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:: Saturday, April 30, 2005 ::
Hello,
it's been a bit since I've written, but that's okay. I've got a picture of the crocheted blanket/afghan I finally finished that matches my layette set. I'd already finished the layette and left it at home.
I think I'm on the longest run I've ever had with reading the Bible every day. I started with Ecclesiastes, which is a fascinating book. I really liked it. Now I'm going through James, tomorrow will be the last day of that. I'm not sure what book I'll do next. Something that really caught my attention in James was the verse (James 4:4) that says that if you're friends with the world, it is hatred towards God, and that anyone who chooses to be a friend to the world becomes an enemy to God. There are many fine lines in Scripture and this is one of the places where not only is the line fine, but where the heck is it?? We're supposed to love the people in the world, but not be of the world or like the world itself... I kinda understand about being an enemy to God. More like being on the other side...like working against Him. But I've never understood where the line is between being in the world, being content, and enjoying life, and being friends with the world. Because to be honest, overall I love life. I'm one of those people who lives more in the moment, not worrying about tomorrow (although not to the point of not having a basic plan for the future), and I try and stay on the bright side. A generally realistic optimist, I guess. :) Remember in Matthew 6:34--don't worry about tomorrow, it will take care of itself, each day has enough troubles of its own. And I think that basically I am content with my life. Sure, I'll be raising a baby alone because my husband is in Korea, but I'm living for free with my parents (until they decide if they're charging rent)! Sure he's in Korea, but it's better than Iraq! Sure I'll be like a single mom, but I've got one of the most experienced baby-raisers I can think of in the next room who's thrilled to be a grandma. I've got a room full of stuff given to me at a baby shower, and a nursery/bedroom that has (almost too much) quality furnishings and decor for far less money than most nurseries. We're to be content, and to enjoy life. That's said many times in the Bible. So how do you enjoy life, AND not be too into the world? Why does God give us so many material things if you're not supposed to have them? Many people enjoy surrounding themselves with nice things. Is that wrong, as long as you don't make them more important than God? Why does God bless people profusely if He doesn't want people to enjoy their time on earth? I know He says we're supposed to give to others out of our abundance, and that's part of the reason He gives things to us. But seriously, we're supposed to enjoy life here on earth...so how the heck do we do that without being friends with it? We're not supposed to be enemies to the world! I mean, I know we're persecuted and all, but that doesn't mean we are enemies to the world, does it? The nearest I can figure is, keep God above your material possessions and desires, and follow whatever plan He has for your life, not what you want to happen. But that still doesn't answer the question of why we're supposed to give all our stuff to the poor. Is the point just to be willing to get rid of it? The verse before the one about not worrying about tomorrow, Matthew 6:33 says, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and...da da...all these things will be added to you. He's telling us He's going to give us material junk. The verses before this one talks about Him clothing the lilies of the field, and how He knows we need (and want) all these things that the pagans run after. (So stop running after 'em, you pagan! Yes, you! just kidding.. :)) Therefore...does it all just go back to keeping God on top? Fine lines, people, fine lines...but at least I can say that if that's is the way it is, especially since I've been reading my Bible everyday, then it is well with my soul. :) For the moment. Sigh. (I won't even get into the 'I don't do what I want to do, and what I don't want to do I do' passage.)
A car alarm just went off outside...awesome. It was from thunder. It's raining pretty hard. Today is Saturday, and in a nearby town some festival was happening that Andrew was supposed (required) to attend. I was going to go too, but there's no point now. It's probably been canceled. Andrew called and told me not to go over there, because it's been delayed, and we'll find out if he has to do anything today or if he's free to do stuff with me. As far as I know, they're still holding him hostage. Hopefully they're keeping them in their rooms, cause Andrew said he's hoping to get all his packing done before he goes out for field training next week...Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday he'll be out somewhere doing something and I won't see him. In the meantime, I'm still keeping busy. Very nice maid on my floor. Friendly, but not overly so. A black lady. Overall, I like black people. They've got personality. I'm not racist, but it's hard not to be in some states in the South. And it's not the white people that make you racist, I'm sorry to say. It's not the old attitudes of the rednecks or what-have-you that have been passed down from the plantation owners and all. It's the black people. All that talk about welfare leaches and people with no respect for themselves, it is, in general, quite deserved. And mind you, I did not feel this way at all until I lived in central Virginia, but your eyes are opened when you live right on top of it. I've known many, many respectable, friendly black people, with ambition and drive and whatever makes America great. But there are so many that are what make America poor, and it's as a whole their own fault. And I would have never believed it until I lived in VA. It seems unjustly rude and mean to say things like that about them, but sadly it's true. But I can also honestly say I am not racist at all towards them. It's not racism by a long shot. I've seen Mexicans (excuse me...Latinos) that I'd be ashamed of. And plenty of white people too. But don't get me wrong--I don't hate them. I'm sad for them. God says to love everyone, and of course I have issues with that just like everyone else--but if we were to look at each other in the face I wouldn't be mean to them. (I wouldn't be mean to their back either, if you were wondering.) Of course if they're threatening my life or trying to harm me in another way, that's a different story!
Moving on...here's that picture of the afghan.
And...that's a picture of a trench coat (or pea coat, or whatever length it officially is)--it's slightly wrinkled around the bottom, but oh well--that took me about 2 years to finally finish. I would work on it every few months or so but never get around to actually finishing it. Until now! :) I got the fabric for it about the same time I got Moby, my love-him-or-hate-him Yorkie. Well, he is for some people, anyway. I love him, of course, and most of the people in the house like him alright, but he does have his faults. And his unexplainable bad deeds. But don't most dogs do bad things sometimes? Here's a pic of him taken en route to Christmas '04 in CO...the only pic I can find of right now.
I also have pics from my wedding, which was in my in-laws' front yard in Virginia. They have a lovely old house that was built around the time Jackson was president, I think. I was looking through all the pics on Andrew's computer, and there's a ton! Pics of me when I thought I was showing...silly me. :)
Dad taking me down the 'aisle', obviously...doesn't he look like he's about to cry? How sweet... On the left is my father-in-law. It was his idea to wear the shirts that Dad and him are wearing, the style that has embroidery down the front. I liked it a lot, because I wanted the wedding to be kinda informal.
Notice the 'guest of honor', 'President' Bush. The front yard was basically open and flat under these huge trees, which are actually in the historical register. Except for this small bush in the middle that we can't exactly uproot for the ceremony. So we put the chairs around it and stuck a sign on it saying 'President Bush'. My idea...hehe.
On the right is Mom... sitting down is Daniel, my only brother, who later was labeled 'suicidal' for picking up a rock the size of his head (or so I heard) and then holding it above his head, as well as climbing up the side of the arch and a few other things. Well I guess he was only 2 or 3, but still. :)
Speaking of the arch, that was also decorated the morning of the ceremony (by the way, the ceremony was supposed to start at 11am), by yours truly. You'll see it in the next pic.
Oh, before I forget, also on the right in the photo is my father's mother, my grandmother who has always insisted on being called Frankie. One of her daughters, my aunt Laurie, I believe took these pictures, and her other daughter was sitting behind Mom. My mom's parents couldn't come because of health reasons, and my father's father (who's divorced from Frankie) was in Idaho being a volunteer forest fire fighter, or a driver of a bus for the fighters, or some such.
In the thick of it. Again, notice my veil safety-pinned together on the back of my head...I hadn't wanted my face to be covered so only bought a single-layered veil and superglued it to my tiara. But Dad insisted I have a veil over my face, so there I am. It's funny what happens on a day like that...Dad also insisted I stay far far away from the window I was trying to peek out of, lest my future hubby glimpse me.
Speaking of which, check out Andrew's hair!! I much prefer the close-cut look the Army makes him maintain...
There's all the wedding party, minus a temperamental flower girl (Sammy) and plus the pianist, who I've since heard was high on that day, but I don't know if that was true or not. It would explain why it took so terribly long for him to start playing again after the wedding was over, so we could walk back down the aisle as 'husband and wife', but when he did play, he didn't play badly, so I don't know. Maybe he was just in his own little world?
(Last time using this word, I think) Notice the beautiful bouquets, which were very inexpensively purchased the day of, at the local farmers market. Freaking everyone else out, my mom-in-law (who's the best mom-in-law anyone could ever ask for) and I went down an hour or two before the ceremony, bought what looked nice, came home and made some bouquets by arranging them a bit and then tying a ribbon around them. Certain people will remember feeling stressed at this time because I also took a shower and had my hair in a towel while I was arranging them. My aunt (mom's sis) blow-dried my hair and I did my makeup, and while everything was done somewhat at the last minute (heck, the whole wedding was at the last minute...we put it together in 3 weeks or so), it was still ready on time. Why it didn't start on time wasn't my fault. I still don't know why it didn't!
Here's my gorgeous cake, which I was lucky to get with a week's notice to the baker.
We used the leftover rose petals that didn't fit in the flower girl's baskets and a little bear figurine glued onto a little clear plastic box. I think it turned out quite well...the icing flowers weren't the type I was hoping for (I like the type with 5 little petals), but when you give the decorator a week's notice, what do you expect? I was probably lucky to get the mile-a-minute 'squeeze and lift' drop flowers.
This picture is of the California coast nearby to where we lived in Monterey. I think I actually took this out of the side window while Andrew was driving. Not bad, eh? Where we lived in Monterey was the first place we'd lived alone as a couple since we were married. It was at least a year and a half into our marriage. It was also the happiest I can remember us being. Coincidence? :)
Since hardly anyone got to see my lovely house in Monterey (which was testament to the fact that God has blessed me and my hubby with material things, as is the amount of baby things I have...and we still have a few thousand in the bank...we're seriously considering a digital SLR camera, the type with removable lenses, since we both enjoy photography), here is a picture of my living room.
The acquiring of the couches was a major headache....we went to a place where you choose the fabric and the style of couch and they custom make it for you. It took eons to get them (about 3 months or so) because we kept going back to pick different fabrics, because every time we picked a fabric, we'd find out later it was discontinued. So eventually the store sent out to the companies for brand-new swatch books, because they were also pretty frustrated and embarrassed at our trouble. Andrew wanted to go elsewhere with our business, but I persevered, and I'm glad I did. We got a really good deal in the end, they let us upgrade our couch style and fabric quality, and I got a chaise lounge instead of a loveseat, for the same price we started out with. I think we paid $1200, maybe a hundred or so more, for them both. Anyway, you can't really see in the pictures, but they've got bronzey metallic-like floral fabric, and an olivey green corduroy-like fabric, and striped pillows to match. I designed the color scheme. The wood around the frame is almost a perfect match to our coffee and end tables, and has carvings in it. The rug we also got at that store, it was on closeout and matched quite well I think. Another cool thing was that the curtains were an almost perfect match, although I'd bought them long before. One of the coolest things was how well it matched the recliner you see in the front of the pic...that's a Barcalounger, a very good brand of chair, that is nearly new from what we can tell. We got it at a thrift store for $100. We figure, by looking around online, that it would cost about $1000 new. By the way, that hairy thing on the couch is Moby, in case you were wondering. :)
Here's a better pic of the chaise and fabrics etc. (and also to rub it in how well off we are at 20...how well off were you at 20? Hmm? just kidding...:) ).
One thing that thrills me about God and my house is that all the things you see in the pic I got at discounted prices...thrift stores, Ross, or by just sticking it out. So it didn't cost near as much as it could have to have such a nice looking house. And yes, I'm still happy to be living in one small room in my parents' house instead of living in Monterey, CA! God gave me all that stuff and now He's temporarily taken it away. And I'm still content. In fact, I almost miss being at the house. I am happy to be here seeing my husband (nearly) every day, and I never get bored, but I'm also ready to move on! At least to my in-laws in Virginia, where we're going for Andrew's leave before he goes to Korea (sniff). To keep myself from getting bored I streaked my hair pink again. Andrew liked it. :)
Well, you all better be happy with the massive entry I just finished typing, it took me all morning. I could have been crocheting, or knitting a baby-sized suede Ugg bootie! :) And if there's any weird grammatical or continuity issues, well sue me, because I've been working on this blog for hours, and I couldn't just let my past work lie...I previewed and added things and rewrote sections a jillion times and I'm not about to sit here another 15 minutes to reread the darn thing as a whole. :)
:: Brinna 8:13 AM [+] ::
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