Small Things With Great Love

Jesus>Religion

2012-01-11T16:11:00.002-05:00

I saw this on a friend's Facebook wall and had to share it with you guys...really awesome.

Thankful

2012-01-03T17:12:00.001-05:00

So thankful for the absolutely beautiful sunshine on this very chilly day in South Carolina!

Wishing you all some sunshine :)

"I will be filled with joy because of You.

I will sing to Your Name, O Most High!"

-Psalm 9:2

Christmas Break book reviews

2011-12-29T20:21:00.001-05:00

Alas, this poor medical student cannot go even two weeks without giving herself tasks to accomplish. This break, I chose to catch up on some reading...I found a few good books and dug in! Here are my thoughts, recommendations, and warnings:

Books a-c: The Hunger Games series

Technically, I did not read these books over Christmas break, but used them as study breaks during the two weeks before as I was cramming for my final block exam. However, I am including them here. They are AMAZING! My sister in law started reading them last year, and although she recommended them highly, I was skeptical because of their premise...a future world where children are required to battle to the death. BUT while that very brief synopsis is accurate, it does not accurately portray the amazing character development and social questions raised by these amazing novels. I really enjoyed these books. They are quick reads...once you start, you can't put them down! Plus, the first movie (portraying the first book of the series) comes out soon, although I am a little concerned that the film will not live up to the book and the world it created in my mind.

Book 1: I am Nujood: Age 10 and Divorced

This book was also really amazing, but very different. It is about a 10-year-old girl raised in Yemen, her life growing up, her struggle after her father married her off at 10 years old, her mistreatment by her husband, and ultimately, her courage in fighting against the injustice of her situation. The book is written by Nujood, with the help of an established author, so you feel like you are hearing the story straight from this brave young girl. Her tale is heart-wrenching, but it is also very educational and inspiring. Her victory over her situation has inspired many young girls in similar circumstances to fight for their freedom as well. And when you buy the book, proceeds go to Nujood and her family. I really enjoyed this book, and I think it is a great read...I finished it in a day. Go buy it and read it!

Book 2: Let's Take the Long Way Home

Gail's story is a memoir of friendship, of struggle, of life, and of loss. This book was not an easy read for me. I almost stopped reading it a few times, but I just couldn't let it conquer me...so I persevered. I am glad that I did. The story is very touching. Gail talks about her special bond with her best friend Caroline, their relationships with their dogs and the added bond those relationships give to their relationship, and the connection they share due to their similar struggles with alcoholism and smoking addiction. Then, Caroline gets cancer, and Gail walks us through the days of Caroline's battle...and ultimately, Caroline's death. I definitely had to wipe away a few tears. This book was very touching, but also very troubling. If these topics interest you, I would recommend the book. Otherwise, it might just make you cry.

Book 3: The Other Wes Moore

This book was a very interesting. I enjoyed it a lot. It explored how two boys could grow up with the same name, with similar situations (no dad around, living in the rough inner city of Baltimore), but have two extremely different stories. Wes Moore, the author, turned out to be a Rhodes scholar, a military officer that was highly respected, and a man with multiple other impressive accomplishments. The other Wes Moore is spending the rest of his life in jail after being convicted of armed robbery, a crime that resulted in the death of a security guard who was also a husband and father of five. This book is the first Wes Moore's attempt to understand the complex paths that lead us in different directions in life. It was very insightful, very interesting, and incredibly inspiring...it makes you want to make a difference in this country! I highly recommend it.

Now throw in a few not-worth-mentioning brainless novels, and you have a pretty good idea of how I've spent my free time :) Hope you have all enjoyed your Christmas and have a great New Year!!!

Oh Night Divine

2011-12-25T21:22:00.000-05:00

This is my absolute favorite Christmas hymn. Please take a moment to really pay attention to these beautiful words...

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

One Semester Down...

2011-12-19T10:52:00.000-05:00

It is a little bit crazy to think that I have completed my first semester of medical school! The past few months have flown by...filled with a lot of studying, a lot of discovery, and even more appreciation for the amazing gift I have been given...working towards doing the thing I was made to do. Amazing. I am so thankful, and quite frankly, astounded, that I am one semester into this experience. That means I am 1/4 of the way through my medical school classes and 1/8 of the way trough med school as a whole. Do I even know enough for that to be true?! I hope so!

Two days ago, I received an email from one of our associate deans congratulating me on completing my first semester successfully. This afternoon, I get my final grades back. Over break, I am going to be working on getting a research project set up for next summer. But mostly, I am going to enjoy this glorious break that consists of lots of time with people I love, lots of reading, lots of working out, lots of sleeping, and very, very few thoughts about school! That can wait for January 3rd! :)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

2011-12-11T19:53:00.001-05:00

This weekend was full of so much fun (and not nearly as much studying as planned)! On Friday night, Mikey and I went to the MED (ministers, elders, and deacons) dinner at Magnolia's downtown for his work. The food was delicious, the company was amazing, and after the dinner was over, we even got to spend some time with two of the younger couples in ministry at our church! We had a great time :) Here are some pictures we took that night!

At the MED Dinner

With an awesome little nutcracker that I fell in love with when we were wondering around waterfront park :)

At the pineapple!!!

AJ and Allison at the pineapple downtown

With my beautiful friend Chelsie :)

And then on Saturday night, we had an ugly Christmas sweater leaders christmas party for Genesis, the young adult ministry, and it went great! It was catered by Qdoba (YUM!), and we did an awesome white elephant gift exchange. I even enjoyed playing the game mafia, which isn't normally my cup of tea :) My wonderful friend Sarah even took some pictures of us, and I will post those when I get my little hands on them :)

Watch and Pray

2011-12-07T08:31:00.001-05:00

Last night at Genesis, we sang these words:

I hear the Savior say, "thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and pray. Find in Me thine All in All!"

And then this morning on the bus I read these words from James 1:3:

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow!

Both of these messages spoke straight to my heart. I have felt my faith being tested over the past few years...moving, marriage, faith struggles within my once very Christian home, battling depression and anxiety, waiting for things like having my own family and my own home in order to follow the call I believe God has placed on my life to be a doctor. Through all of this, I have been very aware of the incredible blessings all around me...my husband, my family, a few very amazing friends, a larger group of friends to laugh and goof around with, the first real steps into becoming a doctor, a home, plenty of food, freedom to think and believe what I choose, a wonderful body of believers with whom I can seek God. But with all of these blessings and all of my love for God and belief in Him, my faith...my simple trust in God to be who He says He is and to love me as He says He does, has been tried. And I have found that my strength is not great enough to make it on my own...so I am dedicating the next few weeks until Christmas to giving Him thanks for the smaller blessings of life that I tend to overlook, to doing at least one thing every day just to honor Him and bless someone else, and to praying at least one time every hour I am awake. This is my attempt to refocus, to reunite with my Savior...I want to watch, giving thanks for what I find, and I want to pray, hearing more from God about who He is and what He has for me.

I am sharing this on my blog because I may post some of what I experience and discover over the upcoming days...maybe every day, maybe just once or twice. And I also want to encourage anyone who might be reading this to know that God is bigger than our questions, bigger than our fears, and much bigger than our inadequacies.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer...

2011-12-01T13:18:00.001-05:00

Is singing loud for all to hear!!!

Yesterday, MUSC hosted their annual Holiday Tree Lighting event for kids from local schools and programs, along with some of the current residents of the Children's Hospital. I was happy to be a part of the event, reading a little bit about Advent and how Christians celebrate the Christmas holiday. We also got to sing some Christmas carols with the kids, visit with Santa, and enjoy some of the MUSC Children's hospital staff doing a flash mob dance to "All I Want for Christmas is You!"

A great way to kick of the holiday season! Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful time of year!

The Flash Mob getting their groove on!

Santa greeting the kids!

Thankful

2011-11-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

I am thankful for:

1. My husband. Mikey is loving, kind, considerate, hilarious, talented, humble, wise, and just plain awesome. I am blessed beyond words to be married to him (almost 3 1/2 years!!!)

2. My family. It was so great getting to spend time with my parents, my sister, my grandparents, and my in-laws over this Thanksgiving holiday. I had a great time catching up with everyone, and I was reminded once again how blessed I am to have such wonderful people in my life who give me such support and love.

3. My friends. I am so lucky to have some amazing friends who love me for who I am, who are always there for me when I need them, and who are amazing in and of themselves. I am so thankful that they honor me with their friendship!

4. My career. Ok, so maybe being in school does not quite make medicine my career yet, but med school is a full time job...and I love it! It is not all fun and games of course, but I get to learn super interesting things, work with amazing people, and prepare to really impact peoples lives in a major way in the future! I am definitely right where God wants me to be, and I am extremely thankful for that!

5. Lazy holidays to take some time to spend with all of my favorite people, doing some of my favorite things (like hanging out with said people, reading, sleeping, eating, and exercising to my heart's content)!

6. Great conversations with people I love.

7. Wrapping up an amazing Thanksgiving holiday by cheering on the Steelers with Mikey and the pups!

my theology

2011-11-10T17:46:00.000-05:00

"The whole point of what we're urging is simply love-love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God" -1 Timothy 1:5

My theology:

God is good. He is perfect, beautiful, holy, righteous, gracious, glorious, creative, powerful, and King.

God made the world.
The world is not so good. Not so holy. Not so beautiful.

There is no sinner or saint, no man or woman, no righteous or unrighteous, no ruler or subject among us. There is only human.

Broken.

All of us.

Those of us that know God and those of us that don't.

But
wholeness,
holiness,
is
not
impossible.

Because God is loving. He IS love itself.

He loves me.
He loves you.

He made me.
He made you.

He saved me.
He saved you.

He has restored us. Given us the opportunity to be beautiful, like Him, like we are meant to be.

The difference is our heart, our future, our hope.

When we know God, we don't magically stop sinning. But we want to. For God. For His holiness and goodness and beauty.

So when we look at other people, no matter who they are or what they have done, we should look as fellow prisoners, seeing our common ground, our common desperate need for God.

And we should love. We should share God through our love. We should share God in love.

And it should always be about God...not about rules, not about categories, not about risks or benefits.

God first.
God last.
God only.

I pray that God keeps speaking to my heart every day, reminding me of who He is, who I am, and who He has called me to be. I want to honor Him. I want to glorify my King, the only one who is perfect and glorious and holy in Himself.

pupdate!

2011-11-05T11:50:00.001-04:00

It has been a while since I have given everyone an update on our pups...Oliver and Berkeley.

Berkeley is now almost 8 months old! She just got spayed last week, and she was so unbelievably pitiful for the first day or so after her surgery. However, she quickly bounced back, and we spent the rest of the week trying to keep her from wrestling with Oliver and jumping all over the place. It is so great to have her back to her normal, healthy self. She is healing up nicely!

It is just so crazy to believe that the little 11 pound puppy we brought home 6 months ago is already a 75 pound puppy/dog. And although she has eaten 2 kindles, 1 droid smart phone, multiple pairs of shoes, AND the windowsill in the room we keep her in, she is an amazingly lovable pup! She is getting better everyday, and she has become such a sweet girl. She loves to cuddle and to play. She loves her walks, especially with her dad! And she really loves her "big" brother, Oliver. Here is a picture I took of them on Mikey's phone yesterday...sorry the quality is so bad.

But aren't they adorable?

Here is a pic from when we first got her to remind you of how much she has grown!

Things I have learned this study week:

2011-11-01T18:26:00.000-04:00

1. Med school is hard, but wonderful.

2. All good hair salons are closed on Mondays, even when you desperately need a good haircut to reward yourself for finishing your practical exam before jumping back into studies for your written exam!

3. Barnes and Noble does not open until 9, so do not get there before that hoping to study with the aid of a venti skinny marble machiatto...you will just have to study in your car...without caffeine...until they open at their appointed time.

4. Husbands who mute every football game for an entire week so you can concentrate on your studies are the best ever!

5. Friends who encourage you drawing all over yourself with washable markers to aid in your study of anatomy, namely dermatomes and nerve pathways, are the best to keep around during study week...they make you feel like less of a dork and more of a fun and lovable character!

Oh...and I have also learned a bunch of stuff about the human body and how it works. That too.

quotable

2011-10-05T19:32:00.001-04:00

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; and small minds discuss people"

-Eleanor Roosevelt

I loved this quote...and strive to live by its philosophy!

Inspired by the life, work, and words of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Love is in the air

2011-10-01T17:14:00.000-04:00

For the past two weekends, I have been joining Mikey and his family in celebrating the love of two sets of grandparents. Mikey's grandpap got married last weekend to a very sweet, lovely lady. The wedding was a small family affair, and it was very lovely! I was so happy to get to participate in their happy day!

And Mikey's other set of grandparents had their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend. 50 years. That is just amazing. And wonderful. We had a great time last night celebrating their love for one another and the lives that they have brought into the world...5 kids and 16 grandchildren! And I am especially grateful for their oldest grandchild...my amazing husband!

They love hearing the family sing together...(there are so many talented vocalists and musicians in this family!), so Mikey, his mom and sister, and his aunt and two cousins did a few songs.

Mikey with his littlest bro (middle) and one of his cousins, being goofy at the end of the night! :)

I just wanted to do this quick post to congratulate the two happy couples!!!

Love is in the air :)

gross anatomy

2011-09-25T11:42:00.000-04:00

One thing that most people fixate on when they hear that I am a medical student is the fact that I participate in gross anatomy lab. I find it funny that the term for anatomical structures visible to the eye, without the aid of a microscope, is "gross structures." This seems so apt for how people view the gross anatomy lab...a place where I, and the rest of medical students throughout much of medical history, go to dissect a real human body. This, before anything else about my burgeoning medical career, is what I am asked about most frequently, and indeed, with the most fascination and disgust.

"They are real human bodies?"
"You do that?"
"Is it creepy?"
"Do you like it?"

The first two questions are easy to answer...yes. Real, dead human bodies. Lying on tables, embalmed, shorn of all clothing and the hair on their heads. At least twice a week, I walk into a room full of body bags, unzip the bag belonging to what I reverently and affectionately refer to as "my" body, and get to work. This is a rite of passage for doctors-to-be...our first "patient," the first human being who has placed their body into our hands...also our greatest teacher, an individual who has made a completely altruistic gift of their body so that I, and my fellow medical students, can know everything we can about the human body in order to aid those who are still living.

The second two questions are more difficult to answer...sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes I truly have no answer at all. It is a little creepy, a little disgusting. There is no denying that. And yet, somehow, it is not nearly as bad as you, or indeed I, would imagine. I think it is because the people whose bodies are lying in the room made a conscious, educated decision while they were living to give their bodies expressly to MUSC, expressly for our education. This makes the "grossness" of the dead body much less disturbing, and it reminds us all of the real person we should be honoring in our studies. It implores us to respect the bodies and to recognize the true beauty and majesty of the forms we uncover throughout our year in the gross anatomy lab...the efficiency of the nervous system, the complexity of the blood vessel networks, the organization of the muscles in just the correct way to do the job for which they were designed. And this discovery of the beauty of the human body, in all of its intricacy and purpose, is what I really do like about anatomy lab. I like what I find. I like knowing these structures and recognizing the clinical implications of them not functioning properly in a living person...in my future patients.

But this is far too much to explain in the casual questioning of various friends, family, and acquaintances. And so when I am asked these questions, I try to do them justice, but I also recognize that these hidden struggles and gifts of gross anatomy lab have now separated me in some way from the rest of society. What I have done, what I have seen, what I have discovered is not easily understood through explanation. It must be experienced. And that is why after these hundreds of years of human dissection in the medical field, gross anatomy lab continues. These lessons are meant to be learned. This experience is intrinsically tied to the transition from patient to physician.

medical school to date

2011-09-24T18:38:00.000-04:00

Wow. It is hard to believe that I am five weeks into medical school and preparing for my first official block exam. The time has absolutely flown by. It has been hard...a lot of studying, a lot of time in class, anatomy lab, hospital visits, standardized patient interviews...and everything that makes up a normal life, like sleeping, eating, and time with friends and family. Despite the overwhelming amount of entries on my to-do list every day, I have absolutely LOVED every minute of the journey so far.

God has blown me away with his love, with his faithfulness, with the beauty of the world he created and the people he made in his own image.

God has also used this short entry into the medical field to speak life into me... "This is it! This is what you have been waiting for! You were made for this!"

And all I can do is keep thanking Him for this glorious burden, this weighty gift. I am blessed.

Mikey's First Flight Lesson

2011-09-04T12:21:00.001-04:00

This past Monday was Mikey's 25th birthday, and to celebrate this momentous occasion, we (myself and my parents) got him a flight lesson. Since he was a little boy, Mikey has loved all things having to do with planes. Although he became a musician and minister, young Mikey wanted to be a pilot. And this past week, his childhood dream was fulfilled...he took his first flight lesson, and will likely be signing up to start training towards getting his full pilot's license soon!

I got to ride along on this intro lesson, and I was so impressed with his instructor, and primarily, with Mikey. He picked everything up so quickly. By the end of the hour, he even did a take-off by himself and most of the landing...it was amazing! I was so incredibly proud of him, and I am excited for him to get to continue on...here are some pictures and a video to give you a taste of all the excitement!

Mikey getting excited before the first takeoff..

Me hanging out in the back seat during the flight :)

Mikey takes the controls

We flew over some really gorgeous areas...it was a bit foggy, but still lovely!

Mikey and his flight instructor towards the end of the flight...

I loved how the sun looked in this picture!

Gorgeous sky

water dogs

2011-08-28T17:17:00.000-04:00

Today, after church, Mikey and I took our pups to the James Island County Park. The dog park there is so great, with a good sized lake on one side that the pups can swim in. Oliver and Berkeley had so much fun! Here is a video of them swimming in the lake...I thought they were so cute!

Now we are off for Mikey's flight lesson...his big present for his 25th birthday! :) Not to worry...more videos and pics will be uploaded shortly :)

life update

2011-08-20T18:23:00.001-04:00

This past week has been absolutely insane! Mikey and had a lovely stay-cation at the end of last week and then a super fun visit to Atlanta, GA at the beginning of this week. We got a lot of great time together. The braves game we went to was awesome, with the braves winning on an RBI on a 3-2 count, with two outs already in the bottom of the 9th. Excitement! Then on Friday we went to Bodies (the exhibit) and walked around Atlantic Station...both were very cool, especially the exhibit. Mikey even liked it, although he was very skeptical going in.

THEN, on Wednesday, I started my MUSC College of Medicine orientation, and I haven't slowed down since. We learned a lot about the program, what to expect, what we stand for (as students and as future physicians), and what support systems are in place when things get rough...there is so much to learn! And I cannot even tell you how excited I am to get started on Monday!!

To top off the festivities, I had my White Coat Ceremony this afternoon, and family from in-town and out-of-town, as well as a group of some wonderful friends, came to make the occasion especially memorable. I was truly humbled to have so many people there to support me and cheer me on as I take this big step into my future career as a physician.

Getting "coated" by one of the Associate Deans of the COM.

With some of my wonderful support system :)

With my super awesome husband!!

Let's do this!

crossroads

2011-08-13T17:14:00.001-04:00

O. M. G.

In the past week, I had my last day of work, most likely until I start residency in four years. I have been working at my mom's office, and while the job was perfect for this past season of life, I am so extremely excited to be heading into a medical career!

I also had my last day as a "nursing" volunteer at the Dream Center Clinic. Hopefully, I will be back in the coming years to shadow the doctors as I make my way through medical school, but I will not be triaging patients or volunteering on a regular schedule any more. It was so bittersweet to hug the nurses and doctors goodbye, listen to their very encouraging words, and realize again how truly blessed I have been to know and learn from them.

The rest of the week was spent at the beach, watching movies, and generally soaking up some sweet, sweet time with my husband before classes start up. Next week, I have orientation, and the following Monday, classes begin.

It. is. finally. here.

If you have a free moment in the next week, please send up a little prayer for me and this huge life changing event that is so quickly approaching. I am absolutely pumped to get going, but I am also extremely aware of the incredible task ahead of me. I pray to take it seriously, to grow in leaps and bounds, in skill, knowledge, and wisdom. And I also pray to enjoy this journey.

Craziness. Pure, joyful, scary craziness.

give 'em a break

2011-08-07T12:46:00.000-04:00

Lately, God has really brought home to me the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt. So often, we forget that people who may appear to have it all together on the surface actually have a lot going on behind the scenes...personal issues, family issues, medical issues. There is so much we do not know about not only the person we consider an acquaintance, but often also the person we consider a close friend.

You may think you know a person's circumstances, but chances are, there is something, maybe a lot, of which you are completely unaware. It is a lot easier to vent our frustrations or feel "righteous" indignation when we claim that a person "should know better," or whatever your excuse of choice may be. I know I've used a lot of excuses in my life. But the truth is that these responses to our fellow man are actually uninformed and selfish.

Remember, we cannot see another person's heart. That harsh word or selfish action may be a coping mechanism to a much deeper problem. So next time you or I want to jump to a conclusion or feel justified in our judgement of another person's attitude or actions, let's give them a break. There may be a lot we don't know.

"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

-1 Samuel 16:7

joining together

2011-07-31T17:54:00.000-04:00

"Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" -Ephesians 4:15-16 (NASB)

I just love these verses.

The body of Christ grows due to love, due to the working together of the individual parts. The parts must be working properly, playing each individual role, but it is not so much each part that is vital, but the joining of the parts...each part matters, but what matters most is the fitting together of the parts.

The church is meant to be unified...to work together...to love. And in doing these things, the church grows. We become more like Christ.

How beautiful.

blessed on my birthday

2011-07-23T12:58:00.001-04:00

First of all, I need to give a big THANK-YOU shout-out to my friends and family, especially my amazing husband, who made my birthday on Thursday so absolutely amazing!

I am incredibly blessed!

Birthday breakdown:

1. Mikey stayed home from work in the morning, so we got to make breakfast together and watch a cute movie before meeting some friends for lunch! (And I got flowers from Mikey delivered during the morning...gorgeous pink tulips, my faves!)

2. I met up with two of my favorite people, Sarah and Melissa, to get pedicures, and then we stopped by Gloria Jeans for a little pick-me-up treat! :)

3. Went on an absolutely yummy and fun dinner date with my absolute favorite person, Mikey, at Virginia's on King in downtown Charleston!! :)

4. On Friday, we went with some of our best friends to Cafe Medley on Sullivans Island for gourmet ice cream and absolutely delicious pastries...very cute. And very fun!

5. After the Cafe, we went to the beach for a nice walk and to just hang out...it was the perfect celebration! Very laid-back, but also special and fun!

Thanks again to everyone who helped make my birthday so special!
It was a truly amazing day(s) :)

dog-sitting

2011-07-20T16:41:00.002-04:00

This week, Mikey and I have been dog-sitting my parents' dog, Oskar, who is a 70 lb greyhound. All of the pups have been getting along really well, and although our house feels a bit like a zoo for the week, it is fun having another dog to keep Berkeley in line as she is learning her dog-manners :)

Oliver is not afraid to take on his 40lb heavier sister...

this afternoon he was beating her up in his own terrier way :)

Oskar loves his dog bed, which inspired me to make one for Berkely and Oliver.

I made this bed out of an old sheet tied around two old king-sized pillows.

Unfortunately, Oskar is the only one really interested in the bed :)

Here is a pic of all the pups hanging out together in the backyard.

(I took all of these on my phone, so I sadly cannot enlarge them without making them super blurry)

book plug

2011-07-14T16:45:00.000-04:00

I just finished Rob Bell's new(ish) book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, and I really enjoyed reading it. *gasp*

I have heard from a lot of people, most of whom have not read the book, all about how subversive and heretical it is, and while I cannot say I am quite on the same page as good ole Robbie Bell on every point he makes, I really do like a lot of what he is saying. Things about God's kingdom coming, about living for heaven, like heaven, here on earth...loving people, helping others, taking care of the earth, doing good...and doing these things not because they are rules we are meant to follow, but because we are passionate about what God is about, in the future and the present.

God is good.
God is love.

I believe these two truths wholeheartedly. I also agree that even when we don't believe the same things, whether we are in different denominations or different religions, we should love one another. We should take care of one another.

Bell raises a lot of good questions that I think we all should be asking, or at least considering. I am deep in thought. And I think you should be too. Pick up this book. Yell at it, get frustrated by it, refuse to agree with some of what it says...I did. But also consider it. Ponder it. Let the claims it makes and the questions it raises grow you, challenge you, and strengthen you. I did that too.

Seriously, give it a shot. I am also looking forward to reading Francis Chan's apparent rebuttal to this book...Erasing Hell: What God Said About Eternity and the Things We Make Up. I'll keep you posted!

an interesting idea

2011-07-12T18:36:00.000-04:00

(Fuhrman's Food Pyramid...centered around vegetables, unlike the usual USDA Food Pyramid)

This afternoon, I watched a documentary entitled "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead." This documentary is all about the benefits of micronutrients, which wikipedia describes as "nutrients required by humans and other living things throughout life in small quantities to orchestrate a whole range of physiological functions, but which the organism itself cannot produce." The documentary centers around two men who, when we meet them, are obese and sick, and both decide to start juicing to get more fruits and vegetables in their diets. These are the foods that contain high quantities of micronutrients. For 60 days, they go on a juice fast, which is meant to help them get healthier...losing weight, lowering blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol, getting off numerous medications. The fast also is meant to "reprogram" their taste buds to start enjoying the taste of fruits and vegetables above less healthy and more processed foods, so when they get off of the juice fast, it is easier to stay disciplined and eat healthy. And for both of these men, it works!

I was very intrigued. While I am not sure about personally participating in a juice fast (although I am not totally ruling out the idea of a shorter one), I do think it is a great solution for a lot of severely unhealthy people out there! And really just a great idea in general. I am going to try to eat more fruits and vegetables...make more smoothies, etc. Has anyone out there heard anything about this micronutrient diet stuff?? Or maybe even tried it?? I would love to hear any opinions and ideas!

enlighten us

2011-07-10T07:54:00.001-04:00

This morning, I read these verses from Ephesians 1:

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

This is truly my prayer this morning, for myself, for you, for everyone. If this world were to truly understand the great hope...the hope of perfection, of perfect joy and love and peace...the hope of an inheritance that cannot be destroyed or taken from us unjustly...the hope of overcoming this life, with all of its pain and struggles...then, I truly believe we would already be in a better place. God has saved us. God has set us free. The single mother working two or three jobs to make ends meet, the AIDS victim in Africa without access to the necessary drugs, the abused child scared of its own family...all of these victims of the cruelty of this life can take comfort in the beauty, glory, and power of God, given to us through Christ. And we who claim this inheritance should be the hands and feet moving towards these people and so many others, offering that life, that hope during our time in this world, as much as we are able. To love as Christ loved, to let the prisoner know he has been set free...this is our calling as Christians. And we can answer the call because we know in whom we have believed.

pUpdate...and then some

2011-07-09T13:58:00.002-04:00

So it has been a while since I have posted anything about our puppy's progress...I was a slack dog (cheesy pun intended), and didn't post anything after her last vet visit, which was about two weeks ago! This was the first time we've taken Oliver to this new vet, and he and Berkeley behaved very well for their dad :)

Oliver weighed in at 12 lbs, and Berkeley was a mere 42 lbs, just shy of 4 months old. She is probably almost 50 lbs now!

We were given an A+ for both of their health and well-being.

Berkeley is currently going through her teenage puppy stage. She has gotten a lot more energetic, and she tries to test her boundaries sometimes, which can be a bit frustrating when we KNOW she knows what she is or is not supposed to do. So we are living by one main motto with her...consistency! If she does not listen on her own when we give her a command, we make her listen. But even in this difficult time with her, she is learning a lot, and she really is a great dog! In a couple of months we are probably going to get her spayed and then, once she's healed, enrolled in puppy obedience classes! We are both looking forward to the helpful hints and dedicated training time inherent in these classes.

All in all, she is doing famously! We took her to Mikey's parents' house for the 4th of July and she laid calmly in the shade most of the day, and she slept right through the fireworks show we attended later at night! And she has gotten better and better and heeling while she walks on the leash. We are such proud parents :) lol.

Here are some pictures over the past couple of weeks of Berkeley and Oliver (but mostly Berkeley...lol)!

Sleepy girl, taking a nap on the sofa.

Berkeley with my Dad when we went to their house for July 4th weekend.

She kept wanting to rest her head on Mikey and be right next to him during the ride to his parents' house on July 4th! It was so sweet!

We took both of the pups to play in a field by our church today. They loved it!

Oliver with the ball, being chased by Mikey, being chased by Berkeley :)

Tuckered out after too much fun in the sun :)

thumbs up for rock and roll

2011-07-05T09:56:00.000-04:00

This is how awesome my husband is...
I was having a rough morning, feeling sick and a little pitiful, so my husband sent me this video in an email to cheer me up, since he has to be at work for most of the day:

And, let me tell you, dear blog readers, it worked! :)

Cancun!

2011-06-22T14:17:00.000-04:00

Mikey and I just got back from a 5 night trip to the same hotel we went to for our honeymoon, the Sun Palace Resort in Cancun...it is an all-inclusive, adults only resort that we normally wouldn't ever be able to go on for summer vacation, but thanks to tax refunds and some diligent saving, we made it this summer as a celebration of our 3 years of marriage and as a last big hurrah before I start med school! We are so glad to be home (and both recovering from a little travel sickness), but we had so many good times on our trip! It was nice to get away just the two of us :) Here are a few of my favorite things from the trip...

1. salsa lessons!! I really wanted to do these, and Mikey was such a good sport, since he isn't normally very into dancing. We had such a great time!

2. reading on the beach while Mikey body surfed in the waves. Since it rained 3 days in a row, we didn't get to spend as much time out on the beach as we would have liked, but when we could be out there, we were soaking it all up!! This part of the trip reminded me most of our honeymoon :)

3. the night we went to the Italian restaurant at the resort and got to sit in this glass room, looking out over the pools and the beach. The food was excellent, and the company was even better. We talked about so many things, and it was such a sweet and beautiful time!

4. we got 300 credits to spend at the spa, and my wonderful husband let me use all of them! So I was at the spa more mornings than not...getting a back massage, a manicure, a pedicure, and a hot stone massage (I had been wanting to try this, and while it was very relaxing, I think I'll stick to plain ole regular massages from now on...fyi) It was so nice having some pampering time to start out most of the days on our trip!

So those are the highlights, and here are some pictures to give you a better idea of our stay :)

Happy 3rd anniversary, Mikey!
I love you!

a dream fulfilled

2011-06-14T09:31:00.001-04:00

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

-Proverbs 13:12

Some of you may know that I have had a full semester, as well as the summer that is now beginning, off from school, and while I have tried diligently to enjoy the break (and have largely succeeded!), I cannot help but identify with the verse above. Despite the many blessings of this season, my heart is a little bit sick...waiting, hoping, and looking forward to what is to come. I do not mean to say that I have not thoroughly appreciated a mental and temporal break...this has been a beautiful and beneficial season in my life! But there is something inside of me that loves to learn and to do more. And, praise God!, I will be starting medical school at the end of August.

The past week and a half, I have been working on some preparatory materials for school, and I feel refreshed by it. I feel like God has watered my soul just a little bit and reminded me of the plans that he has for my life...the plans that make me really feel alive. And I am so thankful to know what I want to do and who I want to do it with! I have so many friends who are still figuring out who and what they want to be one day, and for years now, my goal has been clear to me. I want to be a physician. I want to make sick people healthy and hurt people feel better. As many people as I can. And I want to love people. And I want to learn for the rest of my life. And I want to apply what I learn to make the world a better place.

And the amazing thing is...I am on my way! I am doing what little I can now and preparing for the road ahead. My dreams are being slowly fulfilled, and I truly feel myself coming more alive as it happens!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future'" -Jeremiah 29:11

quotable

2011-06-01T20:49:00.002-04:00

pUpdate #2!

2011-05-29T10:05:00.001-04:00

On Friday, Mikey and I took Berkeley to her second puppy booster-shots appointment, and she did great! The vet said she looks very healthy and very happy, and we were given an A+! Since her appointment 3 weeks ago, Berkeley has:
- moved up to the large crate we are hoping will fit her still when she is full grown
- gotten much better at sitting and laying down
- learned how to bite more gently (normally) when playing with Oliver and/or people
- greatly improved in house training

And last, but not least, she has gained 11 lbs! As of Friday, she weighed 27.3 lbs. To put that in perspective, our other dog, Oliver, weighs 11 lbs total! Berkeley has gained the weight of our other dog in the past 3 weeks. Craziness. The vet says this was a major growth spurt and she shouldn't be growing so much every month...but we'll see!

Our sweet girl :)

A little blurry, but cute, shot of Berkeley and Oliver--they get along so well!

Oliver and Berkeley playing in the yard

To compare with what she looked like 3 weeks ago, visit my last pUpdate here!

mrs. jones

2011-05-24T18:27:00.001-04:00

Rabun and I grew up in the same area, but we didn't meet until we lived down the hall from each other freshman year. We were in the same pi chi group, and since those first few weeks at Clemson, I have watched Rabun grow into an amazingly beautiful person. I have also gotten to watch her (already-established) relationship with her bf Cameron grow and develop, and let me tell you, they are perfect for each other! Both, amazing people. Both, totally unique individuals. And both, startlingly smart. I am so proud to have stood beside them as they tied the knot on Sunday! Ray and Cameron, LOVE YOU!! Hope you're thoroughly enjoying your honeymoon ;)

With the beautiful bride, getting ready for the ceremony :)

The wedding party at the rehearsal dinner

Rabun and Cameron, about to enter the reception after gettin' hitched!!!

(I would add more of the two of them, but there are very few posted yet!)

CONGRATULATIONS, Rabun and Cameron!

thankful on a thursday

2011-05-12T08:01:00.000-04:00

There are just some people in life who are special. Those individuals that touch your heart, challenge your mind, nurture your soul. I pray that everyone has at least one person they can look up to, one person that they are amazingly thankful to have! These are a few of the people close to me, and some of the wonderful lessons I have learned from them:

one -> my husband

Mikey has the most wonderful way of caring about people and thinking about situations. Especially since we've been married (three years next month! woohoo!), he has shown me through his amazing example what it means to love someone unreservedly. Even on the days where I am being extra difficult, he is full of love and tries to understand where I am coming from. And when I start to get fearful that I am too much for him to deal with sometimes, he reassures me that his love will never go away...that he loves me as I am...not seeing people (me included!) as good or bad, but everyone as a mix of both. No bad part of you defines you. And he has inspired me to look at people with the same grace.

two -> my mom

My mom is the sweetest lady I know. She can talk to absolutely anyone. She just cares so obviously for people that they immediately trust her or something. Not only that, but she is so caring towards her family...especially my dad, my sister, and myself. Despite being a very successful business woman, she chaperoned tons and tons of our field trips growing up. She worked part time when we were in middle school, realizing that middle school is one of the most difficult and life-shaping times in a young person's life. And we just always knew she was there...no matter what, I could, and still can, call on my mom when something good or bad happens, and she will always listen, always give good advice, and always love me. She has shown me that, although there may be obstacles, you can have a successful, fulfilling career and still be an absolutely amazing mother and wife!

three -> my dad

This lovable man is super smart, and he has shown me the beauty of learning new things and challenging oneself. He is always learning something new. I swear he would win jeopardy if he went on the show because he is such a wealth of information about so many things. He has a three inch book about cod...the fish. And that is just one example of the hundreds of books he has read, taking up bookshelf after bookshelf in their home! I cherish so many of the conversations we have had over the years. Even when I was young, I remember embarking on some pretty deep discussions with my dad, and he has taught me so much through that. I really respect him, and I am thankful for the love of learning he has thoroughly instilled in me. I hope to pass that on to my own kids one day.

four -> my ballet teacher, Ms. Shields

Terry Ellen Shields was a professional ballet dancer with some of the top companies. After a shift in fortunes and the loss of her husband, she became an absolutely fantastic ballet teacher. I started dancing with her at the age of 8 and continued on with her until I left for college. She loves God and loves her students so much, and it shows! Not only does her deep caring drive her students to perform better and better, but she also instills a sense of discipline. She demands your best, and I am so thankful that she taught me to push myself as hard as I can, to reach for goals that may seem unattainable, and to have fun in the process. I miss ballet so much, but even more, I miss this beautiful lady! I cherish my memories with her, and I love when I do get the chance to visit with or talk to her...although those opportunities are rare. She has such a beautiful and strong spirit, and I am better for knowing her.

There are so many more people that have impacted me in some way or another through the years, but these four in particular have shaped me into who I am today! And I am eternally grateful.

pUpdate

2011-05-06T20:43:00.000-04:00

Today, Berkeley had her first vet appointment since we got her. She did such an amazing job! She didn't cry at all when she got her booster shots done and her claws trimmed. She was so friendly and sweet with all of the staff. And she is definitely growing like a weed! She was about 11 lbs when we got her, so she was a little smaller than our terrier. After only 2 weeks, she is already 16.6 lbs and bigger than Oliver! She can hardly fit under our sofa anymore, but she keeps trying to squeeze in :)

Besides growing massive amounts, she has also:

-learned her name

-started barking (but only when she is playing)

-started wagging her tail--so cute!

-learned how to sit

-improved a lot with house training

-started sleeping through the night (for the most part)

Here are some pictures of her from the past week:

Sleeping happily in her crate :)

This was about 1 week ago...

It is almost time to move her up to a bigger crate now!

Playing sock with Oliver at my parents' house last week!

Sitting like such a good girl, waiting for her treat.

This was taken today...you can tell how much she has grown!

My baby girl :)

the wild things

2011-05-02T16:33:00.001-04:00

Today, the Baurs have been getting attacked by nature! This morning, I headed to the beach with my friend Chelsie, and after being there for a few hours, I pulled out the PB&J I had packed. About half way through my first piece, a seagull swooped down, biting my finger, and taking the sandwich right out of my hand! I actually felt its beak bite my finger!

Then, we went back to my house, where i proceeded to let the pups out in the backyard. After a bit, Oliver (our terrier) started barking madly at what looked a bit like a bird that had fallen down on the wooden sandbox at the bottom of a play-set in the corner of our backyard. My friend Chelsie went to investigate, where she saw a huge snake, that was in the process of eating a mouse, which was the only thing visible from the other side of the sandbox. My dog had been about one foot from this snake, barking his head off at it! We scooped up the dogs, and ran back inside. By the time we went out to take a picture and possibly do the snake some harm a couple of minutes later, it was gone.

{i would post a snake picture, but they all freaked me out too much!)

I normally love spending time hanging out with the dogs or reading in the backyard, but I am so freaked out by nature right now, that it may be a few days before I do so again. I have enlisted my husband to quickly mow and rake the back yard to prevent further slithering friends from joining us. I just hope these attacks from wildlife don't become a trend!

refreshed

2011-04-28T22:24:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I went on a walk with my mom, her dog Oskar, and my (now oldest) dog Oliver. When we left, it was barely drizzling, but a couple of minutes into our route, the heavens opened up. We started running through the rain, and we all got soaked by the time we returned to the house! And all I can say is:

Thank you, God, for refreshing my life and my spirit tonight!

miscellany...wednesday?

2011-04-27T18:23:00.001-04:00

Things have been absolutely insane with the new puppy, and I have, therefore, been way too busy to blog! But right now, the puppy is sleeping, my scheduled tutoring session is rescheduled for tomorrow morning at 7 (ugh), and the episode of Glee I've been watching on Netflix is paused....and so I am belatedly sharing my life's recent miscellany!

¡one!

Mikey's softball team won their last game!! I can't remember the exact score (something along the lines of 13 to 3), but whatever it was, they did a great job! Mikey walked once, got good base hits twice, and made an awesome play in the outfield (the only time the ball was hit to right field, where he plays). I was so proud! My husband is awesome...and so is the rest of the Northwood Team, of course :)

¡two!

Berkeley and Oliver are getting along ~~too~~ famously! Oliver has gotten over his initial, minimal anxiety about the new pup, and now they play all the time. They both seem happy, but every so often I hear a yelp from one or the other of them...and my mother instincts send me rushing over to break up the ruckus. I am just so glad they enjoy being around each other...Berkeley even looks out the window and cries when I let Ollie out in the backyard without her :) Too cute.

¡three!

Glee is awesome. I never really got into it the first season, and frankly, there are some sketchy lessons in some of the episodes...but overall, I love the show-tunes and the awesome renditions of more modern songs...I love the dancing...I love the encouragement to be happy with who you are...and I love that it gives me something to do while I'm home all afternoon trying to wear out my rambunctious 7 week old Doberman!

¡four!

My honey and I are going on a date tonight! It has been a while, and as we have barely conversed with each other since we got Berkeley, unless we are talking about church or how to train a crazy but adorable puppy, I can't wait for some sweet one on one time over dinner :) And the best part is, he suggested it! sigh. No wonder I'm in love with him :)

meet berkeley

2011-04-21T22:49:00.001-04:00

This is Berkeley :)

My parents and I drove two and a half hours to Aiken to pick out this lovable, perfect pup! She was one of three females available...and I knew she was "the one" when she ran up to greet me. Not only that, but she was the largest female, which makes my husband happy! Her mom was 85 lbs, and her dad was 95 lbs...so she will probably be a big girl! Just look at her paws!!

She and Oliver are getting along great! She wants to frolic and play with him already :) He is still figuring out how to handle her...normally he is the high-energy small dog! But I think they will work things out over the next couple of days. Here is a little video of them getting to know each other tonight:

I hope to update you guys on her progress as she grows...

Here goes nothin!

the waiting game

2011-04-20T16:00:00.000-04:00

For those of you who know me well, you know that I am a doer, a get-'er-doner...I am all for proper planning, but in the end, I am all about decisive action. Which might explain why it has taken us less than a week to find our perfect doberman puppy. Berkeley should be here tomorrow. Mikey and I have done tons of research on dobies... temperament, training, puppies v. rescues, males v. females...and we think Berkeley, a female 6 wk old dobie puppy will be the perfect addition to our family!

A friend is hoping to be able to pick her up in Augusta, GA and bring her to us tomorrow, since she is heading to Charleston already. However, if that doesn't work out (because the breeder only has a small time frame in which we can pick up the pup), my dad and I may be heading there tomorrow night. Either way, she will be here tomorrow! This waiting has been killing me, and my constant talking about her arrival and wishing she was already here is driving all of my friends crazy, I'm sure!! So let's hope she's here tomorrow morning, so I can obsess over her to her :) haha

I promise to post pictures ASAP!! :)

my newest, greatest desire...

2011-04-17T18:23:00.000-04:00

...is to have one of these:

(the larger one)

donut burgers

2011-04-14T12:10:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine and Mikey's, Kendrick, told us about this amazingly delicious (and remarkably artery-clogging) food about a month ago, but we sadly missed out on his first foray into donut burgers. But last night after Mikey and Kendrick got done leading worship at the youth service at our church, we had some friends over, and Kendrick made the burgers!! All you do is make normal burgers (or you can use chicken!), and then you add donuts for the bun, cooking it on a frying pan for a couple minutes on each side...that makes the sugary donut coating kind of caramelized. Let it cool for a minute before you eat, or it will caramelize on your fingers (delicious, but possibly painful)! Kendrick had told us it tastes like a gourmet McGriddle, and I cannot deny the accuracy of his observations :)

The men hard at work in the kitchen :)

Donut-ing the burger

The final product! :)

Our happy chef :)

wordy wednesday

2011-04-12T23:57:00.001-04:00

Some good quotes to ponder on Hump Day...

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world" -Harriet Tubman

"The essential thing is not knowledge, but character" -Joseph Le Conte

"Try not to become a man of success, but a man of virtue" -Albert Einstein

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes" -Benjamin Disraeli

"Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out" -Robert Collier

softballin

2011-04-12T11:38:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are some picture-worthy moments from Mikey's first softball game of the season!

We met some friends at Firehouse Subs before heading to the field,

and I was so happy to discover that they have Coke Zero, my new favorite beverage!

My man on third base and about to make it all the way home!

The team praying after their victory!! The final score was 19-3 :)

With my sister-in-law Melissa and our friend Chelsie...

all of our husbands are on the team!

It was so nice to be outside, and to be cheering on our awesome husbands...I am so glad the season has gotten started, and I look forward to all of the games to come! I'll keep you posted on their progress :)

miscellany monday

2011-04-11T17:15:00.001-04:00

It has been a while since I have shared some of the Baur life miscellany, but I thought this week was the perfect one to join in on the fun! If you're interested, head over to Carissa's blog and link up!

-one-

This Saturday night, I got to go with my mom to one of Charleston's most fun and "fancy" events...the Family Circle Cup! We watched one match of the quarterfinals for singles. We wanted to stay for the doubles match, but the singles one was neck-and-neck, and therefore, super long! I learned a lot about tennis, though, and it was just a great excuse to be outside :)

~two~

Dance Central, on Xbox Kinect, is awesome! The student ministry at our church bought one, and I have been taking full advantage of its proximity :) I love to dance, and this game is the best one I've tried yet...it is a lot easier to groove and still get points than on the Wii dance games. And the songs are super fun too! It is actually tempting me to buy our own gaming console (*gasp*), but only time will tell...right now there are more pressing things to spend our money on!

-three-

I have been terrible at bringing my camera around lately...hence the lack of personal pictures for the first two miscellany entries. Does anybody else have trouble remembering your camera? It just seems too clunky to put in my smaller spring/summer purse! But I commit to getting better about this. Mikey's first softball game of the season is tonight (if it doesn't rain), and I promise to take some fun pics! They will be posted shortly :)

~four~

Lately, I have been obsessed with black dresses and skirts...They are just so easy to throw on, while still being cute. And I love that they show fewer lines and such. A black dress and a bright necklace, purse, or pair of shoes has been my new favorite thing.

Thanks for sharing in my miscellany!!! :) Have a great day!

so fresh and so clean, clean

2011-04-06T16:37:00.000-04:00

This afternoon, I went to the park and had some good girl talk with one of the most lovely people I know, my friend Sarah. We were talking about a baby shower we are hoping to throw for our pregnant friend Chelsie, and we both agreed that although we enjoy cutesy, colorful showers, we both adore clean, elegant showers. For some reason, fresh colors and clean lines just make me smile like a little girl! And with that in mind, I came home and "freshened up" my blog. I just love ~~tweeking it~~ giving it a complete overhaul sometimes. And spring is the season for a good cleaning, right? :) Hope you guys like my new look!

If you have anything you've been freshening up to celebrate the arrival of Spring, I'd love to hear it!

a healthier me

2011-04-03T18:43:00.000-04:00

For the past couple of months I have been really working on being healthier...eating correctly, taking care of myself, and exercising. Since I stopped dancing ballet about four years ago, I have been very on and off. I never ate that healthy, but without dance class schedules, I couldn't work up the motivation to workout regularly anymore. However, a couple of months ago, my doctor suggested that exercise would help me in an unexpected way...with stress. I've always heard exercise was good for working off stress, but there is real metabolic science behind this idea! And it has been working for me! I am really enjoying my new healthier lifestyle, and I thought it might be fun to share some of the knowledge and tricks I have gained that help to keep me on track...(not that any of these are ground breaking, but they have made the world of difference to me!)

[one]

A good cardio workout is this:

at least 3 days of 20 minutes of exercise at an elevated heart rate.

That doesn't mean 20 minutes on the bike or running...

it means 20 minutes once your heart rate picks up enough.

This will help to keep your heart healthy and your cardiovascular system happier.

[two]

A good metabolic workout is this:

at least 5 days of 40 minutes of exercise.

Heart rate is not a factor in this regimen.

The issue is working out for a long enough time for your body to burn through extra calories and, more importantly for me, stress hormones.

I combine one and two by exercising, on average, for forty minutes 5-6 days a week, at least 3 of those days being cardio.

[three]

Food is deceptive.

When I first started trying to eat better, I used a calorie counter app on my phone.

I was shocked at how bad some things are...things I always thought of as healthier.

Also, some things are significantly worse for you than another dish that seems very similar (especially pastas and creamy sauces/soups!)

Realizing these truths made me make smarter, more informed decisions about what I eat.

I was also shocked to realize how often I could indulge my sweet tooth, as long as I was eating healthier and exercising throughout the rest of the day! What a relief!

After a month and half or so of counting calories, I decided to lay off.

I still use my app to look up foods I'm unsure of, but I have a basic idea of how much I can eat and when.

This calorie counting has been so helpful to me!

I feel less guilty about a few treats, and I make better, healthier decisions overall!

(Weight Watchers probably has a similar effect!)

[four]

Exercise can be fun!

I have learned that there are some forms of exercise I love, and some I really don't love.

For example, I am NOT a runner...it hurts my knees, and makes me feel like my guts want to be on the outside of my body...so I avoid running, including the elliptical at the gym.

But I do love walking, biking, yoga, and dancing...these I do regularly!

I also try to go walking at the park, and not just around the neighborhood because it is so much prettier!

By finding exercise types that I really enjoy, I look forward to them...

My trips to the park or to the gym become a treat, not a burden.

[five]

You don't have to do the same thing all the time.

I used to always workout in the same way every time, and the result? I would get bored!

Duh, Anna!

Now, I do at least three different things throughout the week.

This keeps my body healthier, because I engage different muscles in different workout styles (plus!),

and it keeps my mind engaged during the activities (double plus!).

I hope some of these were helpful or encouraging to anyone out there who may be trying to move towards a healthier lifestyle. They've really made a huge difference to me :)

Quote of the Day

2011-03-31T16:48:00.000-04:00

"It is our job to give our lives for others, and that is nothing but death unless Christ has given his life to us first."

-Good News for Anxious Christians by Phillip Cary

betrayal

2011-03-26T11:18:00.000-04:00

Luke 22:48 "Would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Excerpt from my devotional yesterday, by Charles Spurgeon:

"I have been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus; I am a member of his visible Church; I sit at the communion table: all these are so many kisses of my lips. Am I sincere in them? If not, I am a base traitor. Do I live in the world as carelessly as others do, and yet make a profession of being a follower of Jesus? Then I must expose religion to ridicule and lead men to speak evil of the holy name by which I am called. Surely if I act thus inconsistently I am a Judas, and it were better for me that I had never been born. Dare I hope that I am clear in this matter? Then, O Lord, keep me so. O Lord, make me sincere and true. Preserve me from every false way. Never let me betray my Savior. I do love thee, Jesus, and though I often grieve thee, yet I would desire to abide faithful even unto death."

This hit me. And made me think. When we go through the motions of our faith without a heart fully dependent on God, seeking His glory and not our own, we are, in effect, betraying Jesus with a kiss.
When we attend church, and our minds are far from God.
When we pray for a person in need, but do nothing to help them with our own resources.
When we claim the role of Christian, but ignore the high standard to which that name must hold us.
Betrayal.

Lord, forgive me for my unfaithfulness. Help me to war against my tendencies to betray You with a kiss. Give me wisdom, spiritual motivation, and discipline to seek after You...joy, peace, and hope to rest in Your presence. Be my all in all. My Lord. My Master.

I can see clearly now...

2011-03-25T08:45:00.002-04:00

**Warning: the post beyond is slightly long and rather detailed, but I couldn't resist sharing this story of triumph!!**

About 8 months ago, I had partial vision loss in both eyes, most severely in my left eye.At first, I blamed it on allergies, thinking there was a film over my eye or some such thing. However, after about a month and a half of difficulty seeing, I decided to go to an optometrist. When he scanned my retina after seeing some abnormalities in his normal exam, he saw loads of swirling patterns and swollen eye cells. My eye cells were dying. I realized this could be a serious issue. He immediately called an eye specialist in the area and set up an appointment for me for that day. Needless to say, I was a little worried. It is hard to be a blind doctor.

Dr. Vroman, my new ophthalmologist, was extremely thorough, smart, and kind. He immediately told me I was banned from contacts indefinitely (my problem may have stemmed from them not letting in enough oxygen to my eyes), and he started me on some steroid eye drops. For a couple of months, I was wearing an old, scratched pair of glasses. I finally got a new pair of glasses, but because my left eye was 20/200 and my right eye was well beyond 20/20 WITH my glasses, they couldn't get me a new prescription. During these months, I diligently used me eye drops and never touched a pair of contacts. Dr. Vroman was confident that my vision would improve dramatically, but he was unsure if I would ever have 20/20 (corrected) vision again.

A few of months ago, I was finally weaned off of my eye drops, and after a month without the eyedrops, my vision was back at 20/20! I was told that I could wear contacts again (within reason), but to be cautious. With this warm Charleston beach weather approaching, I finally went this Tuesday to the optometrist Dr. Vroman recommended to get a new contact prescription. Dr. Lesslie was great! I told her my concerns, and that I needed a contact lens that was very breathable and wouldn't dry my eyes out. We decided on daily lenses, and I am loving them! I am still only wearing them a couple of days a week...when I go to a dance workout class or to the beach. But it is so great to have the option! I can wear sunglasses again (it is difficult to double up glasses on your face!). And when I'm wearing the contacts, I can't even tell I am wearing them! They are so awesome. I couldn't be happier :)

And if anyone is having trouble with discomfort or some other difficulty with their contacts, I'd recommend that you try out daily lenses. Seriously. They are da bomb :)

Beach Date

2011-03-23T16:36:00.001-04:00

Monday night, my sweet, amazing, adorable, thoughtful, hott husband took me on an awesome date to a nearby beach. We picked up some wraps from one of our favorite delis, drove to the beach, and laid out a blanket to enjoy the sunset and some grub :) We had such a great time, talking, eating, enjoying this awesome Charleston weather...Sigh. A night to remember.

check that off the list

2011-03-17T15:30:00.000-04:00

I am so, so excited to be able to say that, not only did I get my scholarship application for med school mailed in this week, but I also completed my FAFSA, loan applications, and MPNs! All that is left for me to do to prepare the financial road to medical school is complete a 30 minute loan counseling session online. This is required of anyone receiving federal financial aid. This application process has been a new experience for me because I had enough scholarships to cover my undergraduate education at a local university without loans...but I feel that I have learned and conquered by trial-and-error :) I was so overwhelmed by the prospect at first, that I kept putting it off. But with deadlines around the corner and our taxes complete, it was time to jump in! And it really was so much easier than I'd anticipated...hallelujah!

Mikey and I are both somewhat apprehensive about the fiscal side of attending medical school, but we know that where God calls, He equips and provides. And so we are trusting in Him to get enough loans (and some scholarships would be nice!) to cover all of the costs awaiting us over the next four years. We know that, whatever happens, we will make it through! I just feel so unbelievably blessed to be starting school in the fall...really and truly on the way to becoming a doctor!!!! Aaaahhhh...scary, awesome, and completely humbling.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs

from His glorious riches, which have been given to us

in Christ Jesus.

(Phil 4:19)

forgiven. forgiver?

2011-03-16T10:16:00.001-04:00

I have been reading through Acts, and today, I was in chapters 6 and 7, listening to the story of Stephen, commonly known as the first Christian martyr. I was amazed by his knowledge of the scriptures, by his words to those who were coming against him, and mostly, by his love. The thing that astounded me most was the very end of his tale. As he was being dragged out of the city and brutally stoned by the angry religious leaders he had challenged, his cry was this:

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!

Lord, don't charge them with this sin!

Sounds eerily similar to Jesus cry during his own sufferings and death at the cross...pleading that the sins of those who are attacking him (attacking his beliefs, his identity, his faith, his words, and his body) be forgiven. That their deeds not be counted against them.

I always think of God as righteous, as just...and often, I use His righteousness to justify my own hardness of heart. I know God is displeased by sin, so I excuse my wallowing in deeds done against me, in wrongs I have suffered, when that is not what the righteousness of God calls for at all! God desires for us to love; He is rich in mercy and love (Ephesians 2:4-5). He does not want "even one of these little ones to perish" (Matthew 18:14). God's heart is that we all be saved...saved from sin, from our flesh, from this world. He sent His Son so that we might not be charged with our sins. And Jesus tells us that "if you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven" (John 20:23). God has granted us the power to forgive, to offer love and life. How pitiful that we so often cling to "justice" instead of offering up the love and grace that have been so freely given to us!! I long to be more like Jesus and Stephen, desiring forgiveness and redemption for those who may hurt or unnerve me...

My prayer this morning is that God would soften my heart to look more like His own. That I would grow poor in pride and rich in mercy. That God's love would flow in and through and out of me to this dry, parched land...and that I would have a heart to forgive as my God has forgiven me!

Genesis Cabin Retreat 2011

2011-03-13T12:06:00.001-04:00

I'm a week behind, but here is a recap of the 2011 Genesis Cabin Retreat! Every year, we go to the mountains for some team building and personal growth focus time, and every year, we have a great time! We play games, enjoy the hot tubs (separated into girls and boys, of course ;) ), have some amazing devotions, eat together, do crazy things a Wonder Works (so fun!), and basically just enjoy a few days together as the leadership team for Genesis.

This year, I was very honored to be asked to lead a devotion, and I spoke about God calling us to stay in this world to make a difference, but to not be afraid to be different from the world. We read John 15:18-19, John 16:33, and John 17:13-19, and asked God to reveal to us where we are being luke warm in our faith. We prayed that God would give us strength, conviction, and courage to live for Him, even if it makes life hard, awkward, or uncomfortable. In the end, no matter what following Jesus calls us to go through, we know that we have the greatest reward: love and communion with God!

Kendrick, Sarah and Billy Rogers, and Robbie (our pastor), led the other devotions, and those followed a similar theme of wrestling with your thought life, honoring God in every area of your life, and choosing to follow Him above all else!

Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of how amazing this trip was!

The Word Became Flesh

2011-03-02T15:42:00.000-05:00

Last night at Genesis (our church's young adult ministry), our pastor, Robbie, talked about celebrating the life and the death of Jesus...celebrating because He endured such humbled circumstances, such cruelty, such brutality for me and for you.
For my sin.
For your sin.
Out of love.
Out of mercy.
Filled with compassion.
Free from anger.

And He broke the chains of sin and of death. They are gone.

S
H
  A
   T
   T
   E
   R
   E
   D

Hallelujah!

Sometimes it can be so easy to forget why we are on this earth. We are here for God. We are made for Him, and we are called to live for Him, to love for Him, to praise Him. He is life. His kingdom is light. With Him there is joy everlasting and life without end.

Hallelujah!

Thank you, Jesus!

cereal shout out

2011-02-26T13:46:00.001-05:00

If you haven't tried these...

...you are missing out!

I found these delightful at least semi-new cheerios last week at the grocery store, and I am loving them! I am seriously not normally a cereal-lover...at all. Normal cheerios may be good for you, but they also seem a bit bland to me. But these cinnamon cheerios satisfy my hunger, my sweet tooth, and my desire to be healthy...hip hip hooray!

So grab a box and treat yourself!! :)

block adoption

2011-02-13T13:08:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, a group of about twenty young adults headed into a block in North Charleston to share a little food, a little time, and a lot of love with the people there. Our young adult ministry, Genesis, has been going to this block for about a year, and we have started forging some great relationships with a number of the individuals and families there. It is primarily a low-income community, and it has been such a blessing to be a small part of giving some of the kids Christmas presents, delivering turkeys on Thanksgiving, and hopefully simply sharing a bit of Jesus' love for them one weekend a month.

This Saturday, I decided to bring our dog, Oliver, along to help me break the ice. While I absolutely love meeting new people, I am not the world's best small-talker, and my pup was a huge help in getting conversations started! And Oliver was a huge hit with young and old alike. What a blessing to get to talk to some of these wonderful people! I really, really loved this weekend, and I look forward to Oliver, Mikey, me, and the team heading out there next month!

Here are a few pictures of Adopt-a-Block:

if You lead me, Lord...

2011-02-10T13:36:00.000-05:00

This song has been running through my heart and mind all day so far. It is so powerful. Sometimes, I get discontented with where I am in life...there is so much more I want to do and to be! But I know I can trust in my awesome God, following wherever He leads, and resting in the joy of being right where He wants me. Praise God, that His plan for me and for you is perfect and beautiful!

blackberry cobbler, love, loss, and babies

2011-02-07T14:16:00.002-05:00

{one}

My first attempt at blackberry cobbler was a success!

I had some blackberries that I bought a week ago in my freezer, and with the super bowl coming up, I decided to put them to good use. I found a super easy recipe online for making blackberry cobbler in a crockpot (it's harder to mess up crockpot recipes)...because I am not super careful when reading directions before I actually get started, a slight forgot-to-thaw-out-the-berries issue arose, but with a few minor tweaks to the recipe it was still ready in time for the Super Bowl party!

Here's what you need:

14 oz frozen blackberries, thawed and drained
(I used frozen, but fresh, blackberries)
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup Bisquick original baking mix
2 tbsp sugar
1/3 cup milk
ground cinnamon
cool whip or vanilla ice cream, if desired

RECIPE:
[1] mix together blackberries, 1/2 cup sugar, water, and lemon juice. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours (or until boiling)
[2] Mix Bisquick, 2 tbsp sugar, and just enough milk to moisten ingredients. Drop dough by spoonfuls (should be about 6) onto hot boiling berry mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover and cook on high for 20-25 minutes.
[3] To serve, scoop out "dumplings" and spoon berries on top. Finish it off with cool whip or vanilla ice cream.

Here's what I ended up with:

I am no chef, but this was DELICIOUS! Everyone loved it at the party :) It would be very easy to double or triple the recipe if you want to serve more people; it's easy; and it is great! If I can do it, you definitely can!

{two}

I have been thinking more and more lately about how amazingly blessed I am with my wonderful husband. I just wanted to give him a quick shout out from the most public forum available to me...this blog. Sweetheart, you are the greatest blessing of my life. Thank you for your kindness, for your joy and your easy-going attitude. Thank you for trying to so hard to remember everything on your to-do list. Thank you for caring about things because I care about them. Thank you for making me laugh so often. Thank you for your hand on mine when we're out with friends to let me know that you are still thinking especially of me. Thank you for who you are, when I am around and when I am not. You take my breath away, and I love you deliriously.

{three}

Loss. Maybe that is a bit melodramatic, but this semester off from school really has been a huge change. I have lost the main part of most of my days leading up to this point in my life...classes and studying. It is a strange place for a bookworm like your's truly to be. But it is also a great break. I am trying to truly take advantage of these rare quiet seasons of life, and while I am a little at a loss with how to fill some of my hours, I am also able to read, exercise, and invest in the people around me more. So I guess, this one's really more of a gain!

{four}

Another shoutout...this one to our friends Robbie and Chelsie. Last night, they announced that they are pregnant! They are both amazing, godly, fun people, and they are going to be great parents! I am super excited for them to embark on this new part of their lives :) I am also a little freaked out that Chelsie is the first friend of mine that is MY AGE to be diving into motherhood...craziness. And she'll be great! And I'll get to love on her little one, which will help tide me over until after med school and residency :)

i really do want world peas

2011-02-05T16:07:00.000-05:00

find it.

Durgapur

2011-01-28T08:04:00.001-05:00

So thankful for all of the blessings and the wonderful memories from my time in Durgapur India! We were there for 10 days, and I would absolutely love to go back, especially with Mikey next time :) My favorite parts of the trip were: 1) the clinics we did every day, some in Durgapur, some in towns an hour or two away, and 2) the time we got to spend with the kids living on the compound where we stayed! Those kids have been through some crazy things and have some wonderful stories...it was inspiring to hear their stories and to see their openness and joy in the face of some of life's great challenges. Here are a few of my favorite pictures, showing some of the amazing times we had in Durgapur.

Our room :)

Teaching the children how to use a stethoscope

Hugging on some of the children at one of the clinics!

With one of the families we visited in the slums in Durgapur

Learning some traditional Indian dance moves from some of my new friends!

A typical Indian town's downtown area...I can't remember which one this was.

Some of the kids in one of the slums we visited...they loved having their pictures taken! :)

Taking one child's temperature at one of the clinics

Taking Inventory

2011-01-04T10:46:00.001-05:00

A New Year.

Full of promise. of hopes and dreams. of goals attained and unattained.

Full of opportunity..for good, for bad, for indifference.

It's customary at this time of year to take inventory, and it struck me this morning how little I do this with my life. Inventory. What do I have an excess of? What am I running low on? Am I where I wanted to be? Am I where I could be?

It can be so easy to take inventory of others...how are they treating me? I wouldn't do that. I like how they are like this...but sometimes, we need to shift the focus of our appraisal inward. (The speck and the plank in the eye, and all that good stuff).

This morning I started thinking about my own life. I am very happy with where I am. A college graduate, a prospective medical student, a wife with a loving husband, a daughter and a sister with a supportive family, a friend, a believer in Jesus Christ and His power and love. But I also realized how little effort I sometimes put into these roles, these responsibilities towards those closest to me in life. How often do I settle for a comfortable interaction or a selfish existence, rather than straining my own time, energy, and budget for those I love? I'm not saying I always do these things, but there is so much MORE I could do...and in the end, will I be satisfied with a life that is lived 50/50...or shouldn't I give all that I possibly can to make my friends feel appreciated, to help my husband's dreams and aspirations come to fruition, to give an abundance of love to my family?! I am doing these things now, but if I am honest with myself (which I am truly trying to be), they are not close to the center of my existence. Far more often than I consider these things, I consider what I want, how things affect me. But that is simply no way to truly live. And so, my New Years Resolution is not so much for myself this year. I resolve to pour myself out for the people I love. I want to give recklessly, to love unconditionally, to care without reservation. I want to be more about my Father's business and the people He has placed in my life, and much less about my own business.

What do you resolve to do this year? Taking inventory of your life, your actions and inactions, your motivations and aspirations...what would you like to see polished and brought into the light? Or discarded in favor of a new and greater thing? It is such a beautiful thing to be honest with oneself, and to find that though we are all broken, all clumsily searching our way through this life, there is hope for restoration, hope that a better way does exist and that we can become the person we planned to be all along!

I heart NC

2011-01-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

This past week was spent mainly exploring the mountains and towns of North Carolina. After celebrating Christmas with our families, including a stop at the Grandparents' in Spartanburg, SC, Mikey and I headed north to Hendersonville...

Day 1:

Bald Rock, SC

Caesar's Head (highest point in SC)

Pretty Place

(a chapel in Camp Greenville)

Unfortunately, we ended our adventures on Day One by getting stuck at the bottom of the hill to this lovely chapel...it was covered with ice and it took two hours of maneuvering and breaking up ice on the road before we escaped!

The gate at the top of the hill to Pretty Place

(notice the large patch without ice...just enough for a safe escape!)

Day 2:

Lake Lure, NC

After finding that many of our intended destinations were closed because of the snow,

we decided to be inventive and go sledding on a nearby hill on plastic box tops!

Day 3:

We explored Asheville, ate at the Tupelo Honey Cafe (YUM!), and then checked out the Grove Park Inn...it was beautiful!

Day 4:

THE BILTMORE!!

It was so gorgeous, covered in snow and all decorated for Christmas :)
And the audio tour was so interesting and really helped us to appreciate

the amazing history of the rooms! (Great idea, Meliss!)

After the Biltmore, we headed back to Spartanburg to celebrate the New Year with my parents and grandparents...and to do a little shopping :)

Hope everyone had wonderful holidays!!!

I look forward to seeing what 2011 holds for all of us! :)

Is it really almost 2011?!

2010-12-19T19:12:00.000-05:00

It is crazy to believe 2010 is almost over! This year has flown by, filling my life with so many wonderful memories and experiences. I am so grateful for the blessings of this year...

Finishing my year-and-a-half-long research project in May

Celebrating our 2nd anniversary in June

Being accepted into med school in September

Finishing my last semester at College of Charleston a week ago

Graduation yesterday!

I am anticipating (and mildly dreading) my upcoming semester off. I am trying to fill it up enough with work and volunteering that I don't get restless, but I want to take the time to rest and recharge, as well, in preparation for the very busy years ahead of me. I am exceedingly blessed to have the experiences I have had, to have my amazingly supportive, sweet, and hilarious husband, to have loving and encouraging family and friends...it is truly humbling to realize all that these people have done to help me get to where I am today...a graduate of CofC and an upcoming medical student. Thank you. I love you guys, and I hope you know how much I appreciate you daily. I look forward to seeing what the year ahead holds for all of us!

unashamed tour

2010-11-19T17:51:00.000-05:00

Last night, Mikey and I went with a couple of our friends...Jacoby and Kyle, two interns with our church's youth ministry...to a concert in Florence. The show was a part of the unashamed tour put on by Reach Records. It was so amazing! All of the artists were so talented, and not only were they excellent performers, they were also very sincere and eloquent in sharing their faith. It was awesome to see the huge diversity of people at the show...all ages, races, and backgrounds. And it was great to hear some of what these artists had to say. One illustration I particularly loved was shared by Tedashi:

A little girl in the fourth grade got a little snake for her birthday. She always wanted a snake, and her parents finally agree to let her have one. She loved it so much that she took really good care of it, always feeding it and cleaning its cage. It even slept curled up next to her at night. Cute, right? ;) Well, after she had the snake for a while, it stopped eating the food she normally gave it, so she tried a new kind of food. He wouldn't eat that either. Not only did his eating habits change; he also stopped curling up at night. He started stretching out long-ways next to her. After a while of this, the little girl got worried, so she took it to the vet and explained the situation. The vet listened carefully and then looked worried by the time she was finished. He told her she needed to come home and kill that snake immediately. The little girl was stricken. She really loved her snake, and she wouldn't agree to this until the doctor explained why. The vet explained that the snake was not eating because it was starving itself. And it wasn't curling up, and was instead stretching out next to her, because it wanted to measure itself against her...you see, the snake was preparing himself to eat the little girl whole. He wanted to starve himself so he would be able to, and he was waiting until he was big enough to do it.

That snake is like sin. At first, it may seem harmless. We find ourselves defending it, feeding it, caring for it as it grows in our lives...still seeming tame. But it's important to not forget that it is still a snake. And that snake can grow and can devour us. It is not enough to think about changing our lives...we need to go home and kill our snakes. Whatever they may be. Because those snakes can kill us, can steal our life.

And THAT is just one little piece of the night! It was amazing!!!

Here are a few pics and videos from the concert:

Trip Lee

Lecrae

Mikey and I after the concert :)

All of the artists CDs are on itunes, and you can go to reachrecords.com to check out more!

Medical Mission Trip

2010-11-13T17:23:00.000-05:00

"Missions is less about the transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there" -The Velvet Elvis

In the past week, I have heard about, prayed about, talked about, and decided to attend (God-willing) a medical mission trip to India. The medical clinic that I have been volunteering at for the past (almost) year is taking a team to Durgapur, India to help in a clinic that was established there in the past year. Dr. Sabback, a retired surgeon who is one of the medical directors of the Dream Center Clinic and who has been on many medical mission trips, went there a couple of years ago and has been a part of getting the clinic started, funded, and now, occupied. A local team of doctors and nurses staff the clinic most of the year, but extra help is always appreciated!

Those of you who know me well or have been reading my blog know that I have a passion for medicine and for reaching out to people in need, especially physical need! There are so many people in the world suffering from diseases that are curable and injuries that are fixable. I have been wanting to go on a medical mission trip ever since I decided I wanted to go into medicine in high school. Now that I have some training, my EMT certification, and a smidgeon of experience under my belt, I think I actually might be able to be of some service to the people in need in this area of India. Dr. Sabback assured me (after a timid email asking if I'd just be in the way, as I am not yet IN medical school, nor am I a nurse) that medical mission trips are the perfect place to learn more and do more! And so...I'm now attempting to get together the necessary funds and paperwork to make this long dreamed-of trip a reality.

The trip is January 13-22, 2011, which is just two months away. There is a lot ahead of me between now and then...finishing up finals, graduating from undergrad, raising money for this trip, and getting a visa for India. If you have any fund-raising tips, please let me know! I would really appreciate your prayers and any advice from those of you who have travelled to India before. Pray that our team would be effective in caring for these people's physical needs, as well as their spiritual ones. Pray that we will have the tools, medicines, and knowledge available to us to make a true impact. Pray that the planning and pre-work all gets done in time for take-off on January 13! And most of all, pray that God's will will be done, one way or another, regarding this trip!

shutterfly me to the moon

2010-11-08T22:06:00.001-05:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have already begun my search for this year's Christmas Cards! Since Mikey and I got married, I have loved searching online for cute cards to send out to close friends and family. Every year I have a hard time deciding, but especially this year because I found so many cute ones at Shutterfly! These are a few of my favorites:

Retro Kaleidoscope

I really love the colors of this one!

I think it's so interesting and fresh looking, but still festive with green, red, and white :)

Cranberry Damask

Damask is always pretty, and this cranberry color is especially perfect for Christmas time!

I also like how elegant "Merry Christmas" looks on this one.

Sage Snowflakes

Brown and green are a great color combo, and I really like the "love, joy, peace" on this card!

Go check out shutterfly to browse through all of the great cards yourself! They're even doing an awesome promotion where you get 50 free cards for sharing shutterfly with your friends on your blog! :)

Go to this site to sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Fall To Date

2010-10-31T12:05:00.002-04:00

October has been so fun for Mikey and I! It has been packed full of fall-y events, and everyone knows that fall is the best season :) Here are a few snap shots of what we have been up to:

At Waterfront Park downtown after a lovely brunch at Toast :)

At the corn maze :) We were victorious TWICE!

At the Northwood Student Ministries Costume Ball :)

We dropped by to get a DELICIOUS caramel chocolate apple!!

Mikey and me with our beautiful pumpkins...we are so proud :)

At the firepit in our backyard with my sis-in-law :)

We had fun chatting and drinking coffee and hot chocolate with some great friends!

The girls packed in the back of Chad's truck on our way to the fair!

At the Fair...we enjoyed our Gyros and listened to Easton Corban perform!

Can't wait to see what else this season holds! :)

Happy Halloween, everyone!

outside these walls

2010-10-10T07:51:00.000-04:00

"So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make His people holy by means of his own blood. So let us go out to Him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace He bore"

(Hebrews 13:12-13)

Our Savior.

Our King.

Our sacrificial Lamb.

Jesus gave it all, not counting the cost.

He gave His very life...

Both in coming into this dirty and God-starved world

And in dying a sinner's death on the cross.

He got his hands dirty.

His eyes saw the filth we live in daily.

His hands wiped away our tears.

His ears heard our laughter, our joy and our cynicism.

His shoulders bore our burden.

When he died, he seemed a liar.

A failure.

A lunatic.

But when he rose, he overcame everything in this world.

The fear.

The death.

The hopelessness.

And now He reigns.

So for our moment of life in this world,

let's live as He did.

Whether it seems too crazy, too painful, or too radical.

Let's go outside the safe walls of the church.

Let's move beyond the borders of what is comfortable.

And let's get a little dirty.

Cry with those in need.

Laugh with them.

Bear their burdens

Without counting the cost.

Let us risk being labelled

Risk giving up "success" for what really matters

Risk dying to ourselves

To live a life outside these walls.

"'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!'"

(Matthew 25:40)

A Weekend to Remember

2010-09-12T17:41:00.000-04:00

It is so crazy to think of all that has happened this weekend!

{1} I had my medical school interview on Friday. I was pleased with how I handled myself, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Now I'm just relieved to have that major step behind me! All that's left to do is wait for the outcome....and pray! :)

{2} A friend of ours from Mexico was in town this week, so we got to spend some time with her. Danbi was our guide in Oaxaca, Mexico the past two summers, and it was great getting to catch up! Friday night we went out for sushi with some friends, and she headed to visit her family on Saturday. Hopefully we'll be seeing her in Mexico next summer!

Crab Crunch with eel sauce...yum!!!

(Danbi is the awesome Asian in the middle :D)

{3} I actually finished all of my homework that had been piling up as I focused on other things for a few days. Now, I get to blog and enjoy the rest of my Sunday in peace :)

{4} Mikey and I cheered the Steelers on into their first victory in their first game of the season! Go Steelers!!

designing bug

2010-09-05T12:45:00.000-04:00

I am no interior designer, but I do love finding something fun that just seems perfect for our home! Whenever I find something in a store that seems "just right," I have to snap it up (if the funds allow)! Here is the newest addition to our home :) I am loving it. And as usual, it is giving me the designing bug to go out and find pillows and candles and what-not to go with my new purchase!!

Any pointers from other knick-knack loving ladies out there?

I'd love to hear what you do to spruce up or personalize your space!

a wee bit of me Wednesday

2010-09-01T17:09:00.000-04:00

{one} what’s your favorite day of the week and why?Thursdays, because I get to volunteer at the Dream Center Clinic, which I LOVE,and then I have lunch with my awesome hubs.And then I REST and get some work done for the remainder of the day :)
{two} if you could have a glimpse of your future, would you choose to see it and what time would you want to see?Normally I would say no, for sure. But right now, I wouldn't mind flashing forward to October 1st when I find out whether or not I get into my first choice med school!
{three} if you could be any animal, which animal would you be?I would be my dog Oliver...he's got the life.
{four} do you have a lucky number?not really. but I have always been oddly fond of the number 18.
{five} if you could bring one famous person back from the dead, who would it be and why?Mother Teresa...I would love to talk to her about her work and ideas!
{six} fill in the blank: peanut butter and ____________.jelly fish.My dad used to always say that when you see a jelly fish...you know there's a peanut butter fish nearby!
{seven} would you rather live by the mountains or by the beach?BOTH! but the beach if I had to choose.I'd much rather swim in the ocean!
{eight} do you have any tattoos?nope. I don't think I ever will.
{nine} if you could retire tomorrow, what would you do?keep working!I'm not sure I'll ever retire...at least not until I'm really, really old.If I do, I'd travel and volunteer at clinics!
{ten} what is your favorite all time movie?Mulan. I just can't help that this old favorite is still near and dear to my heart :)

the good, the bad, and the ugly

2010-08-28T11:55:00.001-04:00

This week has been CRAZY!

Luckily, I have been blessed with not only some bad and ugly moments,

but also some very good ones...

1. I find out that I have contact lens keratitis...aka, my cornea cells have been dying, and I am banned from contacts until they heal. Unfortunately, there is NO prescription to correct my vision so I have been half-blind for the start of #2.

2. School is back in session! This is a beautiful and a stressful thing. Not being able to see the board adds to the stress factor, but I am also excited because I know that once I get back into the swing of things, I will feel more capable and more on top of current issues and knowledge...and THAT is a wonderful feeling! I did my first reading assignment last night and actually really enjoyed the refresher!

3. I just got some really great news that means I'm one step closer to finding a medical school, getting experience, and becoming, one blissful day, a doctor! This new news, however, means that...

4. I have to start really cracking down on re-learning/learning current healthcare news. I am more into the philosophy and practice of medicine...not so much the politics and guidelines. Luckily, I have a very smart and very politically-conscious friend who I'm hoping will share some wisdom!

5. Last but certainly not least, my wonderful and astoundingly talented husband is turning 24 tomorrow! This means lots of celebrating...including the eating of mucho sushi. Yum. After church tonight, I'm focusing on fun and friends with the hubby! Then, come Monday, it's back to the books. But for now, I just get to enjoy some good times with the most amazing man I have ever met or been blessed to spend time with! Love you, Mikey! Happy birthday!!!

Holy Hodgepodge, Batman!

2010-08-23T11:40:00.000-04:00

{one}

Sonic has the best sodas...ever.

They are my saving grace on days when I need an extra dose of caffeine.

And the ice is SO GOOD...a soda connoisseur such as myself would know.

Thank you, Route 44 coke, for being you.

{two}

Who knew you could develop deformed corneas in such a short time period?

My trip to the eye doctor revealed that I have...

severe corneal decompensation.

My cornea cells have been dying, so I have giant cells trying to cover the area of 4-6 normal cells.

Apparently, this is not good.

I have an appointment with a corneal specialist this afternoon.

I am a little nervous, but trying to stay calm and just wait for a more definitive analysis.

Prayers would be most welcome!!

{three}

Toyota has wifi. Thank goodness.

Otherwise, I would not be able to post this lovely miscellany as I wait for my car

to get it's oil changed.

That also means I can be productive while I wait,

so it does not seem so bad. This is awesome!

{four}

I have to thank Carissa, who hosts Miscellany Monday,

for my awesome necklace that I won in her giveaway!!

The results were announced in her miscellany today,

along with some other lovely tidbits. Take a look!

what's new with you?

Getting to Know You Sunday

2010-08-22T11:06:00.000-04:00

1. If you could host a Reality TV show, which one would it be? Probably What Not to Wear! I'm not a huge reality TV person, but I really like seeing the transformations on that show. And I love how they encourage people to be themselves, but to dress for success! :)

2. Do you put your seatbelt on before or after you start the car? Almost always before. I am always getting on Mikey about putting the car in drive or reverse before he's buckled up...safety first, everyone!

3. Shave or hair removal cream? I've used both, but usually shaving...it is cheaper and requires less effort to prepare.

4. What's your favorite feature in a house? Windows! I love having the windows open...watching the sun start streaming in, seeing my pup Oliver snuggled up in the sun, and watching storms from the safety of my living room!

5. What is your favorite "Fall" scent? I really like cinnamon and vanilla...yum.

6. What tv show are you looking forward to seeing the most this Fall?? I'm excited for the return of Bones and Criminal Minds, but I never keep up with seasons...I just wait for them to show up on my tivo! haha

7. Personal Shopper or Personal Chef? chef....DEFINITELY. Clothes are lovely, but not nearly as important as good food!

8. What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of "Fall"? chilly...but in a good way. like a "we get to snuggle up on the couch under a blanket with hot chocolate" kind of chilly.

why I love august

2010-08-17T16:51:00.000-04:00

I am so excited for the rest of August because:

1. School starts back, which means

   a) A more structured schedule! hallelujah! I am a very orderly person, and this fluctuating schedule
   over the summer has left me feeling a bit aimless.

   b) Something more productive to do with my time! I have really enjoyed Chick-Fil-A and
   will continue to work there (for fewer hours) when school starts back, but I love me some mental
   stimulation...and chicken doesn't quite cut it.

   c) It's my LAST semester of undergrad, so starting this campaign to conquer this last bit of my degree
   feels like it will be so rewarding. Plus, I only have cool classes left for this semester :)

2. I finally made an eye appointment to have a doctor check out my blurry left eye. About a month and
a half ago, I woke up only to find my left eye totally blurry. Changing contacts hasn't helped. Wearing
glasses hasn't helped. A doctor I'm shadowing says my left retina is cloudy and suggested I go to an
opthamologist, which I am now finally doing! wooho! Let's hope he has the cure. Being half-blind is
the pits.

3. Mikey and I start our married small group/class together! I love doing any sort of Bible Study with
my awesome hubs. The fact that this class is taught by some great people and I've heard it's absolutely,
fabulously helpful and encouraging only adds to my excitement.

4. I get to start volunteering at the Dream Center Medical Clinic again! My schedule has been too rocky to volunteer
for the past month or so, and this Thursday evening will be my first time back in far, far too
long. Plus, I have the beautiful stethoscope my Dad got me for my bday to brandish for the first time.

5. The end of August means that September is right around the corner, and everybody knows, Fall is
the best season! I love the weather and the clothes. Everything feels so clean and fresh. And SC is not
as blisteringly hot. Aaaaaaah....I can feel myself relaxing already!

Happy August, everyone!

New York state of mind

2010-08-16T15:51:00.002-04:00

New York was so great! Although our flight was delayed until Friday morning (EARLY!) due to inclement weather in NYC, Mom and I packed so much into this weekend trip! Not only was the sight-seeing wonderful, but it was also some great mother-daughter time.

Day 1:
Fly out of Charleston at 5:30 am. Arrive in NYC at 10:00 am.
Check into hotel. Corner room right on Times Square!
Walk about two miles to Central Park, exploring various awesome places (like the Rockefeller center and Saks Fifth Ave) along the way.
Wander through the Met seeing tons of amazing and old art!
Get discount tickets for the broadway musical "A Little Night Music"
Eat dinner at a great Italian restaurant, Carmine's.
Head to the show.
SLEEP.

Day 2:
Take the subway (first time!) to SOHO, then walk to Little Italy and China Town.
So cool.
Eat brunch at a small hole-in-the-wall cafe.
Go to Ground Zero and Wall Street.
Go to the Empire State building and see all the Macy's windows.
Visit Grand Central Station...gorgeous!
Eat some delicious sweets at Magnolia Bakery.
Get discount tickets to the broadway show "Love Loss and What I Wore"
Eat dinner at this adorable Cuban restaurant, Victor's.
Blush from embarrassment when the waiters sing Happy Birthday to me :)
See the show.
SLEEP.

Day 3:
Go see the Waldorf Astoria...a beautiful and historic hotel.
Eat brunch.
Go to NYC Church, and then leave during announcements because the music was an hour! :) but so good.
Catch a cab to the airport, and fly HOME!
Snuggle up with the hubs on the sofa watching movies and eating ravioli at home :)

long time, no blog.

2010-08-12T08:35:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the long absence. I have been so insanely busy at the end of this summer...starting a new job, traveling a bit, working my old jobs, volunteering, church, getting ready for the semester that's about to begin. Whew. I've been exhausted. Sadly, far too exhausted for blogging.

BUT every so often I have gotten on to check out some of your posts! And even if I didn't get a chance to comment, I really enjoyed keeping up with blog-world a bit.

Anyway, all of that to say, my absence will likely be extended a bit longer because I'm GOING TO NEW YORK CITY! My mom and I are flying out tonight, and we will be having a girls' weekend in NYC for my birthday and hers. I will be taking TONS of pictures, so I'll definitely be sharing some of them with you on my return...and probably some of my favorite places to visit and things to do. We are planning on a full weekend of exploration and fun! See you then!

accent confession!

2010-08-05T08:47:00.000-04:00

It's my first time joining in with Windy Poplar's "Confessions Week!"

Just click the button above and you can join in, too!

Todays confessions are about accents and quirks in how we speak.

Here goes nothin'!

I tend to speak very formally in my normal life. Apart from making up words to describe my feelings to Mikey on overwhelming days, I basically live by grammatical rules. In fact, it often gets me in trouble with friends who think I've gone mad based on my vocabulary or too-formal wording in very non-formal settings, like game nights and hangouts.

I think I've unconsciously adapted to this realization (that the way I speak can come across as overwhelmingly correct to others), because I definitely slip into a southern, laid-back speech pattern when I'm trying to sound friendly. I don't mean to do this. Honestly. But my "yall" count flares up to unseen heights when I am talking to someone I don't know very well. I also tend to say less formal words and abbreviations for real words. It is as if I suddenly revert back to second grade in upstate South Carolina, without realizing it until some unfamiliar sounding things come out of my mouth!

So what about you? Any accent confessions you'd like to chime in?

monday miscellany

2010-08-02T09:48:00.000-04:00

[one]

Does anyone else ALWAYS forget to give their dog medicine?

I hope this isn't an accurate prediction of how I'll be with my future kids meds.

Every month, I struggle to remember to give Oliver his flea and heartworm prevention.

But today, I was victorious! (and only one day late)

[two]

I don't know what's been in the water at our house, but I like it!

Even with all of the craziness going on in our home lately,

Mikey and I have been able to steal away a little bit of time every day to spend together,

just the two of us.

If anyone is familiar with the five love languages, I'll share now that mine is

QUALITY TIME!

So my husband's sweet concern lately for our time together

is making me dig him even more :)

[three]

If you, like me, are in great need of some shorts,

check out Target!

I am not a target groupy like many people, but I like to take a look-see there every now and then.

To my great delight, my last visit yielded a great pair of shorts!

Mid-thigh--not too short or two long for this 5'2" girl.

And not too tight or too loose.

As a goldilocks in 2010, I must say, "they are juuust right!"

[four]

If you haven't read David Platt's book Radical, do so!

I officially finished it yesterday, and it was amazing!

It was great because, not only was it well written,

but what it was written ABOUT was so convicting and motivating:

*giving your whole life over to honoring God, not just basking in the grace of Jesus

*taking charge in changing the world for God's glory!

*being willing to sacrifice in order to give, not just giving out of leftovers

There is so much I am praying about and changing in my life right now.

I highly, highly recommend this great read!

[five]

Rabun is back from Uganda!

One of my best friends is back from working in a medical clinic in Uganda this summer.

She has pictures on her facebook, and I stole two to share with you.

Her stories from her blog are so touching and inspiring!

Check it out!

[five]

Blogging is far too addictive, and might just make me a little late to work today!

Sianara, Sisters!

Hope everyone else enjoys even more miscellany this Monday!

10 things i love about rain

2010-08-01T08:38:00.000-04:00

10. If you're home, it's the perfect excuse to snuggle up on the couch for a movie or book!

9. If you're working, it makes you feel happier that you're being productive because you aren't wasting a perfect beach day.

8. It sounds like applause on your windows and roof...you get a standing ovation every storm.

7. You can go outside to dance and sing without people thinking you've gone absolutely mad...maybe a little, but not absolutely.

6. It gives you an excuse to wear cute rain-boots!

5. It keeps everything cooler in the summertime...a definite bonus!

4. Rain = I don't have to feel bad about forgetting to water my flowers today

3. You get a free car wash, as long as you avoid any mud or flying debris :)

2. Rainstorms are the perfect times to bust out some cookie dough and maybe a board game or two!

1. Rainbows. Enough said.

Whether it is sunny or raining in your neck of the woods,

I hope you have an awesome Sunday!

Linking Up for the Thursday Five

2010-07-29T21:04:00.001-04:00

I'm joining in with Legally Brunette's Thursday Five! You can too! :)

5 Things that make me:

Happy
Grateful
Jubilant
Ecstatic
Thankful

{1) Oliver (my pup) makes me happy every time I come home and he is at the door waiting to jump on me and show me just how great he thinks I am. He's such a little charmer.

{2} I am grateful for my amazing husband who actually SUGGESTED watching The Young Victoria last night because it looked like a book I'd read and he knew I'd had a busy and tiring week. Sigh. I love him.

{3} Watching "So you think you can dance!?" makes me jubilant every time I get to watch those amazing dancers work it to some amazing choreography!!!!

{4} I am ecstatic to have Saturday and Sunday off of work. I plan to sleep in, chill, and rest! Yep. All of those :) Ahhh...sweet, sweet slumber.

{5} I'll be thankful when my mom gets home from her two week trip to China and Singapore tomorrow, safe and sound! Say a prayer if you think of it please :) I am anxious for her safe return!

Saint Teresa's Prayer

2010-07-25T21:12:00.000-04:00

My mom just sent me this in an email, and I wanted to share it with you lovely blog-followers! :) I might have to had it to my morning QTs!

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let his presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and everyone of us.

that's what it's all about!

2010-07-24T19:58:00.000-04:00

I've been reading this book

And it has been making me feel like this

I've enjoyed the book because it has put in better words than my mind can conjure up some things that have always left me a little unsettled with American Christianity. One of the things is how we confuse what Christianity, indeed what life, is all about.

The message of Christianity is NOT about Jesus coming to die for our sins to bring us life because God loves us. That may sound shocking, radical even, but it is true. That is only part of the message The real message of the gospel is this: God is awesome. He is worthy of praise. He is great and He loves us. He is not great because He loves us. His love for us being the center of our faith makes us the center of our lives. Instead, GOD should be the center. Everything Jesus did pointed to God's greatness. He used God's love for people to point to God, but that was not the final message of Christ.

It's all about God.

Having David Platt explain this in words was not so much a surprising revelation. Instead, it felt like a truth that had been in the corner of my mind, at the edge of my awareness, had finally settled down and found its home.

I remember my love for the worship in Oaxaca, Mexico. I left Roca Blanca this summer truly touched by the prayer and praise of the people of Oaxaca. They prayed to and praised God. They asked for assistance and thanked Him for blessings, but the central focus was God...and how worthy of praise He inherently is! I want my heart and my life and my praise to be like that. I want it all to be about God, because that is how life should be. It is how God created it. How egocentric have I been to insist on the gospel being about ME? How silly that seems now that I have been able to articulate the concept that EVERYTHING...all love, all beauty, all goodness, all blessings, all gifts...are for GOD!! Hallelujah!