Sunday, October 24, 2010

Monopoly...it seems so easy

Monopoly has always been one of my favorite games. As a kid, I would literally sit on the floor and play by myself (using four or more pieces of course) because my parents and siblings hated to play the game. Tiffany even bought a Patriots monopoly set for my 22nd birthday:) I used to play it with friends when I was growing up. Then I was introduced the the McDonald's monopoly game. In the second grade, Tiffany and I searched for spare change at both of our houses so we could buy things from McDonalds to get pieces. Then one day, we pulled allllll the dandelions at my parent's house because mom HATED dandelions. It took us probably four hours and we worked and worked so we could get money to buy more pieces. Mom gave us two dollars! She didn't realize until years later how long it took us and why we were trying to get money. I've played the McDonald's monopoly game since that time, although i've never won more than a free breakfast sandwich or an order of fries. Now here I am, age 23, and still playing. Tiffany and I still put our pieces together to try to win. Last night, we were talking about which pieces we had and I thought she had the piece we needed, Pennsylvania. We could have won $50,000 to share. Turns out she had Pennsylvania railroad haha. We now are in the position where we could win with every color if we could find the missing piece. It seems so easy. Then I started thinking about what we would do with the money...we wouldn't buy a new car or a new TV (although Luther might argue for the new TV). We would go see Ellie in Korea and the rest would go to school loans. How nice would that be? Well for now, we'll keep searching for the missing pieces. Vermont, Boardwalk, Pennsylvania,  Short Line, Marvin Gardens, Ventnor, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and St. Charles. I'll let you know if we win!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

This weekend...last year

Every year we go to Danville to visit Luther's parents on this weekend because it is his dad's birthday. I am excited to see them and go to Danville but I can't stop thinking about what happened last year and hoping and praying that nothing goes wrong this year. This is how the story goes from last year...

We just arrived in Danville on Oct 16. As we're talking with Luther's parents, Beckie (Luther's mom) tells me about her friend who had a massive heart attack and survived because whoever was with her was able to administer CPR until the ambulance came. No more than five minutes later, my dad calls. My dad was traveling to Illinois to visit his mom one last time before winter since it is too dangerous to attempt to drive to the midwest in the winter. I thought he was calling to tell me he made it to his hotel for the night but he actually told me that something had happened to my grandmother and he wasn't exactly sure what at that time but thought maybe it was a stroke or heart attack. I of course freak out inside but am able to stay calm and attempt to enjoy the time with Luther's parents. About an hour later, my dad called back to say grandma had died. No one had administered CPR which made it that much worse. I was feeling all kinds of emotions but mostly I was in denial, angry, and hurt. I couldn't believe what had happened and I felt so bad for my dad who was on his way to see her (she wasn't sick- he was just going to visit) and he didn't make it. God has his timing and it was good that my dad was on his way out. The rest of us began making flight arrangements and it was a whirlwind experience from there. I hate that my grandma is gone but I am comforted in knowing that she is with God and probably being my silly ol' grandma, sticking her tongue out at people, listening to people share their stories, and being a loving friend. Grandma and I became extra close when I was in college and I thought of her as one of my best friends. We had our weekly phone calls (always after gilmore girls to talk about what had happened) and I learned a lot about her during those years. I am really thankful that I was able to form such a close bond with her despite being 15 hours away. It's hard losing a loved one at any time but that was my first real experience losing someone so close to me. It is also hard to go through the same motions of packing for Danville tonight while knowing that I'm spending my weekend the same way I had planned to spend it last year. I'm sure it won't be easy but I have to remember that God has a reason for everything and even though I thought it was too early, God wanted my grandma to be with him at that time. I miss her every day and I even as I type this I am looking at our last picture we ever took together as it sits beside my computer. I hope that she is looking down above and still telling me I'm crazy for working so hard in college and happy that I found love at such an early age. I still feel like she's here with me and I'm thankful to God for blessing me with such an amazing, Christian grandmother. And although almost a year has passed, I feel the hurt just as raw as that night my dad called me. I can only pray to God for his continued comfort and give praise to Him for the time we had together and for the amazing job my grandmother did in raising my dad. If she wouldn't have been the awesome person she was, my dad would not be the amazing father that he is. I am truly blessed!





When grandma and I would talk, she would talk to me about things that were bothering her. One time I mailed her the lyrics to this song and after that, she always talked about how true those lyrics were to her and how much she appreciated having them. I'll post them below and hope they bring comfort to whoever is reading this in a difficult time.

Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns
I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down 
and wiped our tears away, 
stepped in and saved the day. 
But once again, I say amen 
and it's still raining 
as the thunder rolls 
I barely hear You whisper through the rain, 
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls 
I raise my hands and praise 
the God who gives and takes away. 

Chorus: 
And I'll praise you in this storm 
and I will lift my hands 
for You are who You are 
no matter where I am 
and every tear I've cried 
You hold in your hand 
You never left my side 
and though my heart is torn 
I will praise You in this storm 

I remember when I stumbled in the wind 
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again 
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on 
if I can't find You 
and as the thunder rolls 
I barely hear You whisper through the rain 
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls 
I raise my hands and praise 
the God who gives and takes away 

Chorus 

I lift my eyes onto the hills 
where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth 
I lift my eyes onto the hills 
where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth 

Monday, October 11, 2010

Adventures, Friendships, and Loving Others

So hiking was definitely an experience! I did not particularly enjoy being out of breath while we hiked up and up to the top of the mountain; however, it was pretty amazing once we got to the top. We were hiking up "The Priest" and at one point, Dane told me that it was flat from there so I felt reenergized...but it definitely wasn't flat from the time he made that comment! The view from the top was incredible. I wish more of the leaves would have been changed already but it was still beautiful. We were looking down on all the trees that form the mountains and could still see more mountains in the distance. We really live in an awesome place. 


I feel really blessed to have so many great people in our lives. I hear so many people our age wishing they went to a church that had more "20 somethings" or "young married couples" to hang out with and go through life together. I feel that we've really found that at our church and we are making great friends that we'll be sharing our life with as we grow old together! I love our married friends from our church and I love our single friends from our school days. I only wish everyone lived closer! It's amazing to me how friendships change as you change. I have some friends that have been with me since what feels like forever...other friends only came into my life a few years ago but I know they'll be there forever and I'll be there for them. God has placed these people in our lives for a reason and it is fun thinking about each moment that you've shared together and realizing that God had that specific event written out before we even met. 
Tiffany and Me at the Patriots Game in
New England. January 1, 2006


Grad school/traveling girls in Paris 2008

Bachelorette Party in DC!


Anyway...onto another thought. I have a Bible that goes in chronological order (which is pretty cool to understand things from a different perspective) and the other day I was reading in Daniel. Daniel 12:1 says, "But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued" referring to the end times and Daniel 12:3 says, "Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever."  Those of you who know me know that I have a thing for stars. I've never paid attention to these verses but it hit me that the Christians who really stand out are the ones who don't care what others think and really seek people out to lead them to Christ. I've been praying that God would make me uncomfortable and send me to someone who needs to hear about God so that I can show that person the love of Christ. We don't have to be annoying and chase people around to tell them about God by holding up our signs and telling them about hell and their sins. It would be much more effective if our daily lives reflected that of Christ and if we were open enough to listen to them when they needed to talk and be there for them by loving them and praying for them. That's my new personal challenge. Feel free to join me:) 


Here are some lyrics that I heard for the first time today. I wonder if I heard them because of my new challenge. It seems like a great way to explain the love of Christ to someone who is drowning in their guilt and past sins. 

You Are More by Tenth Avenue North 

'Cause this is not about what you've done, 
But what's been done for you. 
This is not about where you've been, 
But where your brokenness brings you to 
This is not about what you feel, 
But what He felt to forgive you, 
And what He felt to make you loved. 
You are more than the choices that you've made, 
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, 
You are more than the problems you create, 
You've been remade.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Fall is here!

I absolutely love fall! Not as much as summer but fall a close second. Last night I had my first piece of pumpkin pie this season! I've had my pumpkin spice lattes and have been burning my pumpkin candles. I cannot WAIT for the annual turkey dinner! I don't know how long I've been going but now it is definitely something that I do every year with my family. This year it will be different because Joyce won't be here! Joyce was one of the first people I met at Liberty and I had no idea that she would become one of my best friends. She has come to the turkey dinner every year since we were 18 but now she's back in Saipan for a few years so she obviously won't make it. Last year Mariely also joined us for the festivities:) Fall seems to start the busy times that roll right into winter and then we are busy doing Thanksgiving and Christmas stuff. I am working hard this year to take time and enjoy the beautiful mountains and the colors of the leaves. We are going on our first hiking trip tomorrow and I cannot wait! I feel like there is no better way to see God's glory and His beautiful creation than seeing the mountains and all the details in the changing of the leaves. God is such an artist and I am excited to take in his masterpiece tomorrow!



Joyce, Jayem, and Marco at the Turkey Dinner 2009

Mom and Mariely at the Turkey Dinner 2009

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

I'll give it a try...

So it seems these days that everyone has a blog! I've resisted for a long time because I feel like my life is really boring and I couldn't possibly have anything to write about! I feel like my Facebook status updates can pretty much sum up my life. Anyway, I've decided to give blogging a try. I'm not exactly sure what I'll write about...maybe a Bible verse that stuck out to me or perhaps about some place in the world that I was thinking about that day. Hopefully I'll come up with something at least somewhat entertaining to write about but I'll save my first real post until I have a little bit more time to sit and write. Until then...

Philippians 2:15
so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe


Make every effort to stand out in a positive light for Christ...