New books, new paints, new yarn, new pencils, new sketch pads, new clothes, new shoes, new tattoos, new jewelry, new hair color, new jeans, new jackets, new canvases, new movies, new cereal, new pens, new fabric, new nail polish, new conditioner, new sheets, new laundry detergent, new lotion, new crayons and coloring books... It's the little things in life that make me super excited. I love little new things. Like, the things that normally don't cost too much or can be found at a great value. I also love buying things on sale with coupons and getting an awesome deal. Or the things that make your hair softer or clothes smell new and fresher or just make your house feel warm and cozy. That's super exciting to me.
I love new little things. And I love starting new things. Like paintings and projects. Hence why I get excited about paints and yarn and canvases and pencils... It's just fun to start something new. The thing that I don't like so much, is finishing them. Expecially the big projects. I'm a big instant gratification crafter. If I know I can sit down and make something within a few hours and see the end result, It'll be a great day. If I know it is something that will take days, weeks, months or even years to finish, I get a little bit discouraged and disinterested. It's a fault that Michelangelo and Botticelli would no doubt scold me about. The art masters who sit and stare at marble for months to decide what to do with it, and then spend years carving it into a masterpiece. Man, if only I had that kind of patience. Or the builders who spent their lifetime only to lay the foundation for beautiful cathedrals knowing that they would never see the finished product. Maybe I should take on sculpting, that'll teach me patience with the arts....... Uhhh maybe later.
I have so many awesome projects around my house that I so badly want to see finished, but the getting there is so... time consuming. Like my gynormous magnum opus painting of Lake Tahoe, or my sweater, or my painting of a maple leaf, or practicing my guitar or piano, or finishing the books I have started reading, or my sketches, or my apron that I need to sew together. All of these things would just be super awesome to finish, but golly gee, I need some motivation. Maybe, If I hide them, and then find them later, they will seem new again. Probably a bad idea. Oh dear. I think the reality is I just need to start, and get in the zone, and before I know it, it will be complete. I wish I could be as excited about it as I sounded right then. Lame that I'm not. Haha. Oh well. These are my thoughts for today.
I love new little things. The feel of the new fabric, the smell of a new books pages, the look of a new nail polish, the curve hugging feel of new jeans, the crispness of new sheets, the bounciness new conditioner gives to hair, the smoothness of writing with a new pen, the first bowl of cocoa pops from the box, the smell of a new perfume....
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
You Make Me New. You Are Making Me New.
So last night I finally did it. I went in and got my first tattoo. I have been wanting this one for quite some time now and the waiting and pain is over. It is finished.
Ever since I was super little I have always loved butterflies, and the blue morpho butterfly has always been my favorite with its vibrant blue iridescent wings. I also love the symbolism of the butterfly, transforming the old to something new and beautiful. "Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
So I didn't know this going into it, but apparently the back of the neck is one of the most painful places to get a tattoo. He basically said that if I can handle that, I can pretty much handle a tattoo anywhere else on my body.
It felt a lot like I was being scratched by a cat with really long nails for the most part. Then it felt like he threw some fire ants on there and they were biting me, then when he was doing some deep shading, it felt like he was trying to dig a hole in my neck, and when it was all over it just feels like a crunchy sunburn. It took about an hour and a half to finish but it was totally worth it.
Then Angelo was up next. He got Philippians 4:13 on his bicep. Very fitting since the verse says "I can to all things through Christ who strengthens me" His took about 20 min.
Tattoos tend to symbolize a new beginning or landmark in life. I think that is pretty much accurate. After all that has happened in life, my Savior has taken the old, weak and ugly and turned it into something beautiful and strong. AND I have learned that I'm not as much of a chicken as I thought I was. He has made me new. So in conclusion, yes, last night was a great night of painful new beginnings. :)
Ever since I was super little I have always loved butterflies, and the blue morpho butterfly has always been my favorite with its vibrant blue iridescent wings. I also love the symbolism of the butterfly, transforming the old to something new and beautiful. "Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
So I didn't know this going into it, but apparently the back of the neck is one of the most painful places to get a tattoo. He basically said that if I can handle that, I can pretty much handle a tattoo anywhere else on my body.It felt a lot like I was being scratched by a cat with really long nails for the most part. Then it felt like he threw some fire ants on there and they were biting me, then when he was doing some deep shading, it felt like he was trying to dig a hole in my neck, and when it was all over it just feels like a crunchy sunburn. It took about an hour and a half to finish but it was totally worth it.
Then Angelo was up next. He got Philippians 4:13 on his bicep. Very fitting since the verse says "I can to all things through Christ who strengthens me" His took about 20 min.
Tattoos tend to symbolize a new beginning or landmark in life. I think that is pretty much accurate. After all that has happened in life, my Savior has taken the old, weak and ugly and turned it into something beautiful and strong. AND I have learned that I'm not as much of a chicken as I thought I was. He has made me new. So in conclusion, yes, last night was a great night of painful new beginnings. :)
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Crazy Life of an American Crazy Person
The thing about being a crazy person, is that while your reality may seem quite the norm to you, to everyone else you just look plain nuts.
I feel like that's pretty much what sums up the entirety of my epic summer experience of 2011. Maybe I'm just used to it, things not working out the way I want, like, ever. Maybe I've dropped all expectations of anything and so therefore they can never be failed. Whatever it is, it's kinda nice to be on a roller coaster and not even realize it.
So here's the story.
Once upon a time,
Jennifer really really enjoyed this summer.
We started it out with a fantastic trip to Italy, and I faced my fear of flying over the ocean. On top of that there was also a super high risk to travel due to the whole Osama Bin Laden dealio and the outbreaks in Lybia. I have always been afraid of flying over water anyways ever since I saw the movie "Cast Away" and ever since 9/11 flying when the government was recommending that you don't has always been scary. But the trip was awesome so the fear was worth it.
We got back to America and then found out that there was a ton of family drama with the in-laws. Parents were moving, now they're not, now brother and sister are moving, debates about who should and shouldn't stay in the business, pissed off about desk placement and how close we all have to be, hurt feelings and we were all pretty much sick of seeing each others faces every other day. It was a mess.
But communication is a blessing. After barely being able to get across was I was trying to say in Italy I was more than willing to listen when I could understand every English word that was coming out of their mouths. I took a hold and sure learned a lot about myself and situations that I thought I had no control over but, in fact I had the ability to fix it all if I put aside my pride. So I did.
A few days later we decided we needed a break so we went to a rock crawling competition to get away for a day. It was SO fun! But I got the worst sunburn of my life. So bad it blistered.
Then to make myself feel better I dyed my hair. Which all around was just a good thing. No bad story here, thank goodness. That one had potential.
Friendships grew and I was getting to know some pretty fun new people, camping, jet skiing, and spending late nights with good friends.
And then my cat gets sick and could need a $1200 surgery.
So after the stress of trying to decide what to do with that, I thought now was the time to do something fun, so I joined a hip hop dance class.
And then, while helping plan my dear friends wedding, serious drama erupts among bridesmaids. Again. That's a long story but let me just say, that sucked. I just wanted to fix it and make it all better, but there was nothing I could do except be there for the bride during the ridiculousness.
Then at a jr high event at church, I got to pray with a girl to invite Jesus to come into her life and her heart. Hallelujah what a blessing! That made my day.
And then our car breaks. And it costs $1100 to fix it. Poop.
So we take my Miata to the Tognottis Car Show instead. Ha! SO fun.
We got to go to Hot August Nights this year finally and that was pretty awesome being able to see the sweet cars, but the drag racing that the show promised was a bust.
And then, on a Saturday morning I woke up doubled over in pain from my right ovary and have to be rushed to the hospital by my sister in law since Angelo had to be at the shop. I got to have some pretty awkward embarrassing unique bonding time with Candice though. Haha.
After a few days of testing and stressing out that I was never going to be able to have kids the verdict was that I had a common condition and that I would be fine. Whew!
Then I find out that my birthday weekend is going to be super busy so our plan to stay for a weekend in Napa to go wine tasting for my 21st wasn't going to happen. This was rather disappointing.
But then my mom surprises me with a day at Marine World and I overcome my fear FINALLY of riding roller coasters without panicking. I was free to just enjoy it. No anxiety?! It was a miracle.
We then got to spend a weekend away with our church youth staff at Woodleaf which was a lot of fun and Melissa and I learned how to FISH! This brought us so much joy.
Then my birthday comes and I got to spend the whole day with my husband. I wouldn't have had it any other way. :) We went out to see a movie, went out to lunch, went on a hike, went to dinner and danced the night away.
And then, a few nights later we get called to the shop at 2:30am because someone had tried to break in. Freaking out the whole drive there, we waited to see the damage. And luckily, there was none. Thank you Jesus.
Then we get the news that the Brother and Sister in law were not leaving us after all! And that she got a job at a yarn shop! Yippee!
The summer ended with a secret Bachelorette party for Melissa, and on Saturday our best friends got married!
And all was well.
"This was the best summer ever!" Jennifer said.
The End.
Wow.
I feel like that's pretty much what sums up the entirety of my epic summer experience of 2011. Maybe I'm just used to it, things not working out the way I want, like, ever. Maybe I've dropped all expectations of anything and so therefore they can never be failed. Whatever it is, it's kinda nice to be on a roller coaster and not even realize it.
So here's the story.
Once upon a time,
Jennifer really really enjoyed this summer.
We started it out with a fantastic trip to Italy, and I faced my fear of flying over the ocean. On top of that there was also a super high risk to travel due to the whole Osama Bin Laden dealio and the outbreaks in Lybia. I have always been afraid of flying over water anyways ever since I saw the movie "Cast Away" and ever since 9/11 flying when the government was recommending that you don't has always been scary. But the trip was awesome so the fear was worth it.
We got back to America and then found out that there was a ton of family drama with the in-laws. Parents were moving, now they're not, now brother and sister are moving, debates about who should and shouldn't stay in the business, pissed off about desk placement and how close we all have to be, hurt feelings and we were all pretty much sick of seeing each others faces every other day. It was a mess.
But communication is a blessing. After barely being able to get across was I was trying to say in Italy I was more than willing to listen when I could understand every English word that was coming out of their mouths. I took a hold and sure learned a lot about myself and situations that I thought I had no control over but, in fact I had the ability to fix it all if I put aside my pride. So I did.
A few days later we decided we needed a break so we went to a rock crawling competition to get away for a day. It was SO fun! But I got the worst sunburn of my life. So bad it blistered.
Then to make myself feel better I dyed my hair. Which all around was just a good thing. No bad story here, thank goodness. That one had potential.
Friendships grew and I was getting to know some pretty fun new people, camping, jet skiing, and spending late nights with good friends.
And then my cat gets sick and could need a $1200 surgery.
So after the stress of trying to decide what to do with that, I thought now was the time to do something fun, so I joined a hip hop dance class.
And then, while helping plan my dear friends wedding, serious drama erupts among bridesmaids. Again. That's a long story but let me just say, that sucked. I just wanted to fix it and make it all better, but there was nothing I could do except be there for the bride during the ridiculousness.
Then at a jr high event at church, I got to pray with a girl to invite Jesus to come into her life and her heart. Hallelujah what a blessing! That made my day.
And then our car breaks. And it costs $1100 to fix it. Poop.
So we take my Miata to the Tognottis Car Show instead. Ha! SO fun.
We got to go to Hot August Nights this year finally and that was pretty awesome being able to see the sweet cars, but the drag racing that the show promised was a bust.
And then, on a Saturday morning I woke up doubled over in pain from my right ovary and have to be rushed to the hospital by my sister in law since Angelo had to be at the shop. I got to have some pretty awkward embarrassing unique bonding time with Candice though. Haha.
After a few days of testing and stressing out that I was never going to be able to have kids the verdict was that I had a common condition and that I would be fine. Whew!
Then I find out that my birthday weekend is going to be super busy so our plan to stay for a weekend in Napa to go wine tasting for my 21st wasn't going to happen. This was rather disappointing.
But then my mom surprises me with a day at Marine World and I overcome my fear FINALLY of riding roller coasters without panicking. I was free to just enjoy it. No anxiety?! It was a miracle.
We then got to spend a weekend away with our church youth staff at Woodleaf which was a lot of fun and Melissa and I learned how to FISH! This brought us so much joy.
Then my birthday comes and I got to spend the whole day with my husband. I wouldn't have had it any other way. :) We went out to see a movie, went out to lunch, went on a hike, went to dinner and danced the night away.
And then, a few nights later we get called to the shop at 2:30am because someone had tried to break in. Freaking out the whole drive there, we waited to see the damage. And luckily, there was none. Thank you Jesus.
Then we get the news that the Brother and Sister in law were not leaving us after all! And that she got a job at a yarn shop! Yippee!
The summer ended with a secret Bachelorette party for Melissa, and on Saturday our best friends got married!
And all was well.
"This was the best summer ever!" Jennifer said.
The End.
Wow.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Okay, So I'm a Nerd
Just thought Id get it out.
My name is Jennifer Parisi and I am a recovering computer simulator addict. Minus the recovering part. Recently I have uncovered my stack of 3 favorite simulator computer games on my desk and ever since I have been hooked once again.
#1) Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 - The best theme park manager game ever. They have moved on to make versions 3 and 4 but I still like version 2 best. Your goal is to get a certain number of guests in your park via marketing and attractions, pay off your debt, maintain a certain level of park rating, or achieve a park value of a certain amount. It's super fun running my fakey theme park business.
#2) The Sims - Again while they have moved onto the 3D versions, I still prefer the simple version 1. This one you manage people's lives. Get a job, earn money, build a house, manage relationships, get married have children, and try not to burn the house down in the process. Strangely addicting. But I love it.
#3) Zoo Tycoon - Similar to Roller Coaster Tycoon except this time you manage a zoo and all that comes with it. Feed the animals, get enough guests and enough money to buy a rare breed, then more guests will come, schedule shows for the dolphins, orcas, etc. While this game can be fun, it is not near as addicting as the prior two.
That's it, the truth is out. I'm a nerd. This is what I do with my time when I don't feel like being productive. Terrible isn't it?
My name is Jennifer Parisi and I am a recovering computer simulator addict. Minus the recovering part. Recently I have uncovered my stack of 3 favorite simulator computer games on my desk and ever since I have been hooked once again.
#1) Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 - The best theme park manager game ever. They have moved on to make versions 3 and 4 but I still like version 2 best. Your goal is to get a certain number of guests in your park via marketing and attractions, pay off your debt, maintain a certain level of park rating, or achieve a park value of a certain amount. It's super fun running my fakey theme park business.
#2) The Sims - Again while they have moved onto the 3D versions, I still prefer the simple version 1. This one you manage people's lives. Get a job, earn money, build a house, manage relationships, get married have children, and try not to burn the house down in the process. Strangely addicting. But I love it.
#3) Zoo Tycoon - Similar to Roller Coaster Tycoon except this time you manage a zoo and all that comes with it. Feed the animals, get enough guests and enough money to buy a rare breed, then more guests will come, schedule shows for the dolphins, orcas, etc. While this game can be fun, it is not near as addicting as the prior two.
That's it, the truth is out. I'm a nerd. This is what I do with my time when I don't feel like being productive. Terrible isn't it?
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Harrington Town "The Glad Town" - My kind of City :)
For the most part, I'm not very opinionated. I think this is part of what makes me such a laid back, easy going type of person... Except when it comes to food, but that's another story.
I can literally find something to love about practically anything, which makes life pretty easy going and enjoyable. I think about this as I exclaim, "Walking through wet grass in my brand new leather flip flops isn't so bad because it is cleaning off the gum I just stepped in!"
Most people would probably be pissed about either of these things, but for some reason, that was my first thought.
It's kind of funny how it has almost become a sort of game that I play with myself every day and any time something not so fun happens. I try to look at the bright side like Pollyanna, or think of why God may be using the situation, working it out for good. I have been learned to appreciate things more when I look at it this way too.
"Darn, I burnt dinner..... I guess this means we get to go on a date!"
"We have just lost power!..... Awesome, we get to use candles and make it look super cool in here!"
"My car broke down on the side of the road..... Thank you God. I needed a 30 min quiet break from life while I wait for AAA."
"They messed up my fast food order!.... Well, this is another opportunity to try mustard to see if my taste buds have changed"
"I just spilled juice all over my desk..... Perfect excuse to clean the whole thing. I've been wanting to do this anyways"
"The stove was left on and now my apt smells like gas...... Yay! I get to go on a walk instead of doing dishes while the room airs out."
"I only have a little bit of money left for groceries..... I get to clip coupons like I used to do all the time with my mom when I was little. What fun memories"
"My favorite purse just broke.... I get to go shopping for a new one!"
"The store closed early.... This gives me something to be excited about for tomorrow and I'm free to do whatever else I want tonight."
"They need me to do something I've never thought or wanted to do before.... Sweet! Free education! I get to learn something new."
"The home loan didn't come through, again.... When it finally does, I am going to appreciate it even more than I would have if it came easy."
"I can't have a dog yet... And I don't have to clean up the poop yet either"
"The car broke again, and this time took our whole months savings.... At least the car is paid off and we have another to drive, plus, it's only one month instead of more."
"I really wish I could paint our apt and make it more homey.... But this gives me more time to think about how I really want to decorate and I can be creative and hang a quilt on the wall for now."
"I scratched my Hillsong United Cd!... I guess I get to send more money to support an awesome band when I buy another one."
"What?! Rain in the middle of summer?!.... I've been missing wearing this sweater"
"Oh my gosh this kid is bugging the heck out of me.... Jenn, you get to get way better at patience today. And it's Mom training. It'll make you a better mom when you get there."
"Word got out about our small party with friends and 7 more people invited themselves over. We need a lot more food than we budgeted for... The more the merrier! Plus, 7 more people to extend God's love and hospitality to."
It's kind of fun, and the mood seems to suddenly shift to something sweet and wonderful instead of something frustrating and gloomy like it could have been.
"Situations can seem a lot better if you only change your perspective." It is a quote I have been telling myself for years. Its been on my fridge, my mirror, the background on my phone... and it's so true.
I guess I might have gotten part of this attitude control from my dad who has always said to me "Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but by how we react to what happens. Not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life" or in other words "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it." It has been driven into me and it is something that he lives by himself. He even signs off his emails with this quote.
This statement has been a huge part of defining who I am and how I act. I roll with the punches, I take life one day at a time, I react the way I want to, not how people tell me I should.
Something bad happens and they say I should be angry... what? why? There is something good going to come of this. There always is. Even if I can't see it. Don't you realize? I have 100% control over the attitude of this situation. That's a lot of control.
It's not being overly optimistic to say that I can be joyful even when stuff sucks. It's not unrealistic either. Contentedness, and thankfulness are a choice, and out of these things blossom joyfulness.
It doesn't come naturally, which is why this whole concept is difficult to understand.
But the things that are worth it don't always come easy do they?
Tomorrow, our small business could fail, and then we could be broke, and then our car could totally break down, and then we could have to move to a smaller apartment, and we may have to get rid of our cats, and I may have to sell my bike... but you know what that would mean? A brand new adventure. We'd get to start a new kind of life. Try on another pair of shoes for a while. It could be an exciting vacation from the norm, and it will make us stronger as a couple. I could work at a coffee shop or clothing store which would be fun! And we could eat more pb&j and be excited about how much fun it is being able to eat it picnic style on the living room floor because we don't have a table anymore. Who says those things are what make us happy anyways?
See. Perspective. Attitude. 100% up to you how you react and it can make your whole world seem 100 times better.
This is my thought of today. A little more into the mind of Jennifer Elise Parisi.
I can literally find something to love about practically anything, which makes life pretty easy going and enjoyable. I think about this as I exclaim, "Walking through wet grass in my brand new leather flip flops isn't so bad because it is cleaning off the gum I just stepped in!"
Most people would probably be pissed about either of these things, but for some reason, that was my first thought.
It's kind of funny how it has almost become a sort of game that I play with myself every day and any time something not so fun happens. I try to look at the bright side like Pollyanna, or think of why God may be using the situation, working it out for good. I have been learned to appreciate things more when I look at it this way too.
"Darn, I burnt dinner..... I guess this means we get to go on a date!"
"We have just lost power!..... Awesome, we get to use candles and make it look super cool in here!"
"My car broke down on the side of the road..... Thank you God. I needed a 30 min quiet break from life while I wait for AAA."
"They messed up my fast food order!.... Well, this is another opportunity to try mustard to see if my taste buds have changed"
"I just spilled juice all over my desk..... Perfect excuse to clean the whole thing. I've been wanting to do this anyways"
"The stove was left on and now my apt smells like gas...... Yay! I get to go on a walk instead of doing dishes while the room airs out."
"I only have a little bit of money left for groceries..... I get to clip coupons like I used to do all the time with my mom when I was little. What fun memories"
"My favorite purse just broke.... I get to go shopping for a new one!"
"The store closed early.... This gives me something to be excited about for tomorrow and I'm free to do whatever else I want tonight."
"They need me to do something I've never thought or wanted to do before.... Sweet! Free education! I get to learn something new."
"The home loan didn't come through, again.... When it finally does, I am going to appreciate it even more than I would have if it came easy."
"I can't have a dog yet... And I don't have to clean up the poop yet either"
"The car broke again, and this time took our whole months savings.... At least the car is paid off and we have another to drive, plus, it's only one month instead of more."
"I really wish I could paint our apt and make it more homey.... But this gives me more time to think about how I really want to decorate and I can be creative and hang a quilt on the wall for now."
"I scratched my Hillsong United Cd!... I guess I get to send more money to support an awesome band when I buy another one."
"What?! Rain in the middle of summer?!.... I've been missing wearing this sweater"
"Oh my gosh this kid is bugging the heck out of me.... Jenn, you get to get way better at patience today. And it's Mom training. It'll make you a better mom when you get there."
"Word got out about our small party with friends and 7 more people invited themselves over. We need a lot more food than we budgeted for... The more the merrier! Plus, 7 more people to extend God's love and hospitality to."
It's kind of fun, and the mood seems to suddenly shift to something sweet and wonderful instead of something frustrating and gloomy like it could have been.
"Situations can seem a lot better if you only change your perspective." It is a quote I have been telling myself for years. Its been on my fridge, my mirror, the background on my phone... and it's so true.
I guess I might have gotten part of this attitude control from my dad who has always said to me "Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but by how we react to what happens. Not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life" or in other words "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it." It has been driven into me and it is something that he lives by himself. He even signs off his emails with this quote.
This statement has been a huge part of defining who I am and how I act. I roll with the punches, I take life one day at a time, I react the way I want to, not how people tell me I should.
Something bad happens and they say I should be angry... what? why? There is something good going to come of this. There always is. Even if I can't see it. Don't you realize? I have 100% control over the attitude of this situation. That's a lot of control.
It's not being overly optimistic to say that I can be joyful even when stuff sucks. It's not unrealistic either. Contentedness, and thankfulness are a choice, and out of these things blossom joyfulness.
It doesn't come naturally, which is why this whole concept is difficult to understand.
But the things that are worth it don't always come easy do they?
Tomorrow, our small business could fail, and then we could be broke, and then our car could totally break down, and then we could have to move to a smaller apartment, and we may have to get rid of our cats, and I may have to sell my bike... but you know what that would mean? A brand new adventure. We'd get to start a new kind of life. Try on another pair of shoes for a while. It could be an exciting vacation from the norm, and it will make us stronger as a couple. I could work at a coffee shop or clothing store which would be fun! And we could eat more pb&j and be excited about how much fun it is being able to eat it picnic style on the living room floor because we don't have a table anymore. Who says those things are what make us happy anyways?
See. Perspective. Attitude. 100% up to you how you react and it can make your whole world seem 100 times better.
This is my thought of today. A little more into the mind of Jennifer Elise Parisi.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Learning to Breathe
I will never stop learning. Every day I find out that I was wrong once again, and that there is a new perspective that I had not yet considered. They say this is normal for us early 20 somethings, to be constantly changing our minds about life and what makes the world turn.
It's a nice excuse to lean back on, that it's normal for this stage of life to be as unstable thoughtfully as a teenager at puberty, cause boy, is it exhausting.
I love to learn and to get better at things I suck at. And I love to hear other peoples life experiences and insights. I always seem to pull something new from what they say regarding something I had heard a million times before. Or learn from watching how the "pros" do it to better my technique.
The more I learn, the more I become aware of time. I only have so many years on this earth and there are so many things I want to learn about. I want to know all there is about cooking, painting, sculpting, needlecraft, quilting, music, organizing, economics, mathematics, theology, science, medicine, law, cosmetology, dermatology, psychology, politics, the stock market, upholstery, woodworking, engineering, auto mechanics, mass manufacturing, how to run a company, systematization, child development, botany, construction, interior design.... and the list goes on. I want to know it all. But there is not enough time for me to be a chef, a lawyer, a mother, a doctor, a CEO, a mechanic and an artist all in the same lifetime. It's sad, but I am still driven to at least try to know how. I am grateful that in heaven I will have unlimited time to learn and the best teacher ever.
I read the dictionary for fun, my favorite books that I own are The Professional Chef and The Family Medical Guide, I suck at long division so I do it on my free time to get better, my house is full of projects that I have made because I can't decide which hobby I like best so I do them all, I love watching infomercials for fun, I'm always thinking and strategizing how to get better at things. It takes 20 min for my brain to shut off at night because I'm always trying to figure things out before I fall asleep.
Life is so complex, and the more I learn, the smaller I feel, and the greater my God. The universe is huge and knowledge is virtually limitless. I want to soak it all in. But for now I still feel like I am only just now learning to breathe. And so we begin. Inhale........
It's a nice excuse to lean back on, that it's normal for this stage of life to be as unstable thoughtfully as a teenager at puberty, cause boy, is it exhausting.
I love to learn and to get better at things I suck at. And I love to hear other peoples life experiences and insights. I always seem to pull something new from what they say regarding something I had heard a million times before. Or learn from watching how the "pros" do it to better my technique.
The more I learn, the more I become aware of time. I only have so many years on this earth and there are so many things I want to learn about. I want to know all there is about cooking, painting, sculpting, needlecraft, quilting, music, organizing, economics, mathematics, theology, science, medicine, law, cosmetology, dermatology, psychology, politics, the stock market, upholstery, woodworking, engineering, auto mechanics, mass manufacturing, how to run a company, systematization, child development, botany, construction, interior design.... and the list goes on. I want to know it all. But there is not enough time for me to be a chef, a lawyer, a mother, a doctor, a CEO, a mechanic and an artist all in the same lifetime. It's sad, but I am still driven to at least try to know how. I am grateful that in heaven I will have unlimited time to learn and the best teacher ever.
I read the dictionary for fun, my favorite books that I own are The Professional Chef and The Family Medical Guide, I suck at long division so I do it on my free time to get better, my house is full of projects that I have made because I can't decide which hobby I like best so I do them all, I love watching infomercials for fun, I'm always thinking and strategizing how to get better at things. It takes 20 min for my brain to shut off at night because I'm always trying to figure things out before I fall asleep.
Life is so complex, and the more I learn, the smaller I feel, and the greater my God. The universe is huge and knowledge is virtually limitless. I want to soak it all in. But for now I still feel like I am only just now learning to breathe. And so we begin. Inhale........
Friday, July 1, 2011
Jennifer the Weakling :)
So, today has been a great day. And this has been a great week. Amongst all the chaos in my life right now, God is being glorified, and this my dears, makes me overflowed with joy.
God keeps putting a verse in my head and heart that makes me smile every time. Its like He is telling me himself over and over the exact thing I need to hear. When I am weak, good grief God looks so much stronger than I had ever thought he could have been before. It makes life so much more wonderful with this new perspective.
I can't help but marvel at how wonderful God is when things are in an uproar.
Its like a beautiful refreshing oasis in the middle of a hot, sticky, dry, dead, desert. Like a sunny tropical island protected inside a bubble from a massive hurricane. Like a breath of fresh air.
He is so far removed from all of the grossness of this world. its outrageously beautiful.
David wrote a ton about this in the Psalms and I think I am beginning to understand why and how he can say "Glory be to God!" in the middle of some really sucky stuff. It's because God is the polar opposite of any of the crap this world might try to throw at you, even if it is God's plan for you to go through hardships, oh my goodness, he is always there to confide in when it seems too hard. And when you come to Him, its like going from a place where lightning strikes and thunder roars to a place where all you hear is the breeze and birds chirping.
He is the ultimate encourager too. I find it flattering when he said in the Bible that He would never put us through anything that He didn't think we could handle, and he gives me some really tough stuff to deal with. That's a huge compliment. I mean seriously, it like the day that your parents hand you the keys to the car, times a million. That confidence that someone else believes that you can do it not only feels good, but makes you believe you can do it too.
I have felt a mountain of blessing over the past few months, even though these have been some of the hardest to go through, I can say without a doubt, Oh Lord, my God, how wonderful, beautiful, and glorious You are.
God keeps putting a verse in my head and heart that makes me smile every time. Its like He is telling me himself over and over the exact thing I need to hear. When I am weak, good grief God looks so much stronger than I had ever thought he could have been before. It makes life so much more wonderful with this new perspective.
2 Corinthians 12:5-10
New International Version (NIV)
5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I can't help but marvel at how wonderful God is when things are in an uproar.
Its like a beautiful refreshing oasis in the middle of a hot, sticky, dry, dead, desert. Like a sunny tropical island protected inside a bubble from a massive hurricane. Like a breath of fresh air.
He is so far removed from all of the grossness of this world. its outrageously beautiful.
David wrote a ton about this in the Psalms and I think I am beginning to understand why and how he can say "Glory be to God!" in the middle of some really sucky stuff. It's because God is the polar opposite of any of the crap this world might try to throw at you, even if it is God's plan for you to go through hardships, oh my goodness, he is always there to confide in when it seems too hard. And when you come to Him, its like going from a place where lightning strikes and thunder roars to a place where all you hear is the breeze and birds chirping.
He is the ultimate encourager too. I find it flattering when he said in the Bible that He would never put us through anything that He didn't think we could handle, and he gives me some really tough stuff to deal with. That's a huge compliment. I mean seriously, it like the day that your parents hand you the keys to the car, times a million. That confidence that someone else believes that you can do it not only feels good, but makes you believe you can do it too.
I have felt a mountain of blessing over the past few months, even though these have been some of the hardest to go through, I can say without a doubt, Oh Lord, my God, how wonderful, beautiful, and glorious You are.
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