A bunch of silliness really...

Last week I sat at work on a cloudy day, business was slow, so I decided to makes lists... and here they are.

21 reasons why I love my sister:

1. She's amazing. 2.She listens. 3.She makes me laugh. 4.She brings me chai tea while I'm at work. 5.She quotes movie lines ...like all the time 6.She's ambitious 7. She's in love with her Savior. 8. She's brilliant. 9.She's quirky 10. She speaks French (a little) 11. She's theatrical 12.She's punctual. 13. She likes Narnia. 14. She likes Harry Potter. 15. She's a brilliant writer. 16. She's clever. 17. She's a lot like my mom. 18. She's herself. 19. She's the perfect size for hugging. 20. She sings. 21. She's the best sister in the whole WORLD!

14 things I'd rather be doing:

1. listening to Christmas music 2. leading Barnstormers in the daily routine of camp. 3. chilling at home with my family. 4. having a really good conversation. 5. drinking some hot beverage while snuggled in a blanket watching a Christmas movie with my mumsie and sister 6. doing life lessons with Rachel P. (My coffee addicted college student friend) 7. dancing through central park singing, accompanied by an outrageous and exciting ensemble of theatrical people. 8. watching it snow 9. reading a letter from a friend. 10. taking pictures. 11. wrapping Christmas presents 12. drinking coffee with my Dad 13. reading from the Word 14. doing #13 with my most favorite people

5 reasons why I wanted a blog:

1. Other bloggers inspired me.  2. to proclaim and the promises and mercies of a gracious, holy, awesome God. 3.to have an outlet for brilliance (haha, just kidding) 4. to proclaim His excellencies. 5. to process the extraordinary and sometimes mundane things of everyday that I encounter on this Journey to the heights.

Inspiration...

I'll put it this way: These are 4 of the most inspiring women in my life.

1. My mother. I will forever be amazed by her patience, humor, compassion, love, and humility. I will forever be in awe of the Woman she is: wife, mother, Queenie, teacher, friend, mentor, leader, servant. I am in awe of the love she has for her family and the patient endurance through which she daily serves and gives of herself to provide for us. I am inspired by her love for her Savior. I will forever cherish her heart and her love.

2. My sister. I hold her opinion in high regard. She's witty, silly, smart, mature, genuine and loving. She is a Woman of integrity. She shows wisdom beyond her years. I am inspired by her passionate love for Christ and her pursuit of the knowledge of Him. I will forever cherish her friendship.

3. My Aunt. I will always be amazed at the way she relates to people. I'm inspired by the way she can make a stranger feel welcome and cared for; the way she encounters people and -perhaps without even knowing it- shows them Christ-like love. (The evidence that He is working in and through her). I see in her a thirst for knowledge and truth. She shows great love for her family. She is hospitable and patient. She is a servant. She is witty, and has a wonderful way of making people laugh. I will forever cherish her wisdom and cherish that she has so humbly and lovingly reached out to me.

4. My co-worker. I will forever love her heart. I have seen such a great and patient love in her. The way she cares for people and reaches out to them inspires me. She has a selfless, servant heart. She loves her Savior, her family and pretty much everyone else. She is compassionate and understanding. She has a marvelous way of looking at things from another's point of view, which is just another example of her selflessness. She gives and gives and gives. The way she loves is evidence of Christ's love and grace at work in her heart.  I cherish her listening ear, her kindness, her love and encouragement.
                                                                                                ~

This list could be far more extensive. The length of each paragraph is not long enough to truly describe the height of their character nor my regard for them. I could go on and on about the ways these women have touched and impacted my life, but I have laid out the essentials.

There are plenty of other women who could make this list longer, and if I had time, I might make it the list of 20 inspiring women... sisters- in- law, cousins, grandmothers and friends. I can honestly say that the Lord has blessed me with a great number of examples and godly friends. I value each and every one. I respect and cherish them. I admire and adore them. But I must give credit where credit is due and all credit is due to the One who formed and made them. The One who created their every whim, and wrinkle. The one who intricately wove them together in the womb. The one who chose them to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. The One who began His work in them and is carrying it on to completion. The very One whose love makes them beautiful and whose grace makes them worthy. The One who has placed them in my life and continues to bless me by their kindness, love and encouragement, and grow me through their example.

Why I like today...

Today is one of those dreary days. It's not raining now, but everything is wet and the sky is gray. Most of the trees have lost their leaves leaving the woods looking very bare. Add fog to this mixture and you have a positively eerie day. I like it. I'm usually all for sunshine, but there is just something about a gray day here and there... it's not a rainy day, (I don't like rainy days,) it's just gray. Side note: Gray is probably the most plain of all colors but it is one of my favorite colors.

I slept in. I consumed a cup of delightful goodness, a.k.a coffee.  I had really good conversation with my sister. I went shopping and didn't buy one thing for myself, which I think is an accomplishment. I spent most of the day with my mother and sister. I will eat pizza for dinner. I will spend the evening with my nieces. Which reminds me; I should go. But one last thing before I do... I have mentioned some of the things that I like about today, (the list could be longer,) but take it all away and I would still have reason to rejoice.
  ~His steadfast love endures forever.

"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances ; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  -  1Thessalonians. 5:16-18

Love Wins Givaway!!

Okay, it's the last day for this! And I am not just posting about this awesome giveaway because I want one of these awesome prizes... (but I do.) I'm blogging about this because I think you, Reader, whomever you are, could benefit. More importantly, because I really badly want to meet my niece... and even more importantly, because I love my brother and sister in law and I know they want to meet their daughter and my nephews and niece want to meet their sister. I am posting this because I now see the beauty of adoption and I know that little Zoey is totally worth every moment and penny put into the process to bring her home. Okay, now go. Go to,

brickerfamilyblog.blogspot.com 

P.S. I would have just posted the link, but I am computer/blog illiterate... so I tried but it didn't work... Sorry!

http://brickerfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/love-wins-giveaway.html

(Did that work???  NO?... I feel like I am 80 years old... REALLY I should know how to post a link!)

In awe and wonder...

Recently, I have been noticing brilliant skies, (sunsets, sunrises, clouds, stars. etc.) The sky has been there all along, so why am I just now noticing? It would seem that in the past nine months the sky has become more awe-inspiring than ever before. And really, it seems that everywhere I look, not only in the sky, but everywhere- all of creation is screaming the glory of God! Have my eyes never been open before? How have I missed this? Literally, it blows my mind!
I was driving yesterday, and as I looked at the sky (and also the road,) I thought to myself, "that just doesn't even look real!" ~The sky was filled with so many colors of gorgeous blue, and the clouds were small and puffy and scattered randomly throughout the vast blue background. The colors in the trees and fields were stunningly beautiful... I felt like I was in a piece of art. I was smiling and laughing- alone in my car -because I was seeing so much beauty and I could not contain my ecstatic joy!
I've heard people say, "God put that there just for you!" That thought popped into my mind yesterday, but I was not inclined in that moment to look at creation and see my worth. I wasn't thinking about myself when I saw the breathtaking sky. I could not look at me when creation was clearly pointing to the glory of its Creator. He allowed me to see it, and stand in awe, but in that moment, I didn't see my worth, I saw the infinite greatness and worth of God. And I was humbled.
I had another moment like that just the other day... I was looking out from the window in my living room, mid morning, and one of the trees in my front yard was blazing with brilliant color. I didn't know that color could have so much life, but these leaves were vibrant with life, nothing about them looked to be dying or dead. This time the sky was just gray, plain and dull, but that was the perfect backdrop for the glowing tree. I stood there looking out the window for a very long time. And I pondered the greatness of God. I think if God put that there "just for me,'' then it was only that I might see my smallness, then be humbled and amazed by His goodness and love and glory.

"The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! "
~Psalm 119:64

 

Food for thought...

If no one ever stated the obvious, there would be a lot less conversation in our daily lives...

When we ask, "how are you?" do we really want to know? 

Music is one of the most influential things in our world today... think about it...

What is the point of make-up? ... we are so obsessed with beauty... but do we really know what beauty is?

Life... is... a... vapor...

On a rainy day...

I love rainy days... I like to stay home on rainy days. I like to sleep in on rainy days. I like to make chocolate chip cookies on rainy days... basically, I like the coziness of rainy days. I am in Fall mode and anything that seems "cozy" or comfortable is my favorite... I have a lot of favorites... did you notice that my first two posts were both titled with the word "favorite"... ? (I didn't notice... until after I posted.)

I sometimes don't like rainy days. I don't like too many rainy days in a row. I don't like having to wake up early and go to work on rainy days. I don't like to go places on rainy days. In case you overlooked that little dot (.) it's a period, it means stop. - I don't like to go places on rainy days, period. The end. Personally, I think that all rainy days should be like snow days or bank holidays and then no one would have to worry about going out in the weather and everyone could enjoy a lazy day. Though, I guess that could cause problems... especially if you lived in Seattle or somewhere... that would just be awful.

On this here rainy Monday I sit in an empty office and wait for the phone to ring, secretly hoping that it won't ring. I have my music set to my worship playlist and I sit here quite comfortably, writing this post. Though I am not at home, I am comfortable enough.. and soon enough I will be home, and that is a comforting thought. The rainy weather and calm setting I find myself in have allowed me to think and process that which I have been too busy to think about and process these past few weeks...
You know, the life of a college student is a busy one. The life of a mother is a busy one. And the life of this college age not-college-student-or-mother is a busy one. How can life be so busy? I have wondered this for awhile. And I wonder, how can a life filled with so much of both ordinary and extraordinary, be so redundant? The dizzying world of ordinary is entirely mundane and full of activities to make and fill up our lives: I go to work and church, I spend time with family, I eat and sleep and dream. And then I do it all again. It's a never ending cycle. To quote Fanny Price from Mansfield Park:
"Life is nothing more than a quick succession of busy nothings."
 I am not depressed, I promise. I think I am convicted. Really. I actually think these are good thoughts to have, because they cause me to look at the things that I put my hope in and see just how utterly unsatisfying and empty they really are. These thoughts and questions and all this hopelessness... it just reaffirms the truth that is spoken in Ecclesiastes: all is vanity, a chasing after the wind. All the business of life. All the blessings. All the good things the Lord has placed in my life. All the trials and triumphs. Everything... all the pleasure this world can afford, all the comfort and coziness, it's all rubbish. Philippians says that nothing compares to knowing Christ Jesus. NOTHING. Indeed.
The Lord has blessed my life with much goodness. He has poured out blessing upon blessing, and I am more thankful than I can say, but none of it, not my dreams or my relationships or my possessions can satisfy my longing for my Savior. He alone will satisfy. I say that I know this, but I don't live like I do. Because I continually look to all the vain things of this world and I drink them to satisfy a never ending thirst, and I am left empty and discouraged and disheartened. Then on a rainy October day I am led to the promise in Lamentations 3:21-22
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I just stay in awe forever! Because I think I really need to. I was not placed here for my comfort and pleasure, and I will be continually unsatisfied if I look only to these things to make my life worth something. All the "things" that fill my life do not sustain nor define my life. My life is now hidden with Christ in God! Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!
I pray that my life, no matter how redundant it's activities and business might be, is a passionate pursuit of Christ, because He is worthy.
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
Acts 20:24

Why Fall is my favorite...

I think Fall is the most cozy of all seasons. I also think it is the closest I will ever be to feeling like I'm living in a Harry Potter book, (I don't want to be a wizard, but I would like to be British and Fall is the most British of all seasons. Also I think it would be pretty sweet to go to a school like Hogwarts and have cool friends named Ron and Harmonie... and I really would like to know what a butter beer tastes like... I imagine it tastes like pumpkin pie in a mug and not at all like real beer... and it's "unleaded"... silly, I know). I think songs have "seasons" and some of my favorite songs are just better in the Fall. There are also movies that are better in the Fall... Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, Runaway Bride, Stranger than Fiction,You've Got Mail. I like baking so much more when it's Fall... pie and chocolate chip cookies...mmmm... yum. I enjoy cleaning when it's Fall... then I like to light a candle and feel the coziness of cleanliness. I love Fall clothes...sweaters, scarves, boots, flannel. I love the stunning colors ... the leaves and even the sky... brilliant. I like the smell of Fall. I like pumpkins, hayrides, bonfires, hide-and-seek in the dark, chili, "punkin patches". I think Autumn memories are even my favorite...Some of my best memories are from Fall... being a kid and playing outside for hours, "building" leaf houses with my sister (Abigail and I were talking about this the other day; those houses were so real to us... we couldn't walk over the leaf piles, they were walls and we were not ghosts. Our houses had stairs because they had more than one level, they had telephones and closets and toilets... all imaginary of course, but as kids it was all so real... and so fun)... going to and even working at the Mum fest (carving pumpkins, listening to the Blue and Gray Pickers, pie)... watching a meteor shower at 4:00 in the morning, then drinking homemade hot chocolate with everyone before dad before had to go to work... the smell of burning leaves... hide-and-seek and all the other wonderful things about that party on October 31st... going to Faulkner's Pumpkin Patch (Oh that big inflatable worm that you could climb through... ah-ma-zing! I still want one of those things)... Thanksgiving... and the fact that Fall leads us into the Christmas season is also pretty wonderful in my opinion. (Sigh) There is just so much to love about this season. There are wonderful things about every season, but Fall is by far, my favorite.

A Favorite...

Herein is wonder of wonders:
  he came below to raise me above,
  was born like me that I might become like him.
Herein is love;
    when I cannot rise to him he draws near on wings of grace,
             to raise me to himself.

Valley of Vision
The Gift of Gifts pg.16