Saturday, June 20, 2009
Birthday Blessings
I am so blessed. Today is my birthday and I have felt SO loved. =) Thanks for all the cards, phone calls, and emails. AND, as of 5 minutes ago, my trip is paid in full. PAID IN FULL!!! =)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Ok, just a little bragging
My grades came in today for the spring quarter and I got straight A's! It is my first (and probably only!) 4.0 quarter. =)
I just had to brag a little.
I just had to brag a little.
"Three Sisters"
Last Saturday David took me hiking in a place he sometimes mountain bikes, a trail called "3 Sisters." We had a great time--the weather was perfect, the view was awesome, and, best of all, it wore the dogs out!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Trip Update (AKA Theological Musings Re: Faith, Hope, and Grace)
I leave for Palestine in 5 weeks.
As of today, I have received over half the money I need to pay for the trip! I am amazed and humbled by the money I have received, bringing my fundraising goal down from $1700 to $850. It has been such a blessing to receive money from people who didn't even receive a letter, but "found out" from others. I hardly know what to say.
The fact that friends and family (and strangers!) are making this trip a reality for me is doing just that...making the trip feel very real. I have had trouble sleeping and there have been a couple nights where I wake up and my heart is racing. Lucky for me, Martha Stewart comes on the air at 3 in the morning in Denver. The world seems like a much less scary place when you're watching Martha Stewart make paper birds.
I used to believe in a God who would protect people from harm if they prayed hard enough. It seems only fair that if you decide to seek God's will and follow it, you should be spared a certain amount of suffering and pain. However, now I know that's not how God works. God does not promise we won't suffer. God does not promise that everything will "be okay" in the ways we want it to be okay. I wish I believed that God kept airplanes from crashing or that God would keep me safe in Palestine. Unfortunately, God doesn't promise any of these things.
But I DO believe God promises to be present. To be with us at all times. To be in us. To be in the people around us who bring us comfort. Faith doesn't mean believing that nothing bad will happen, it means trusting in God's presence no matter what happens.
One of my favorite songs that we sing in chapel at Iliff is called, "You are mine." It goes like this:
I will come to you in the silence
I will lift you from all your fear
You will hear my voice
I claim you as my choice
Be still and know I am here.
I am hope for all who are hopeless
I am eyes for all who long to see
In the shadows of the night,
I will be your light
Come and rest in me.
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine.
I try to hear these words in the middle of the night when I am afraid. Perhaps God comforts me through Martha Stewart and her paper birds! =)
I told Greta how nervous I was getting and she reminded me about being in United Methodist History together and reading Grace Sufficient, the story of women in early Methodism who were called to ministry. Despite their fears and feelings of inadequacy, they professed their belief that, regardless of their insufficiencies, God's grace would be sufficient. Greta told me, "Remember, Tiffany. Grace is like manna. You get just what you need for the day."
Last night was our last Disciple class and the class gave me a remarkable gift. They bought me three silver rings that I can wear separately or together as a trio. One ring has the word, "Faith," one "Hope," and the third, "Grace." I could not have asked for a more perfect gift. I am wearing all three right now as I type. They are physical, tangible reminders of God's presence!
As of today, I have received over half the money I need to pay for the trip! I am amazed and humbled by the money I have received, bringing my fundraising goal down from $1700 to $850. It has been such a blessing to receive money from people who didn't even receive a letter, but "found out" from others. I hardly know what to say.
The fact that friends and family (and strangers!) are making this trip a reality for me is doing just that...making the trip feel very real. I have had trouble sleeping and there have been a couple nights where I wake up and my heart is racing. Lucky for me, Martha Stewart comes on the air at 3 in the morning in Denver. The world seems like a much less scary place when you're watching Martha Stewart make paper birds.
I used to believe in a God who would protect people from harm if they prayed hard enough. It seems only fair that if you decide to seek God's will and follow it, you should be spared a certain amount of suffering and pain. However, now I know that's not how God works. God does not promise we won't suffer. God does not promise that everything will "be okay" in the ways we want it to be okay. I wish I believed that God kept airplanes from crashing or that God would keep me safe in Palestine. Unfortunately, God doesn't promise any of these things.
But I DO believe God promises to be present. To be with us at all times. To be in us. To be in the people around us who bring us comfort. Faith doesn't mean believing that nothing bad will happen, it means trusting in God's presence no matter what happens.
One of my favorite songs that we sing in chapel at Iliff is called, "You are mine." It goes like this:
I will come to you in the silence
I will lift you from all your fear
You will hear my voice
I claim you as my choice
Be still and know I am here.
I am hope for all who are hopeless
I am eyes for all who long to see
In the shadows of the night,
I will be your light
Come and rest in me.
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine.
I try to hear these words in the middle of the night when I am afraid. Perhaps God comforts me through Martha Stewart and her paper birds! =)
I told Greta how nervous I was getting and she reminded me about being in United Methodist History together and reading Grace Sufficient, the story of women in early Methodism who were called to ministry. Despite their fears and feelings of inadequacy, they professed their belief that, regardless of their insufficiencies, God's grace would be sufficient. Greta told me, "Remember, Tiffany. Grace is like manna. You get just what you need for the day."
Last night was our last Disciple class and the class gave me a remarkable gift. They bought me three silver rings that I can wear separately or together as a trio. One ring has the word, "Faith," one "Hope," and the third, "Grace." I could not have asked for a more perfect gift. I am wearing all three right now as I type. They are physical, tangible reminders of God's presence!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Our Anniversary Weekend
David and I had a wonderful time celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary this past weekend. Instead of exchanging gifts we did a lot of fun things together, including behaving as tourists in Colorado since we don't anticipate living here too much longer!
We went to see Brett Dennen in concert at Red Rocks on Friday night. We had been to Red Rocks before but never for a concert. It was TOO fun!
Saturday we drove to Colorado Springs and rode the cog up Pikes Peak. It was a perfectly clear day and, when we got to the top, we waved hello to Kansas in the East!
Sunday was our actual anniversary and I had to be at church, but we went to dinner at Sushi Den. Our friends, Matt and Lorissa, invited us over for mojitos after dinner.
I'd have to say the best thing about the weekend was getting to spend so much time together. David has had clinicals on Saturdays for the past 6 weeks and, of course, Sunday is my busiest day. And while David still has two weeks of class left in his quarter, I was grateful to have my first paper-free, reading-free weekend in 10 weeks!
We went to see Brett Dennen in concert at Red Rocks on Friday night. We had been to Red Rocks before but never for a concert. It was TOO fun!
Saturday we drove to Colorado Springs and rode the cog up Pikes Peak. It was a perfectly clear day and, when we got to the top, we waved hello to Kansas in the East!
Sunday was our actual anniversary and I had to be at church, but we went to dinner at Sushi Den. Our friends, Matt and Lorissa, invited us over for mojitos after dinner.
I'd have to say the best thing about the weekend was getting to spend so much time together. David has had clinicals on Saturdays for the past 6 weeks and, of course, Sunday is my busiest day. And while David still has two weeks of class left in his quarter, I was grateful to have my first paper-free, reading-free weekend in 10 weeks!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
My blog
It's official.
I've hijacked "our" blog.
I changed the background color to orange and added a picture to our header. Probably, David never thought of this as his blog, or even our blog, since he never posts! I don't think he'll mind. =)
I promise to post and update about David since we live together and have a life together. But it's now orange. And might soon be pink.
I've hijacked "our" blog.
I changed the background color to orange and added a picture to our header. Probably, David never thought of this as his blog, or even our blog, since he never posts! I don't think he'll mind. =)
I promise to post and update about David since we live together and have a life together. But it's now orange. And might soon be pink.
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