Morning Dedication.
Almighty God, as I cross the threshold of this day I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Thy care. Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me. Incline my heart to thy ways. Mould me wholly into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay. May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Thy praise. Let those around see me living by Thy Spirit, trampling the world underfoot, unconformed to lying vanities, transformed by a renewed mind, clad in the entire armour of God, shining as a never-dimmed light, showing holiness in all my doings. Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, hands. May I travel miry paths with a life pure from spot or stain. In needful transactions let my affection be in heaven, and my love soar upwards in flames of fire, my gaze fixed on unseen things, my eyes open to the emptiness, fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities. May I view all things in the mirror of eternity, waiting for the coming of my Lord, listening for the last trumpet call, hastening unto the new heaven and earth. Order this day all my communications according to Thy wisdom, and to the gain of mutual good. Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable.
May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day.
(Puritan Prayer)
*************
"resolved...
...to live with all my might, while i do live
...that i will live so, as i shall wish i had done when i come to die
...never to lose one moment of time, but improve it the most profitable way i possibly can."
(jonathan edwards)
it's a new week, my friends. go get 'em!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, "Would an idiot do that?" And if they would, I do not do that thing."
(c) dwight k schrute.
(i am so totally torn between doing what i should be doing, and doing what i am doing.)
pardon the office quote. i'm just not-cool enough that i need to borrow inspiration from a no-longer hilarious sitcom. ah, well, i'm nursing vacation brain and have been rendered nearly useless by the enormity of the to-do list i don't even want to write down. (and if you know me, that's saying something since i love a good checklist). so instead of finishing the unpacking from two trips ago, mowing the lawn, dealing with my huge tomato plants and pumpkin vines that are on the cusp of taking over broad ripple itself, instead of finalizing my weekend plans in "michigan's great southwest," instead of making some long-overdue phone calls and dragging myself to the gym, i'm sipping hours-old coffee, listening to some classic eva cassidy, and relishing my past 10 days. i am a blessed and lucky, lucky, lucky girl.
(see what just happened there, abby? i just showed you ALL that i have on my plate today...i am so busy. so important, and so very BUSY.)
the highlights, you ask? certainly. most funny moments? gladly.
northern michigan:
*the summary: 4 days, 3 nights of friends, food, euchre, floating in a lake, northwoods creatures (not really), and wine.
*the soundtrack: lutheran hymnal and the glee version of don't stop believin' (dare i mention the cd of our four years of marching band shows. oh i just did.)
*the highlights: "asking the tough questions" whilst floating on the edge of ford lake, playing euchre, and cooking out every night.
*the celebrity sightings: chuck, of "three-buck" fame. due to joe's impeccable eavesdropping technique and knowledge of famous winemakers (and the scandals surrounding them), we did meet the man whose name was ripped off and slapped on bottles of the cheapest wine available. (not the worst stuff out there, though.)
*most hilarious moment: i don't remember the whole story, so help me out, but it had to do with a box of cheerios and brainstorming why it's good to have more than one box? or something. i don't know, i was laughing too hard.
*best cupcake: some neon-frosted deals from a bakery in TC. 6 out of 10
*beautiful views: the tasting room at two lads winery overlooking lake michigan and old mission peninsula vineyards
*best boating experience" NOT getting tossed from the tube, but paying dearly for the ride the next day regardless.
*life lesson learned: though it needs some tweaking, there is definite promise for a pancake-fried-peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.
southern california:
*the summary: college roommates and their cool husbands, awesome sister-of-roommate, adorable baby, and i load up a filthy rented white minivan to take the mountains of so-cal and san diego by storm. mission accomplished.
*the soundtrack: i don't even remember. too much good conversation going on in the backseat.
*the highlight: hiking up two mountains. (mountains to this midwestern plains girl), waiting for HOURS to get to the beach on one of the ickier beach days of the summer. good times in the fox van, once again. benefitting from becca and nate's gracious hospitality as 4 guests descended upon their home, took up residence, and apparently wreaked havoc on their already-sensitive plumbing system. (yikes, and i left just in time.)
*best cupcake: strawberry from the heavenly cupcake. it's in the running for best cupcake of the summer.
*beautiful views: atop castle rock, overlooking big bear lake. the hike up reminded me of why i need to lose 10lbs and stick to my running routine.
*best boating experience: tour of san diego harbor aboard the hornblower family's cruise ship
*life lesson learned: i would like to, someday have a memorial built in my honor. but if that doesn't happen, and if i die within the next 5 years, kevin triemstra has agreed to tatoo my name and likeness on his arm. so that'll be fine.
i could go on for hours about the fun had and memories made with these, some of my best friends, over the past 10 days. but laundry and piano lessons call. and i hear the siren sound of l.a. fitness. "come back," it calls," and pay penance for the reeses peanut butter cups and sun chips, the steak and tortilla chips, the sweet corn and hamburgers."
life goes on, does it not?
as beautiful as the midnight indianapolis skyline appeared last night on my drive home, as glorious as it was to sleep on my (favorite of two) bed(s) last night, as much as i love indianapolis...i am so glad to have had the chance to see friends, to spend time with them and reconnect, not only remembering the times and places that brought us together, but also to develop our friendships more, reinforcing the connections we share, and making new memories that we will re-live down the road, to be recalled with a smile and counted among the many many blessings bestowed on us by the god we love and share.
speaking of friends, and continuing the theme of run-on sentences: this weekend promises to be another good one, beginning with a roadtrip back home with my oldest friend, and ending with some beachtime with new ones. i'm hitting the road once more, squeezing just a little more juice out of july, totally undeserving of the freedom i've had to connect with others this summer, and surprised by so many of the joys that are coming to characterize this season of my life.
happy summer :)
(i am so totally torn between doing what i should be doing, and doing what i am doing.)
pardon the office quote. i'm just not-cool enough that i need to borrow inspiration from a no-longer hilarious sitcom. ah, well, i'm nursing vacation brain and have been rendered nearly useless by the enormity of the to-do list i don't even want to write down. (and if you know me, that's saying something since i love a good checklist). so instead of finishing the unpacking from two trips ago, mowing the lawn, dealing with my huge tomato plants and pumpkin vines that are on the cusp of taking over broad ripple itself, instead of finalizing my weekend plans in "michigan's great southwest," instead of making some long-overdue phone calls and dragging myself to the gym, i'm sipping hours-old coffee, listening to some classic eva cassidy, and relishing my past 10 days. i am a blessed and lucky, lucky, lucky girl.
(see what just happened there, abby? i just showed you ALL that i have on my plate today...i am so busy. so important, and so very BUSY.)
the highlights, you ask? certainly. most funny moments? gladly.
northern michigan:
*the summary: 4 days, 3 nights of friends, food, euchre, floating in a lake, northwoods creatures (not really), and wine.
*the soundtrack: lutheran hymnal and the glee version of don't stop believin' (dare i mention the cd of our four years of marching band shows. oh i just did.)
*the highlights: "asking the tough questions" whilst floating on the edge of ford lake, playing euchre, and cooking out every night.
*the celebrity sightings: chuck, of "three-buck" fame. due to joe's impeccable eavesdropping technique and knowledge of famous winemakers (and the scandals surrounding them), we did meet the man whose name was ripped off and slapped on bottles of the cheapest wine available. (not the worst stuff out there, though.)
*most hilarious moment: i don't remember the whole story, so help me out, but it had to do with a box of cheerios and brainstorming why it's good to have more than one box? or something. i don't know, i was laughing too hard.
*best cupcake: some neon-frosted deals from a bakery in TC. 6 out of 10
*beautiful views: the tasting room at two lads winery overlooking lake michigan and old mission peninsula vineyards
*best boating experience" NOT getting tossed from the tube, but paying dearly for the ride the next day regardless.
*life lesson learned: though it needs some tweaking, there is definite promise for a pancake-fried-peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.
southern california:
*the summary: college roommates and their cool husbands, awesome sister-of-roommate, adorable baby, and i load up a filthy rented white minivan to take the mountains of so-cal and san diego by storm. mission accomplished.
*the soundtrack: i don't even remember. too much good conversation going on in the backseat.
*the highlight: hiking up two mountains. (mountains to this midwestern plains girl), waiting for HOURS to get to the beach on one of the ickier beach days of the summer. good times in the fox van, once again. benefitting from becca and nate's gracious hospitality as 4 guests descended upon their home, took up residence, and apparently wreaked havoc on their already-sensitive plumbing system. (yikes, and i left just in time.)
*best cupcake: strawberry from the heavenly cupcake. it's in the running for best cupcake of the summer.
*beautiful views: atop castle rock, overlooking big bear lake. the hike up reminded me of why i need to lose 10lbs and stick to my running routine.
*best boating experience: tour of san diego harbor aboard the hornblower family's cruise ship
*life lesson learned: i would like to, someday have a memorial built in my honor. but if that doesn't happen, and if i die within the next 5 years, kevin triemstra has agreed to tatoo my name and likeness on his arm. so that'll be fine.
i could go on for hours about the fun had and memories made with these, some of my best friends, over the past 10 days. but laundry and piano lessons call. and i hear the siren sound of l.a. fitness. "come back," it calls," and pay penance for the reeses peanut butter cups and sun chips, the steak and tortilla chips, the sweet corn and hamburgers."
life goes on, does it not?
as beautiful as the midnight indianapolis skyline appeared last night on my drive home, as glorious as it was to sleep on my (favorite of two) bed(s) last night, as much as i love indianapolis...i am so glad to have had the chance to see friends, to spend time with them and reconnect, not only remembering the times and places that brought us together, but also to develop our friendships more, reinforcing the connections we share, and making new memories that we will re-live down the road, to be recalled with a smile and counted among the many many blessings bestowed on us by the god we love and share.
speaking of friends, and continuing the theme of run-on sentences: this weekend promises to be another good one, beginning with a roadtrip back home with my oldest friend, and ending with some beachtime with new ones. i'm hitting the road once more, squeezing just a little more juice out of july, totally undeserving of the freedom i've had to connect with others this summer, and surprised by so many of the joys that are coming to characterize this season of my life.
happy summer :)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Day 2
You're riveted, I'm sure. Anxiously awaiting my new new thing of the day.
Well today, my friends, began as most of my summer days in Indy do...sleep in, make coffee, toast an Englsih muffin, read, take a look around the garden (which has produced all of SIX green beans thus far. SIX. i will not be deterred.), ran some errands, and then....
THEN.
i went to borders and read an entire book THERE, without buying it. i just found a nice chair by the window and read the whole book. "skinny bitch." i was intrigued but upon thumbing through the pages, i realized it was raunchy enough that i didn't want to actually support the authors. it also had quite a left-wing agenda and incredibly crass language. but i wanted to read it, and so i did. cost me a couple hours and nothing else. i will be doing this more often.
"go to the library, libby," you may say.
fair enough, though...i don't know about you, but books always look so much more appealing at the bookstore. so there you have it. day two.
also, i went to play tennis with a friend and when i returned to my car, there was a note on my windshield: "on the off chance you want to play some tennis, or that we have something in common...kendall 317-690-xxxx) i am not the kind of girl to whom that kind of thing happens (in 9th grade robert clark did put a note in my locker, asking me out. when he asked if i found it, i claimed that i had not. you know...locker neighbors shouldn't go out. makes things too complicated.) random men should not leave notes such as these on cars. kendall, i'm sure you're a nice guy. i think i even know who you are, since you were the only adult male playing tennis alone. next time, introduce yourself.
ugh. men. what to do?
in other news, i am on a total whose line is it anyway kick, and i gotta get caught up on my 7 recorded episodes before my roommates get sick of me clogging up the dvr memory.
summer priorities, people.
Well today, my friends, began as most of my summer days in Indy do...sleep in, make coffee, toast an Englsih muffin, read, take a look around the garden (which has produced all of SIX green beans thus far. SIX. i will not be deterred.), ran some errands, and then....
THEN.
i went to borders and read an entire book THERE, without buying it. i just found a nice chair by the window and read the whole book. "skinny bitch." i was intrigued but upon thumbing through the pages, i realized it was raunchy enough that i didn't want to actually support the authors. it also had quite a left-wing agenda and incredibly crass language. but i wanted to read it, and so i did. cost me a couple hours and nothing else. i will be doing this more often.
"go to the library, libby," you may say.
fair enough, though...i don't know about you, but books always look so much more appealing at the bookstore. so there you have it. day two.
also, i went to play tennis with a friend and when i returned to my car, there was a note on my windshield: "on the off chance you want to play some tennis, or that we have something in common...kendall 317-690-xxxx) i am not the kind of girl to whom that kind of thing happens (in 9th grade robert clark did put a note in my locker, asking me out. when he asked if i found it, i claimed that i had not. you know...locker neighbors shouldn't go out. makes things too complicated.) random men should not leave notes such as these on cars. kendall, i'm sure you're a nice guy. i think i even know who you are, since you were the only adult male playing tennis alone. next time, introduce yourself.
ugh. men. what to do?
in other news, i am on a total whose line is it anyway kick, and i gotta get caught up on my 7 recorded episodes before my roommates get sick of me clogging up the dvr memory.
summer priorities, people.
Monday, July 5, 2010
weeee're back!
well, i'm back. and on a mission:
to use the remaining month-plus left of summer to try something new each and every day.
today: tubing down sugar creek.
i'm also going to watch old movies, read more books, try to cook, take some day trips, maybe see a movie alone (i've always wanted to!), dance some salsa, and oh so much more.
stay tuned.
to use the remaining month-plus left of summer to try something new each and every day.
today: tubing down sugar creek.
i'm also going to watch old movies, read more books, try to cook, take some day trips, maybe see a movie alone (i've always wanted to!), dance some salsa, and oh so much more.
stay tuned.
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