotion · dinner parties · laughter with friends · City House · a crowded kitchen · company · making homemade pizza · Acqua di Gio for Men · the Irish accent · Live Irish folk music · Getting to eat the tomatoes off of Sean's plate · Double Iced Cuban at Crema · lightning storms · Chuck Close · Bold color · Photography · Photoshop editing · Collecting books · Solid, yet whimsical, carved furniture · Interior decorating ideas · finding reasons to use my handheld drill · drawing · Mac eyeshadow · Anthropologie · unexpected sales · treating other people to dinner · relaxing · Spa pedicures · Professional salon hairwashes · the smell of clean laundry · the feeling after flossing · bicycling · meeting friends for coffee · Iced lattes · Jackie's Apple Crumb cake · Caving · Hiking with my dad · the stars on a clear night · colorful clouds · line drawings · baking · Wayne Thiebaud · art books · texture & detail · cinnamon & spices · cookbooks · embroidery · cupcakes · tea cups · vintage typewriters · homemade journals · handwritten letters · typefaces · classic books · Netflix · Christopher Nolan movies (go see Inception) · sitting beachside on the ocean watching the waves · wading in water · Mountain views and sunsets · Adolf Wriggers · painting · international travel · traveling within the US · planning trips in general · the exhilarating thought of being airborne while off-roading on the sand dunes · reconnecting with old friends in the near months to come and the trips planned · spontaneity · organizers/planners aka. my blackberry · planning art projects · seeing how people decorate their art studio/craft space (ie. Martha Stewart’s space is creepily organized) · Etsy · crochet · collage · list-making · life and living!!!

What are your great loves???