Friday, November 21, 2008

Small Town or Big City?

For some reason this week I have been reminded again of the innumerable differences between a small town and big city. Even though I have lived in the city for 2 1/2 years now, I'm just not a city girl. And I'm quite convinced that even if I were to spend the rest of my life here, I would likely never truly become one. Not that there's anything wrong with being a city girl! I mean, truly, I wish I had a little more of it in me at times.

Let me give you a few examples of my city life incompetence. For starters, I drive this:


Our truck is wonderful for camping adventures, hauling wood, extra storage, etc. It is not all that wonderful, however, for parking in parking garages. Or spots designed specifically for compact cars. Or for merging. Or backing up. You get my point. And while I pride myself on being one of very few females I know here who drive trucks, most days I think something like this would be preferable:

Secondly, there's the whole locking doors thing. I'm still not used to that. When I suggested to Dan the other day that maybe we wouldn't have to lock up every time we walk in or out of our home, he looked at me like a crazy person! I just miss getting home and walking right on in the door without having to fumble through 10 different keys. I understand the point (trust me Mom, I lock everything), but I'm just saying...I miss the days when I used to leave the keys in my ignition.

Now here's something I love about living in a city - ACCESS. I have access to pretty much anything I could conceivably want or need, at pretty much any time I happen to have a hankerin (that's a word here). I have tried some rather exotic recipes over the past couple of years simply because I can find all sorts of crazy stuff at the grocery store. My small-town grocery store in Maysville - Dungy's Supermarket - didn't tend to carry much in the ethnic department. Unless you count tortillas.

On the flip side, I really miss the personal touch when I do go shopping. The other day I fought with a machine just to try and return a silly DVD. As I stood there and waited on technology, I thought to myself - if I had rented this from Dungy's, I would have just walked in, said hello to the clerk (who's first name I would know), they would have thanked me by name and asked how my Mom was doing. Or my cat. And they probably would have remembered which movie it was that I had rented.

Another reason I just don't think I'll ever be a city girl: the other day my coworker sought me out to tell me there was a dead possum outside. He was supposed to take care of it - and asked me how I would do it. And I actually gave him advice on how I would dispose of a dead possum.

Maybe next week a co-worker will ask me where I find such cute, trendy shoes...not likely. Sigh.

So what about you? Do you prefer a small town or a big city? And please, let me know if you have any pointers for this poor country girl. Please.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Where Does the Time Go?

This past week just disappeared. Dan went to Iowa last weekend for a friend's wedding up in South Dakota and got to see all sorts of dear friends from college. I was only a little bit jealous that he got to go and I stayed here, but I tried to make the most of it. That is until I came down with this dang cold. I hate colds. I woke up last Sunday feeling like I'd been run over by a truck. So I stayed home, curled up on the couch, and read nearly all day.

Dan got home Sunday night, but Monday I felt worse than the day before and decided I just couldn't handle a day at the office. Day #2 at home on the couch with a book. Not too shabby. What did I read, you might ask? This delightful book:

It's a memoir written about her spiritual journey - from her Jewish upbringing split between her non-practicing Jewish father and lapsed Baptist mother (who divorced early on), through her decision to become an orthodox Jew, and eventually to Christ drawing her to himself in very unconvential ways. She writes about the beauty of litergy and religious calendars and the ways in which she is able to draw from her Jewish heritage as she begins her new life as a Christian. It's a beautiful book, and not only did it remind me that Christianity looks different on different people, it also challenged me to think about my faith intellectually - something I've rarely been challenged to do since college.

Thanks for loaning me the book, Kelsey!

Just a few thoughts for this morning and a little catch up from last week. I'll try and get back on track this week - now if I could just shake this dumb cold.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

I Love Tennessee

I'm still wrestling with my thoughts today, but thought I'd throw up a post that was a little on the lighter side today. I just walked to the mailbox a little while ago and was struck once again by how much I love Tennessee. It is absolutely GORGEOUS here this time of year, and the best part is, it will probably stay this way (or at least above freezing) for quite some time.
Did I mention I walked to the mailbox...in jeans & a t-shirt? Without a jacket? Or a parka?

I'm not sure, but my guess is that it's not quite this warm back in Iowa. Or even Missouri for that matter. And while I love my midwest home and will brag about my sturdy roots to anyone who asks, I'll be honest...I don't miss the 5 months of hibernation.

Here's a bit of a visual for comparison:
Iowa


Tennessee

Okay, fine...so the Iowa picture probably isn't from November. But it could have been! I'm just saying - it's really nice here. And I like nice weather.

Hope the weather is nice wherever you are today!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I'm Just Not Sure

I'm just not sure what to think today. I'm not sure what to feel. I am disappointed, confused, a bit fearful...I'm a whole modge-podge of emotions, really. I share many of Jenny's sentiments that she shared this morning. I know that God is the same today as He was yesterday and that His hand was in this election just as much as it was in the past election that went the way I wanted it to go, but the fleshy part of me has a hard time accepting that as comfort (if I'm really honest).

I was, however, both convicted & comforted as I read Beth Moore's blog this morning. My Mom also encouraged me in this way, reminding me of how much hate has been spewed towards Bush by those like the Hollywood elite. I do not want to spend the next 4 years harboring bitterness towards a man that I believe I am called to respect. For the past 8 years, republicans have grown weary of liberals who refuse to "reach across the aisle" and play in the sandbox with the rest of us. Now it's our turn to act like adults and do our part to continue making this great nation even greater by learning to work together and rising above the example that has been set for us. More importantly, as Christians we are called to both love our neighbors (even if they voted for the other ticket) and submit to the authority God sets up - and I'm pretty sure that includes our president.

Also, there was a victory last night for conservative Christians - Proposition 8 in California passed! Praise the Lord there are still plenty of people (even in the liberal state of Cali) who believe in the sanctity of marriage between a man & woman.

I have a lot of other thoughts running through my head right now, and I have a feeling it will take awhile to sort them all out. But for now, I'll leave you with a quote my Dad sent me today as well as a verse to chew on. How grateful I am that I am first and foremost a citizen of an ETERNAL Kingdom and the daughter of a King who will reign with justice & righteousness forever!

"Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary." ~Isaiah 8:12-14a

"We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times." ~George Washington

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Only a Few Hours Left...

Get out and vote!

I am ever-so thankful today for the freedoms that we have in this great nation. And I am even more thankful that I know Who holds our future - regardless of the outcome of this race.

"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders." Deuteronomy 33:12

Monday, November 3, 2008

John Piper's Heart in the 2008 Election

I'm not sure I completely agree with all of this, but it certainly was a good gut-check for me - particularly the last little bit of it. What do you think?

I already cast my vote last week during early voting, so now it's time to PRAY for this great nation and this pivitol election!