Mr. Jung

When I was about 10 I met a man who lived down the street from me.  His name was Mr. Jung.  Mr Jung (pronounced Young) was one of the coolest guys I had ever met. He had at least five old classic cars. His backyard was amazing.  He had built bogs and had all kinds of different plants growing, all linked to a water system he had built.  He had a shed that housed all different kinds of fish (including a pirannah, that thing was creepy).  Everytime I saw him he would quiz me on my multiplication tables.  He cultivated the already instilled desire to learn.  He was also a man of God.  When I look back on that time in my life, I am blessed to see that God put that man in my life when he did.  Today, I found out that Mr. Jung passed away from a long battle with cancer. I learned from reading his obituary that he had been an elementary school teacher for over 30 years. Just think of how many lives he touched over that period of time.

 While part of me grieves that he world has lost such a great man, the other part of me is blessed to have known him. Earlier today I read a quote from Dr. Seuss that helped me put loss in a good perspective:

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

Today I smile because a man named Mr. Jung walked into my life.  And though I hadn't seen him in years, he left an unmistakeable imprint on my life.  For that I am thankful.

♥

Photo Shoot

I don't even think i would classify myself as an amateur photographer, but I sure have fun pretending I am one!

♥

my sister's bridal shower

 my sister ♥

The Eyes Have It

sunny day

Skin Deep

Which side do you prefer?

The side with foundation, concealer, eye liner,shadow, blush, gloss and mascara?

or

The side with what was a pimple a few days ago, dark circle and ponytail?

I was thinking abou beauty today.  There is so muchbeauty around us.  Not only are we surrounded with beautiful sights of mountains, valleys and bodies of water, we are also surrounded with what our society (whatever society you find yourelf in) tells is is beautiful.  Sure, Angelina's big blue eyes are stunning.  Olivia's thin frame fits any outfit wonderfully.   Who wouldn't want Amy's hair?  But, who decided they were beautiful in the first place?  Who says my lips have to be nice and full, my body has to be 40 punds lighter than it is and my hair has to hold a curl for me to be loved?  Who says I have to put on make-up when I walk out of the door?  In an age where celebrity's mistresses are offered reality tv shows and paparrazzi stalk housewives with eight kids, do I really care what these people say I need to look like?

Do I really want to be like or look like someone the Bible would describe as "...you are  like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones..." (this is in no way saying I think the previously mentioned women accepted as beautiful by our society are in this category, only God know the heart)  I think sometimes I tend to get caught up in the outward.  Yes, I need to take care of myself, to be healthy, to look nice for my husband, but, I also want to be a woman of virtue.  I want to be loving.  I want to be selfless.  I want to be a good wife, daughter and friend.

Just a thought.  Just a moment of my day.  Just something the Lord showed me.  Just a desire to strive to grow closer to my Maker.  Just a desire to be transformed, renewed.

Thank you, Lord, I needed this reminder today. 

♥

I remember being in the grocery store with my mom.  There it was, a pack of pink bubblegum carefree gum.  I wanted it...bad.  My mom said no.  I said to myself "I can't wait to grow up and be able to buy my own gum".  As if that was the only thing grown-ups do.  Oh to be young again.

I painted my kitchen this weekend.  Ok, I painted most of my kitchen this weekend.  I'll do the last wall soon.  I promise =)

Colors:  Pale Honey and Cajun Red  (I love how they have to do with food! )



AND...if you look at the window sill you can see I am starting a little inside garden =)  My tomato plant is starting to grow!

                                       ♥

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -cs lewis

Special Time

I had the pleasure of babysitting my niece today.  I love that little girl so much.  I was so very blessed that my singing worship songs lulled her to sleep.  Very excited to see what God has for this little life I am so blessed to be a part of!

Random Memory

It's late.

I'm tired.

Hubby napped earlier so he isn't tired.

Translated:I'm still up.

I look down at the desk just now and saw a small wad of cash (don't get excited  1. its a small amount and 2. I didn't find it, I knew it was there).  Anyway, I noticed a $5 bill, and I remembered one very random day a couple of years ago. 

I had a dream one night that I was walking around town.  I went shopping, walked along a railroad, etc.  And everywhere I went I found $5 bills.  That day (for real, not in the dream) I went to buy something at Bed Bath and Beyond, and, to my surprise, as I walked through the parking lot to go into the store, I looked down.

You guessed it, you saw it coming, I found a $5 bill! Only one, not a lot like in the dream..but still...that's pretty random.

Social Networking.

 I think I'm over it.

Really.

I remember when I started college and found the wonderful world of social networking.  Myspace.  I was addicted.  I spent countless hours in the computer lab at school seeing how many people I could find.  Then, I got bored.  Then, I found facebook.  That was right after I got married.  It was so exciting to see all of the people I hadn't talked to in a few years, seeing where they were, who they were married too, and, of course, all the pictures of their babies!

I think it was mostly because I was lonely.  I was settling into my new life as a housewife, and, realistically, one can only clean so much before insanity sets in.  So, once we got the internet, I connected with anyone who I knew...even if I had only met them once or twice.  This random list of "friends" was fun, at the time.  Now, I find myself with hundreds of friends....and I can say I only really keep in touch with maybe twenty of them.  I go through my friend list from time to time and delete people.  None seem to miss me...a couple have asked if they have done something wrong.  It's not that, I just don't talk to them.  We have grown apart, or were never close.  I am realizing that I feel safer with my circle of friends and no longer want to put myself out there. 

Social networking has become this scary giant.  People sharing intimate details of fights between them and others with EVERYONE of their "friends".  I don't need to know everyone else's drama...I have my own.  This isn't to say I am uncaring.  I am far from that, I have many friends who I love, and who I am always there to, for counsel, for prayer, etc.  And not all of those friends are old ones, some of them are very new.  New friends that the Lord has brought into my life and used to enrich it in amazing ways, leaving me speechless. 

I just don't want to feed the monster anymore.  I appear as "offline" to most.  I don't post statuses, I have taken down most of my pictures.  I think facebook has given a lot of people a sense of safety, to post all kinds of information (if I really want your phone number or address, I'll ask you for it).

So, I'm kind of over it..and kind of weary of it.  That's all.  I still have it, probably won't delete it, still check it, still read about my "friends" but I am learning about real friendship.  I am learning about seeing someone's face, not trying to shy away tears when talking about something you are passionate about.  I am learning that I need to be comfortable in my own skin around people.  I am learning I need to get off my butt and move, and cook, and fellowship and drink more tea.   I am learning that I need to get off the computer, and simply live.  I refuse to become part of the giant.  I will stand against the tide.  I will not be absorbed in.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with the close friends (and new friends!) that you have, showing me that I need to live, and help me to do so. Please help me to guard the heart you have given me.  I need to!

Oops!

So, we went to Vegas for the weekend.  We were leaving the MGM (got to see the lion exhibit...BIG kitties) and decided to go to the top of the parking structure.  Initially we wanted to take the elevator from the top (7th floor) to where we were parked on the 2nd...the elevator had a window, so it was like a free amusement park ride.  It's ok, we're lame, we know it.  When we go to the top we walked out of the elevator and realized the lot was totally empty...it was kind of eerie, but breathtaking too! It had a great view, so we pulled out the camera and started taking pictures...that is, until a security guard in a bright yellow jacket rode his bike to us...

"We don't normally get people in the employee parking lot"

OOPS!

He didn't seem to believe that we didn't know we were in a place we weren't allowed to be.  Maybe they shouldn't make it so accessible?

Anyway, apparently "surveillance" wanted to know what we were up to.  We quickly apologized (to the man who didn't believe us) and made our way back to the elevator.  At least we have a story to tell!  Enjoy the view...cause you aren't allowed to be there!!!

P.S.  special thanks to MGM "surveillance" for totally creeping me out.

We were on our way home froma weekend away when we found this great little dresser- for free!

Wow.

Dear Belligerent Person,

I am sorry you were so offended by the invitation to my sister's bridal shower.  Seeing as I have no idea who you are, since you didn't include your name, I am taking the liberty of responding to your sweet little note via the internet.  To begin with, the invitation was very sweetly put (I promise) and did not sound rude, demanding, or otherwise.  Perhaps you received it on a bit of a bad day, or, perhaps, like the rest of us, you have been affected by the economy and can not afford to bring both a gift and food.  As I am sure you can imagine, I have put quite a bit of money into this veture for my sister.  I, too, have been affected by this economy and cannot afford to feed the fifty people invited.  That, I am afraid, is the reason we decided to make this a potluck shower.  Had you called me, as instructed, to decline coming, I would have been more than happy to tell you that I would bring an extra dish for you, so that you could share in my sister's special day.  However, again, I have no idea who you are (which means I don't even know who to cross off my list) so I cannot reach out to you and share this with you in person.  While I am sure you have not been invited to a potluck bridal shower, I have been, many times, and was more than blessed to participate to share in someone's special day.  Please forgive me to thinking that you would be happy to do the same. 

As far as lingerie goes, if you know my sister, which you do...SHE invited you.  You know that is a God fearing woman who has saved herself for the man that she is marrying.  She has never had the occasion to pick out her own lingerie and was so happy to be able to do so now.  Please, forgive my sister for wanting the joy of picking out what she will wear when she gives herself to her husband....that must be so incredibly offensive to you.

I am sure if you re-read the invitation (oh, wait, you had to sent it back with your note, I am sure you wanted that filth out of your home) you would see that I was giving suggestions, not demands.

Honestly, if I had felt so offended at something such as this, I would've sucked it up and gone anyway, to be a blessing to the my friend, the bride.  You must think not putting your name on such a note as this, you were able to speak your mind...you must feel better.  The bride, on the other hand..is now stressed...as I am I, even more than we need to be.  We're talking about my sister here.  How selfish to send something you know she would see, just to make yourself feel better....and MY invitation was rude. 

All I can say, is, I am sorry that you were so heinously offended to be invited to a special day in my sister's life.  I am sorry I beseeched you to help us, in a way, on that day.  I am sorry my sister is so modest and wants the joy of shopping for lingerie on her own.  I cannot say this on her part, but I am sorry she invited you.  I am, however, elated, that you did decline to come.  I am sure we will somehow manage without you.  I can only imagine the tension you would add. 

I may never say this to your face...for, I am sure, unless you find the wedding invitation also horridly offensive, I will see you on that day.  I may not know who you are, or maybe I do.  I may not know on that day that it was you...but, that's ok, I have enough to worry about, ya know, cause I actually care about my sister.