Tagged

I have been awful at blogging. Life is very busy right now - wasn't it supposed to slow down after Christmas??? I was tagged by my sister .... in a questions game... weeks ago.....and I thought I would play along and get back to serious blogging soon.


1. Saved by the Bell v. Family Matters. Which one is better? Why?

Is this even a real question Marley? Clearly its saved by the bell. Marley and I were heartbroken when Zach and Kelly broke up at the prom. We had the Michael Bolton cassette tape (yes I just said that in a public forum) and played the song they broke up to nightly before bed....

" I could hardly believe it, when I heard the news today, I had to come and get it straight from you.....They said you were leaving, someone swept your heart away, from the look upon your face, I see its true...."  20 years later I still know the words. Embarressing.

2. What is your favorite gift you have ever been given?

Either my trip to New York City at Christmastime for my 16th birthday. (It had been a rough year and the trip was not only a gift, but a little extra TLC from my parents, plus it was a surprise!) OR my National Championship game tickets last Christmas.

My love language is very much "quality time" so gifts that involve someone I love doing something with me are my favorite.

3. If you could have one talent, what would it be?

I wish I was more artistic - in some way-- a dancer, a painter, a musician. I truly appreciate artistic people, and have many creative talented friends and even a couple family members (uncles, brother in law) but I, myself, am not very talented in that area.  I used to sing and play the piano, and was pretty good at the piano so I may take lessons again. I think even though I am a black and white thinker, a little art in my life might be good!

4. What song reminds you of your teen years?

Strawberry Wine by Deanna Carter.  I loved this song in Jr High and they played it every dance and I always hoped I danced to it.  Mamma K tried to convince me that when she sang about the "loss of her innocence", she was really talking about her first kiss.  Nice Try Mom. Even at 14, I knew better.

5. If you could take a vacation to anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Next on my list is Istanbul and Budapest.  But I also really want to go to Greece, China and Isreal as well.

I've been to Paris but I am dying to go back with my husband one day. Generically cheesy or not, it is a romantic fun city that I would like to experiance again but with someone else.  Also, it is one of my alltime fav cities!!

6. You have a friday night at home to yourself, what do you do?

Is it boring if I say TV, maybe chick flicks, order sushi or pizza and maybe wash my clothes? Well boring or not, thats the truth.

7. If you could choose to be born in another culture, which one would it be and why?

Possibly Jewish Culture at the time of Jesus. Although I would not have the knowledge to know how important what I was witnessing was. If not, I would love to be born in France. I love the culture and the language and the food.

8. What is the worst advice you have ever been given?

Hmm, I don't know. Can I get back to you on this one?

Actually, I think the worst advice was less advice and more just opinions in dating...when people tell you how long it will take to get over someone or how you will meet the right guy or how much compatibility is needed verses chemistry or what the non negotiables are.  Sometimes this is helpful and sometimes its just what worked for them.  If you met and married in less than a year, you seem to think thats right. If it took you a long time dating to know, you think slow and steady is right.  None of this is bad advice, but it all must be taken with a grain of salt...because everyone's lives are different.

9. Whose story from the Bible do you most connect with and why?

Most definitely Ruth's.  Single, having been through trials (although hers were WAY harder than mine), in a man's world, trying to trust the Lord and having faith he would provide.  Different times, different circumstances (clearly mine are easier), different levels of vulnerability, but same Faithful God working today as He did then.

10. What is your favorite Hymn?

I love so so so many Hymns, but I think one of my all time favorites is Be Thou my vision. So good. Of course, ask me tomorrow and I will tell you an entirely different hymn!

11. If money were not object, who would you like to give a gift to? What gift?

I'd probably give each of my family members something.... and maybe start a college fund for jack (an AUBURN college fund.... jk!)

I am supposed to tag someone to answer some questions but I think I will skip that part.

25 things to do in the big J

25 things to do in Jackson......hmmm this article may inspire my own list???

The Bible is not about me

This article is how I want to raise my kids.  I want them to know the Bible is not about them. If I can't teach them more than a list of rules, then I've failed them.  But even more, reading this article brought tears to my eyes as I realized how much my life is changed by really knowing the gospel.

The gospel changes lives, no doubt. I don't want to imply that God only saves or loves those who completely understand the gospel.  Christ's death and resurrection saves us. That is paramount, but what is sad is that many people are saved, do believe the gospel, but are taught 'rules' and 'morals' and don't live with the freedom and grace provided by the gospel.  That makes me sad. Such a gift, but not knowing how amazing that gift is.

I think a lot of churches are getting it wrong. They teach the only way to Christ is through salvation (correct) but then there is always this fear of pleasing God, of keeping him happy, of obeying the morals.  Like the parable of the lost son, you either say to heck with it (like the younger brother) or you worship the rules and regulations (like the older one). 

What if salvation, grace, Christ doing what we can't was more than just a conversion story, but a daily part of our lives? WOW. amazing.  I believe that but I don't live it.  Lots of people don't believe it and thats because they aren't taught it.

The author of this article wrote the Jesus Storybook Bible and this is why she wrote it - for kids to know:

• That the Bible isn't mainly about me, and what I should be doing. It's about God and what he has done.
• That the Bible is most of all a story---the story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.
• That---in spite of everything, no matter what, whatever it cost him---God won't ever stop loving his children . . . with a wonderful, Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.
• That the Bible, in short, is a Story---not a Rule Book---and there is only one Hero in the Story.

Wow. I want my kids to know that. I want to know that. I want to live like there is a hero to the story already. I want to live like He remains the hero despite my screwups and that I never have to worry about being the Hero or winning the Hero's love.

And, more than that, I would want my kids to grow up knowing that from day one.

Do you live that way? Like the Bible is a checklist? Or that the Bible tells you that you will fail to meet the standard but you are loved so much and someone else has already met the standard for you?

As the author says, at the end of the day, the Bible is not about me. Thank you Jesus.

What I am reading.....THURSDAY???

An article about waiting and faith

Talking about sex at church

what i am reading wednesday

Love and Marriage: Luther Style: an interesting article about Luther and his wife, their commitment, then their growing romance

Blessed are those who get more: suffering that is.

CS Lewis on the dangers of love

Get out of your comfort zone.

A letter to singles on valentines day....

Happy Valentines!

I've never been a big valentines fan, even when in a relationship. If you love me, love me every day, not just when hallmark tells you to, and vice versa: I love those important to me every day too.

But starting last year, I have bought into the commercial cheesiness some.  A wine and chocolate night with the girls?? YES.  candy hearts? why the heck not?  I would never call cards, candy and jacked up expensive roses super romantic (although any other day it is) BUT fun, yes.

Last year I had a party called wine and chocolate...for the single ladies. Everyone brougt wine or chocolate. Some of our married friends wanted to come too -- their husbands were out of town or they celebrated already or they didnt plan on celebrating...so they came and we drank, ate and had a dang good time. This year we are having the same party, but on a much smaller scale.

For your valentines entertainment: a fun article by one of my favorites, Jon Acuff

Update

I haven't been good at posting, and I am not going to lie, its partly because I have been busy dating someone new.  I oftentimes share about breakups and lessons learned, etc, but I know I don't often share about my current dating life on this blog and thats for a good reason... (a) I need some privacy,especially in situations where I am figuring out my feelings, etc and (b) it involves someone else. Its not really fair for me to share TOO much about someone else's life on my blog.

That being said, here's what I will say about him at this point in time: he's kind and thoughtful, smart, adorable (or so I think!), love Jesus, and is motivated. He is an architect. He loves his family and is a loyal friend. I am surprised we work out so well together because although he loves cities, he is a country boy (and if you know me, I am so NOT country, just southern)! His major downfull is that he is not an auburn fan, jk. Currently we are doing the long distance thing (although he moves back to Jackson this summer) which has kept me busy with travelling or having someone in town...this is part of why I haven't posted.

Plus work has been busy and I've had a lot of fun trips with friends planned (2 trips to Nola, birthdays, etc)...but I am trying to get back on the blogging bandwaggon.

I still very much like I should talk about issues affecting 20somethings and singles...so I will continue to do that some this spring, just give me a chance to get back in the swing of things. :)

What I am reading Wednesday Take 2

I love this article about being "boy crazy" or some other version of it. I have been addicted to future potential before, whether it be an obsession with college, or travel, or a great career, or marriage, or babies, or paying off my loans.

Lord, help us focus on you and not just potential future blesssings.

What I am reading Wednesday

I was out of town this weekend and am trying hard to catch up on life, I have started a fun post my sister tagged me for: answering a bunch of questions but I am not done yet....but here is more of what I am reading this week.

I love Auburn and how it values people, not just winning. This is a great story about player, Shon Coleman's battle with cancer and Auburn's support.

how do you know if your ready to marry?

Why we need God to fence us in.

Making our goal the glory of God.

 Ok, so I don't have many more articles to post this week. I'll hopefully have some good ones next wednesday ;)

What I'm reading Wednesday

I've been a horrible blogger, I am sorry. Life has just been busy...good busy, but busy just the same. I have taken some time to read good articles though and wanted to share them with you.... enjoy :)


I needed to read this article. I always thing why didn't God stop bad things, but truth is He is stopping bad things and when I get hurt or others get hurt, I should think about all that He did PREVENT from happening.

I'm not a mom....yet, but when I am, this is how I want to raise my babies.

I always love what Jon Acuff has to say on serious Wednesday at Stuff Christians Like website.

Redefining Hope -- hope in, not hope for.

God works in different ways to bring people together...sometimes we forget that.

Should I stay or should I go? This article had to do with a dating relationship, but it made me think about all decisions in life-- how sometimes there is not a right or wrong answer, just the freedom to choose and make that choice best. (Wouldn't it be easier if every decision was right or wrong?)

National Signing Day.  Here's hoping for a good class. War Eagle.