Little Moments-Big Dreams

I love the colors of Fall. The other day, I was driving home from the store and the road wound through an area where the leaves were just glorious. I thought it looked like flames surrounding the road. It's like, all year long, the leaves are just hanging out all cool and green and understated. In the summer, no one says to their neighbor, "I love your tree leaves!" No, we compliment others on their zinnias, their marigolds, their roses, etc... but not their tree leaves. But the point is not that the trees get no attention in the summer. The point is that they do have a time to shine. To every thing there is a season. Maybe it seems like you've waited a long time for something. Take a look at what is left of the Autumn foliage. I did. It reminded me that God can change something that is pleasant (but not exactly exciting) into something that is so dazzling it almost takes your breath away. He transforms the green leaves into gold and...

http://www.pianoaccompanists.com/profile-ruth-kibler

I remember reading and studying some of George Herbert's poetry in college. I don't recall reading this particular poem, and when I came across it today in an email, I had to read it a few times to grasp the depth of it. (It's been a while since Intro to Literature class!) But once I did begin to grasp it, I was awed and amazed anew that God should die for me. “Philosophers have measured mountains, Fathom’d the depths of seas, of states, and kings, Walk’d with a staff to heaven, and traced fountains But there are two vast, spacious things, The which to measure it doth more behove: Yet few there are that sound them; Sin and Love. Who would know Sin, let him repair Unto Mount Olivet; there shall he see A man, so wrung with pains, that all his hair, His skin, his garments, bloody be. Sin is that Press and Vice, which forceth pain To hunt his cruel food through every vein. Who knows not Love, let him assay, And taste that juice, which on the cross a...

Today I'm thankful for a small collection of volumes sitting in a carton by my bed. These slim books vary from each other in size and colors. One has  a painting of a woman strolling in a rose garden on the cover, another has a cheerful cow (I think it looks cheerful anyway) posing beside a sunflower plant. Still another has an elegant tan and gold cover with shimmery pastel flowers seemingly floating across the surface. Altogether, there are at least 9 if not 10 volumes. They contain my life. They are my journals from at least the age of 8. I have never been good at writing every day. Some entries are spread apart by months, some by a year or more. But I'm glad I have kept it up for the most part all these years. Occasionally, I will pull one of them out and re-read its contents, laughing at the poor spelling and grammar, at the strange things I chose to record (why did I give detailed descriptions of so many breakfasts, most of which were nothing more than nutty n...

Interested in piano lessons? Know someone who is interested in learning to play piano or has a child who is interested? I am hoping to start teaching soon. Let me know via email or facebook if you would like more information!

Just a couple weeks ago, I was at work, probably glancing every two minutes at the clock, waiting for 4:30 to show up so I could log off the computer, sling my purse over my shoulder and head for the parking lot. It was a good job. Not always very exciting, but it paid well and I found it interesting most days, my job as a library assistant at a medical library. I only worked there 3 months. Before that, I worked for a month at Wendy's and before that, I job hunted for almost half a year. I know what it is to fill out countless job applications. To be unable to just hop in the car and go to Walmart because there is no money left in my savings or checking account. To feel like a prisoner to the kindness of my family. To dislike strongly how listless and lazy I am beginning to feel as the weeks turn to months with no sign of change. To whisper through tears, "Why God? What are you trying to teach me through this?" To wait. I am filling out m...

I am single. As in, never married, never been engaged, never even had a boyfriend. Being single has its blessings: no marriage problems, no inlaw problems, etc. But being single has drawbacks too and anyone that is single can sit down and write a long list out. Of course, I know married people could produce their own list. Everybody has pros and cons in whatever state they are in. The same goes for every area of life I think. Like the weather. On cold rainy days, we long for sunshine while on blistering hot, sunny days, we yearn for cool cloudiness. The Apostle Paul said he learned that in whatever state he was in to be content. Contentment is a word that honestly sometimes makes me cringe. I think it has been used a lot in wrong ways. I've heard people say things like this to me and other singles: "God just wants to teach you contentment. That is why you are still single." Or, "It is far better to be single than end up marrying the wrong person." Both th...

I'm staying at my sister's apartment for a couple days, helping babysit her two little girls, Rose and Annie. Rose is 6, Annie is 3. Yesterday, we had fun together making and decorating cookies shaped like butterflies, Easter eggs, bunnies, etc. We also played outside for a while and the girls made things out of modeling clay while I fixed lunch.  Nothing super eventful happened, so I woke up today planning for another basically easy day of hanging out with my two favorite children. Well, I woke up around the same time as the girls. We got ready and walked to McDonalds, just a block away, for breakfast and then playtime. That wasn't so bad. Other than mild frustration at my attempts to maneuver a double wide stroller, I felt confident in my ability as a nurturing, patient Aunt. When we arrived back at the apartment, I got Rose started on schoolwork and settled Annie with a Tweetie bird DVD in the other room. About 30 seconds into our phonics lesson, Annie yelled, "Com...

Well, I have joined the ranks of bloggers. I want to use this first blog post to introduce myself a little bit. I'm a work in progress, a child of God who has a long way to go before she can say, "I'm who I know God wants me to be!" But even though the journey seems like a long one and I don't always wake up feeling like I'm more than a conqueror in this battle called the life of faith, I know this: I am complete in Christ. I'm an average young woman, privileged to have a great family and lots of wonderful friends, with many experiences already in the short 27 years I've been alive. I'm thankful that I can play the piano and sing (or at least try to sing!), write, travel, and bake scones and banana bread. :) I'm hoping to start teaching piano soon. We shall see. Let me know if you want lessons or know of someone who is. It is late and I am babysitting my two adorable and rambuctious nieces tomorrow. I need my beauty sleep that is for sure,...