He is Risen

He is risen, indeed!

I feel obligated to write a profound Easter post.
Today I got tired of jargon.  I'm not even sure if I can write a post without using it.  How can I express what God means to me without sounding cliche or religious?

He makes my life exciting... the way He unfolds it bit by bit in just the dose I can handle it in.

He knows EVERYTHING about me. Past. Present. Future. So He's really the only one who always knows exactly how I feel and why. That's so comforting to me. Because I know how deeply He cares for my pain, loneliness  sorrow, disappointments and how much He celebrates my joys and dreams and passions.

And then, there's how He leaves me little surprises... little secrets... little things that only He and I would understand. Sometimes through bible verses. Sometimes through money. Sometimes through text messages I get from people. Sometimes through a crazy person on the bus. Sometimes through a thought He'll give me. Whenever this happens, I smile (or even softly laugh out loud) a little.

I guess today I just felt like my life is built on that fateful event that occurred all those years ago. Because He conquered sin and death, my life can be rebuilt.  Am I starting to sound "religious" yet? Because I don't mean it. What He did is so much a part of my life. Every day. It's not something I just think about once a year. It's entwined in everything. EVERYTHING.

Thank you, Jesus for how you changed everything. For everyone.

Tired

I can't say I feel like blogging right now.

Also (and unrelated) I just finished the last active day if my Lent devotional on my bible app.. But it won't tell me I'm finished because I can't "complete" today's off day! I JUST WANT MY BADGE!

Charlie worked today. Has to work tomorrow, too. That's 7 days in a row going into a new work week. Not okay with that. (At least we get to go to church?)

safe

mrph.

what to say?

i had a fairly emotionally draining day.  i went to a seminar entitled, "Sexual Assault Fundamentals Education" or SAFE. it was a 5 hour seminar put on my the med school to inform people on how complex and entwined sexual assault becomes for a victim.

did you know 1 in 4 women will be raped in her life?

did you know that if you are raped before age 18, you are 2-3 times more likely to be victimized again?

did you know that SA victims are more likely to have multiple medical conditions? not because it's in their head, but because it changes their bodies.

my favorite speaker was a man who works at primary prevention (preventing rape from happening) by addressing men. he was... dynamic and powerful.  he spoke about how we live in a culture of rape. and how, if we can't see the objectification of women in our society, it's not because it's not there. it's because it's too common for us to recognize. which is a problem.

i'm sorry.  this is another heavy post. it was heavy to listen to for 5 hours. but good.

Bus Rides

I love bus rides.
It's the closest I come to living in the South.

Well, parts of it.  It's like putting the South into the inner city.  Which is a pretty amazing combo.

TODAY:

1) I saw a 300-400 pound cross-dresser who looked exactly like Pink. Well.  As close as she could come.

2) There was a woman behind me who had her daughter (maybe 4 or 5 years old?) sitting across the isle from her.  The mom's monologue directed at her cute little daughter went a little something like this:
"You go-on embarrass yo-self on dis bus. Set yo ass down.  If I hafta come ova theeeeeya, they goin' have ta call the pole-ice on me. It's too early in tha mernin' fur alla dat."  Because the daughter was hot on the bus and wanted to take her coat off.

3) And then a man sat down in front of me who would start to laugh hysterically (into the air. at nothing) every once-in-a-while.  When he exited the bus, he stepped into the traffic and crossed the street.  Lucky man didn't get hit.

Yep.  It's like being back in New Roads.  Just all contained in one enclosed space.

Oh yeah

I need to blog.
This weekend I need to write a welcome post for Asher.  He's just the sweetest little newborn.

Today I felt proud and disappointed. I don't want to go into it on here. But I'm sure you all know what it's like to pray for something and to believe for something and to want something good for someone so badly, but it not unfold like you wanted it to.

Even though you know He's still got good coming down the pipeline.

And it's not all that bad.  Just not quite the dream you had dreamed.

Cryptic?  Yes. Soooorry.

Racoons

Caleb is so cute.

Well, after 5 days, 4 nights, 3 daddy cereals, 2 waffles, 1.5 poopy diapers, many peepee diapers, several inches of snow, one state-trooper warning (for going 73. and having tinted windows. come on.), lots of coffee, good sister talks, a couple of mush-mushes, tons of pictures, and a thousand hugs and kisses later... I'm home again.

It was just the best trip.  I had such a good time with Susan and her growing family.

PS. I know the boy is 50% Alan and 50% Susan. But comeon. He's 100% Papa Steve.

Good-Byes

I am really, seriously going to miss hearing, "Good MORNing Aunt Seph-ie" every morning from a big, smiling, snuggly Caleb.
And then snuggling with him on the couch for 10 minutes before he wakes up enough to eat breakfast.
And holding a sleeping newborn.
And hanging out with my big sis.

It's been a good, good visit.

3.24.13

Ashleigh's story reminds me of the last time I went canoeing.  It was in college and it was the most terrifying thing I have maybe ever done. Ever.

Similar situation.  The water was high, the wind was blowing super hard. Aaaaand it was actually really cold. We were all wearing flannel shirts and jeans to keep warm.  Right when we started off, another 2 people in a canoe thought it would be funny to ram their canoe into the side of ours.  We tipped.  So in the first 10 minutes I was drenched in icy-cold water. In 50 degree air.  That was only tip #1.

Number 2 was scary, but I bobbed back up.

Number 3 was a life-flash-before-your-eyes kind of moment when I also got stuck underwater between the rapids and a big rock.  I think I could have died.

We may have tipped more than that.

I don't canoe any more.

ALSO.  THIS happened today!!

Susan and I did a photoshoot with baby Asher.  It was so fun. Hopefully we'll learn how to edit photos and be able to post some soon!  He's so precious.

Okay. Homework time.

Yes.

Susan asked me today if being here makes me want to have a baby more or less.

I said, "yes."

I really look forward to "our day" to start a family-- that right time in our lives.

Now, I'm content to have a handful of the best nephews ever.

Love

I love family.

Nuff Said

spring chicken

I don't think I have too much to say today.

It's the first day of spring. And this morning it was 7 degrees with a "Real feel" of -15. It hasn't been this cold here on the first day of spring since 1965.

Needless to say, I'm spending this spring break day indoors.

Here's some baby chicks:

Jewelry Tip

I did a lot of work on my masters project today!  Yay spring break with your uninterrupted periods of time. How weird am I that I'm excited just because I can have longer work sessions?  haha NERD.
Not really.  I'm just ready to finish this part of my education. Hopefully I will have less than 35 edits to this next paper. :/ If I do, I'm sending it to my dad :) I'll probably send it to him anyhow. He's a master.

Okay friends. I have an amazing jewelry cleaning trick for you.  I bought some fancy-looking jewelry cleaner from Bed, Bath and Beyond only to be EXTREMELY disappointed that I was exposing myself to who knows what all kind of nasty chemicals and it did NOTHING to my jewelry. NOTHING.

BUT. Try this:

Heat 1 cup of water in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Pour this into a bowl that has foil cut out to cover the bottom of the bowl.
Add 1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking soda
1 Tablespoon dish soap

Add your jewelry for 10ish minutes, and voila!

I'm telling you.  I had a few tarnished silver necklaces and they are as good as new.  I was amazed.  I finally get to wear my locket again. And it's about as natural of a solution as you could get.

Does anyone else have any natural cleaning tips to share?

Hey Pretty Girl

Click here to read about my opinions on bad nutrition advice :)

I'll leave you with a song, too.

Crazy. He debuted his music video on Jimmy Fallon tonight. Here it is below.


Charlie and I danced to this in the kitchen the other night while we were making supper. It's such a sweet song.

"Hey pretty girl, let's build some dreams
And a house on a piece of land
We'll plant some roots and some apple trees
Hey pretty girl, let's build some dreams

Life's a long and winding ride
Better have the right one by your side
Happiness don't drag its feet
And time moves faster than you think"

somethin bout a truck

We went to the farm this morning because Charles had to work. I love going out there. I probably like going out there a little *too much* on a Sunday morning. It's just so peaceful. And simple.

Somewhere along the way I became a country girl.  Who would have guessed?

The farm just got 200 baby chicks in. They're all going to grow up to be brown hens.

Except for her :) My fave.

The baby chicks under their heat lamps

So last March was the warmest one on record. We had an all-time record of
like 68 degrees on March 15th last year. This year? Psh. It's still the middle of winter.
Snow every day. Highs in the 20's or low 30's. COME ON SPRING!

The greenhouse. 

Sun? Is that you?

\

It was like 60 degrees in there!

A happy, hard working employee

PLANTS!

GREEN plants!

The farm

More farm.

More farm

More snow and more farm

More farm

An educational sign on the farm services

Isn't Minneapolis pretty?

Also. Today was bath day in the Loup house.
Pernkie always shivers for hours and hours after a bath.
So I roll her up like a burrito.
Until she dries :) 

Work

35 comments in a 22 page paper.

That's what I'm working on today.  I got the first edit back on my Masters Project.  Interestingly enough, 35 comments was considered a pretty strong start for a first draft! :)

But yeesh.  I look at the comments and then shut down. I NEEEEED to finish and defend in May. NEEEED to. I've got a lot of work to do ladies and gents.

A lot.

It's the Ides of March Blogging Challenge!

Yay!  I'm excited. This is my favorite blogging time of the year because the more you blag, the more you suddenly have to say!  (Wow. Did I just type blAg? I hope I wasn't being phonetic. I'm such a Minnesooootan.)

Right now, I feel like this:


When I really want to feel like this:


I'm actually not sure if I got glutened or not. I ate a new food that says gluten free (it's from Thailand) but it's just so hard to know.
I read an article about a few new treatments for Celiac, so I hope they are developed/approved in the next few years. One of them is a vaccine (that I think works on people with the disease?) and one of them is a pill you take with food that cancels out trace amounts of gluten. It would be AMAZING to be able to eat at people's houses or at potlucks without worrying about trace amounts.

I want to feel strong. And good. And HEALTHY.

Annoyed

Right now, I am annoyed with myself for how annoyed I am at my iPhone Facebook app for being SO SLOW. And not loading. And getting frozen. And quitting itself. A lot.

See. Obviously I am annoyed.

Which is so annoying!

I wasn't all that inconvenienced when I had to use my computer to use facebook.

Agh!  I've turned into one of THEM!

Ruin a Thief's Day

I watched a girl's phone get stolen on the bus today.

It sounds like I watched and didn't do anything about it... but that's only kind of true. Well... I guess it's true. But let me esplain.

We were on the bus slowing down to a stop... a couple of kids in the back of the bus were standing by the back exit. Then, the first kid opened the door while the second kid snatched the phone RIGHT OUT OF THE GIRL'S HAND and ran. Sprinted off. At first I think she (and everyone else who saw it happen) thought it was a joke. Like she just kind of looked around like "what in the world just happened?" She then jumped off the bus and started yelling at him to come back, but obviously he wasn't going to.  So she got back on the bus and talked with the driver as we headed on down the road.

It was so weird. There are signs on the bus that say, "Ruin a thief's day. Protect your smart phone" but I didn't know that sort of thing happened in the middle of the day while you were holding your phone in your hand using it.

And then it was also weird just because of the day and age we live in.  The bus driver kept asking her for contact information so the transportation people could be in touch with her. And she kept saying, "I don't HAVE a good way for them to get in touch with me. He took my phone. That was my only phone number."

I also hate it because he was a kid. You know. I just want to punch him and say "what are you doing?! what is this doing for yourself?! what is this doing for other kids like you?"

Or maybe I want to punch his parents. Or... I don't know. Maybe he doesn't have present parents in his life. Every horribly inappropriate thing I have heard or witnessed on the bus has been from kids like him. Except for the men who refused to pay their fare. UGH. PEOPLE. COME ON. IT'S NOT THAT HARD. Or maybe it is. Maybe I have no idea how hard it is to grow up in a culture where F*** has no meaning is a very appropriate word to use in all sentences. It just frustrates me.  I wish I was bold enough to get up in people's business. Maybe. I don't know.

End rant.

Knee deep in the water somewhere

6 months and counting :)

Thinking warm thoughts. Send more of 'em North, will ya?

It's late again.

And I can't sleep again.

Aaaand I have a meeting at 7:30 in Minneapolis tomorrow morning. Yay!

There's a lot of hard things in the world.  I've been so thankful for... everything lately that I think it can both blind you to the hard things and also make you extra-aware of them.

For instance, the doggie Arisa put on facebook that is in the Pointe Coupee pound. His owners brought him there and he escaped and beat his owners home, but they just took him right back. They didn't want him. I'm not sure why. That's sad. Rejection like that just strikes a chord in me somehow. Maybe it's because I have such a pull toward Fostering. Or maybe that's WHY I have such a desire to do that? I'm not sure.

And I was thinking about it tonight in my Environmental class. Instead of a final (it's just a half-semester class), we presented group projects on nano-particles.  They're these tiny-tiny chemicals that industries use... and we actually kind of have no idea what they're doing to us. (They're in your M&Ms and sunscreen and yogurt and toothpaste, etc). It IS scary. And I DO think it's important. But then I think about the girl in the class from India. Or the guy from Uganda. And I think, "Oh, God. What do they think of this project?" Do nano-particles really mean anything when you have orphan crises' from HIV? Do nano-particles have any significance in the world when we're talking about child soldiers and child prostitutes and the cast system in India or gangs or... any of the other terrible, horrible things there are out there.

A friend from college just posted an article on facebook about how Mother Teresa wasn't quite the saint she's portrayed as. How she actually celebrated suffering instead of lessening it. The article said her homes for the dying were unsanitary and in-humane. They didn't give pain medication or do everything they could for their patients. But the article said SHE received first-class treatment when SHE needed it.

I don't know HOW I feel about this article. I've also heard stories of her getting in shipments of shoes for her homes and how she would wait until everyone else picked out their shoes... and she'd take the last pair that was probably the ugliest, the dirtiest, the oldest. Is that true? I'm not sure. Maybe we shouldn't glorify people or consider TRUE PEOPLE to be SAINTS of any sort at all. I don't know.

I'm not even quite sure what my point is.  I guess these are random thoughts I have.

God is so good. Even in all of this. Even in our hard times. Equally good in our good times. He never changes. He's always the same. Do I do enough? Do I love enough? Do I help the least of these? Do I help bring His Kingdom to earth in the midst of all these things?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Grateful

I talked Charlie into renting Breaking Dawn Part 2 tonight.  Am I crazy for thinking it was the best of the 5-movie series?  I kind of liked it...? :/  Except when the Volturi leader laughed. TOO creepy. You probably don't remember that part, but it was very frightening.

God has been doing a lot of work over here. In me and Charlie. I'm pretty excited to see what happens over the next few years (and our lifetime).  Maybe I should tell a quick testimony.

God spoke to us quite a while ago about giving a -little- bit of money to some people we really believe in--people who are going through a life transition. They are following God, but it's going to cost them financially.  So, when we found out about it, we felt like God asked us to sow into what they are doing.  WELL... to be honest, we were financially scared to do it. So we didn't.

Until we finally did.

And you know how God works. It's like you can't out-give him.  We had started working on our taxes a while back and got discouraged because we weren't getting really anything back again this year (just enough to cover the cost of filing taxes). Then we wrote a check to these people we love.  Then we finished up our taxes (the next day) and are suddenly getting back more than we sowed.

Isn't he crazy like that?  It was just such a good reminder to me to do what he says do. (And to do it the first time he asks!) He takes care of us (even when he doesn't directly give us back more than he asks us to give).

Nutrition

I did a slight web-redesign for my nutrition blog.  I'm trying to more faithfully update it.  For the 10 or so people that read it (or if you don't read it), what types of posts would like to read?  Right now I'm mostly doing reviews of news articles.  (Not a day goes by without tons of new articles on nutrition and food).

Ideaaaas?

http://nutritionfoodie.blogspot.com/

PS if you ever wanted me to post my thoughts on a news article you read, I'd be happy to do that, too!