Glade, Goat Therapy, Growing up = Good, Go Dawgs.

A couple of highlights from this week!

Athens is beautiful! The best place in the world for running. 

- Marshall loves law school. He was overprepared for his first day of class--YESSssssss. At his current level of thoroughness, I don't think he's going to have to study for finals. Of course, he will anyway--because he's so thorough. Go Marshall!
- Dad and Nanny are both doing well and have no further issues after both having some medical issues this week-- relieved and glad they are recovering!
- There are some amazing churches in Athens. We LOVE the small town/small church feel. Now which one to choose. . . ? So many great people!
- Our apartment no longer smells like someone's wet chihuahua. Thank you, Glade!
- The Beamer got new tires! $$$$ And it needs some other repair. . .  $$$$$$$$$$$
- I got my student ID so that I can get a membership at Ramsey!!!!! They call it a "Student Dependent" card. I depend on Marshall for a lot of OTHER things, but currently I'm not actually a "dependent" in the usual sense of the word. . .HA! But I AM dependent on him for access to university facilities. While pulling out his wallet to pay for the card, Marshall told me this was "$20 out my pocket."

Growing up is a GOOD thing. 

What a concise depiction of how I've changed in the last 6 years! Based on my facial expression alone, not to mention my name is different. This contrast is overly significant to me--I think because it shows me that I am who I hoped I'd be, and I'm becoming who I want to be.

- Marshall's addicted to Pepperoncinis. Gross. Looks like it's a Pavlov-esque addiction, because he said he's had them every day while he's studying, and right now he can't even focus on studying he's craving them so bad. Since these roles will be reversed eventually, is it my job to go to the store to pick up what he's craving?
- A Pixie le gusta comer. [Pixie likes to eat] He's making his debut in my classes this week in a powerpoint where I introduce how to talk about things my students like to do. Specifically, Pixie likes to eat raspberries and popcorn. And he likes Marshall, who feeds him.

 - There's another young person at JCCHS!! One of the counselors is my age and just started at JCCHS too-- and she lives right near us in Athens! We met up after school to go on a walk one evening this week. And we found this (below). Apparently, UGA's kudzu-infested areas are undergoing goat therapy.

"Prescribed Grazing"

I'm going to plant some kudzu on Tate's roof so UGA will be forced to start its own Goats on the Roof. Didn't see any of the goats, though.

We are loving our adventures in Athens!! Life is good, beautiful, sunny, and in a wi-fi cloud here. We have everything we could ever need!

First full week in Athens

We're here now! Marshall finished his research job at C21U and coaching at Camp

I came one day and finally met his boss
whom he's worked with for 2 years! 

 I said goodbye to camp, and we said goodbye to Atlanta

And I started with new teacher orientation and preplanning at my new school on August 5-8. Kids came August 9. And this past week was my first full week of school with students.

The "New Gym" and tons of Panthers
at Jackson County High School

Today will be us finishing up getting settled. If we were keeping a list of "worst weeks ever", last week is probably on that list for both of us because of moving. My parents helped a SO much with getting our furniture moved on Thursday a week ago; we just had a lot of "stuff" to sort through and decide what would fit at our new place and what our parents would graciously store for a few years :)

First week of school was "fine" . . . which was usually my answer to my mom when I was in high school too. Nothing extraordinarily good or extraordinarily bad. The kids are really respectful, responsive to correction, and interested in learning Spanish, and the parents seem great too. My highlight was playing the girls' varsity volleyball team with a few other teachers after school on Wednesday (in the new gym!). Marshall came up to bring my clothes, and he got roped into playing too--it was a lot of fun. I'm happy for any opportunity to get to know other teachers! Least favorite thing this week was my Smart Board--because it rarely works for one reason or another.

Marshall had Orientation for law school yesterday and Thursday. I am so excited for him as it seems like UGA Law sets the tone for students to work hard, have a positive experience, and develop good relationships while they're here. He loved the speaker they had yesterday, who cast a vision for them to use practicing law to serve others--not to serve themselves. It looks like it is going to be a challenging semester, but it also seems like he is really really prepared for what's ahead. He's so excited to finally begin heading towards what he really wants to do someday.

We are both a little apprehensive about how our new environments will change us, but I think we are both well prepared for what we will be doing this year. We are looking forward to getting to know people and settling into our routine! Marshall has one more day of orientation and then his first day of classes on Tuesday.

We miss friends/family/co-workers in Atlanta! I've really appreciated people letting me know they're thinking/praying for me this week :)

College Town Bound!

Marshall and I are getting more and more thrilled about this fall--we are so excited. I think we've told most of our family by this point, but WE'RE MOVING TO ATHENS!!! Marshall is starting Law School at UGA, and I am blessed to have gotten a job teaching Spanish at Jackson County Comprehensive High School, around 30 mins from Athens! It's so clear now why we  weren't supposed to get any of the houses we put offers on this spring. :) Thank God!!

A few of my bucket-list items for the fall:
* Athens Half Marathon (training with Kat--we'll be living ~10 min. walk from her in family/grad. housing!)  
and training on the UGA IM Fields, which are also super close to where we'll live!
* Kayaking on the Oconee River
* Studying/Paper-grading dates at 2 Story Coffeehouse!
* Georgia Football!

Today I've been going through my flashdrive from my student-teaching in college, and I found some awesome stuff--things I've completely forgotten! It's full of ideas, best-practices, and lesson plans from all the teachers/students/professors/fellow-students I worked with during my senior year of college! But my biggest takeaway is a confidence-builder from one of the weekly "journal entries" we had to write: 

I am very tired at the end of this week, because in addition to being observed, applying to TFA, going to the job fair, and teaching/planning full time, I also planned my friend’s bachelorette weekend and had two lengthy conference calls (along with time spent preparing for those) for my part-time job.

SO glad I'll be able to only focus on teaching this fall!! Hopefully, that semester prepared me for anything/everything from an exhaustion standpoint. I can't wait for my teaching adventure that's only a few weeks away now!! 

Parasites. . . gross.

PS (pre-script)- We didn't get that house we put an offer on. Still searching! Sorry for not updating people who read my last post! :)

People like to write inspirational things about love and ​marriage because people also like to read inspirational things about love and marriage. I'm not big on inspiration. . . it doesn't usually lead to change. This post is about hope--which changes everything. 

​This morning, the conflict was about cleaning (note--I did get Marshall's permission to post this :) ). On the spectrum of neat freak to messy, neither of us is an extreme, but I do lean towards neat freak, and Marshall would lean towards messy. We both left the conversation frustrated. 

There are a couple of things that led to resolution on my end: 1) Asking myself, "What's it like to be married to me?" Before we got married, a book I saw with that question as the title inspired me to ask myself that. Which made me realize "Sure, I can be fun to be around, but I'm also pretty hard on myself and pretty demanding of myself." That's right--I called it: I can be pretty demanding and pretty hard on Marshall. But we also have fun together. It's a big step in how I've always thought, for me to even realize that my harshness itself is sin--it's not justified just because I'm convinced I'm right and the other person is wrong. 

The second thing that led to resolution for me was remembering the reality portrayed in Romans 5:8- "But God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." CS Lewis elaborates on this idea so well in The Four Loves: 

God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that he may love and perfect them. . . If I may dare the biological image, God is a 'host' who deliberately creates His own parasites; causes us to be that we may exploit and 'take advantage of' Him. Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves.

Marshall and I are "parasites" to each other sometimes--hurting and insulting each other. But what brings my heart to repentance and forgiveness is seeing the great love of our God. He needed nothing, but gave me life so that he could love me--knowing that I could never return that love to the degree he's given it to me. And that's the love described by Romans 5:8-- that when I had done nothing to deserve God's love, when I didn't want his love and didn't know I needed his love in order to be saved, he gave his life for me. God's love for me starts with me at zero-- me meriting nothing. But he gives generously! How can I self-righteously condemn another person for not being "good enough" in whatever standard I hold, when I know that I can never ever be "good enough"--and that God loved me before I could even acknowledge that I don't  measure up? 

I'm able to forgive and forget, knowing we will probably keep having this argument, when I rest in the love God has given to me in Jesus and let that fuel loving the people around me. I find inexpressible joy in my hope in Christ! 

We made an offer on this crazy awesome house. The awesome part is that just last year, it was worth more than double what it is now, but now WE can afford it because it foreclosed. It's on a cul-de-sac, it's beautiful, in a great neighborhood, in a great location--so many things about it are perfect. The crazy part is that WE are trying to buy it. It's been on the market like 48 hours now, and it has around 20 offers. Because it's that awesome. It would be CRAZY if we get this house.

Our lender is awesome. So is our realtor. They've worked with us so much more than I would have expected this weekend, to help us have the best chance possible of getting this house. But when it comes down to it, we KNOW it will be an act of GOD if they choose OUR offer. Maybe they'll think we're cute and want us to have it? We'd be so much better in an interview than on paper.

I haven't been able to nap this afternoon even though I'm still tired from Passion, because my mind and heart are racing thinking about "OMG what if we get this house?! NO--don't get too excited, there's no way y'all will get it."

And the way I'm coping haha right now is remembering that, as they helped us meditate on at Passion, God does immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. Specifically, Paul gives thanks in Ephesians 3:20 "to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. . . " I've been able to chill out a little thinking about all the ways I've seen God do ABUNDANTLY MORE in my life than I ever could have known to ask. I've concluded that yes, we are asking for this house, and it would be MORE than we could have expected. But we've already seen God give abundantly through the amazing people we get to work with--our lender, realtor, and family--and HE himself, knowing him, is so much more than I ever could have asked or imagined. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose." So maybe the "good" he has for us is getting this house. Maybe it's not. I've seen him be faithful to this promise in ways I would have wanted and in ways I never could have imagined--so that's what I'm "resting" in, as I attempt to rest and catch up on sleep.

I mean watch the premier of Downton Abbey.

We'll find out about the house on THURSDAY!!

I/ know a place/ where the grass is really greenest

I got the chance to go to California recently for a conference, and Katy Perry is right: the grass really IS greener. Sprinklers galore.

Green grass-- a symbol of prosperity, of life as we wish it was. I've found Wesley Hill's book Washed and Waiting to be a captivating meditation (applicable to any sinner whose hope is in Jesus!) on the fact that life in this world isn't as we wish it was. It has helped me to find hope in the fact that there are things I long for that will never be satisfied in this world--but this world is not all that there is. Every person ever, should read his book!

Also this week, Marshall and I took an 84-hour tour of the southeast, celebrating Christmas and staying with family for less than 24 hours in like 5 or 6 cities. Which meant lots of time in the car, which for us means lots of time reading aloud. We read mostly from Randy Alcorn's Heaven, and it is filling me with anticipation for what comes next (everyone should also read this book!). Because what comes next for the sinner who knows and trusts Jesus IS a life that is better than we ever imagined it could be! Christ's birth--what we celebrate on Christmas--began the work that ends with everything sad becoming untrue. Everything wrong being righted. Every tear gone.

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" is my favorite Christmas carol; it's emotional for me to sing such an exciting song about something that really is THAT exciting to me:

Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

 

I bolded my favorite lines. . .  I love that, even though most of the time Christmas is about Santa, ipads, food, and family, there is still a time that we set aside to celebrate the great hope that Jesus offers to the world! 

 

The green grass thing came up this morning, when I was thinking about a Phil Wickham song, where he's imagining Heaven, saying, "I want to run on greener pastures/ I want to dance on higher hills. . ." It's beautiful imagery. I think that Katy Perry does express something universal: that we all want something better than what we have. Greener grass. But I look forward to something FAR better than being a "California Gurl": the hope of Heaven, made possible to me, a sinner, by Jesus Christ.

Love for the Shrugger [SPOILERS]

Someone evaluating my life  (I'm a little paranoid/perfectionistic) might tell me I should read more Christian books; I read a good number, but I also read a lot of completely secular fiction. I consistently find, though, that the stories in the books I read help me understand things in the Bible as they apply to my life. Like the illustration of a Christian's reaction to grace at the end of Jane Eyre: She receives a fortune, and immediately realizes that she wants more than anything to share it with the people she loves the most. [insert what Paul says in the introductions any of his letters] Or seeing the effects of a broken relationship between Creation and Creator in Frankenstein [Insert Romans 1]. Or understanding the pain, necessity, and gain of cutting off "sin that so easily entangles" (Heb. 12:1), illustrated in Between a Rock and a Hard Place. And so many others!

This morning at Perimeter, Randy mentioned the story of imprisonment and torture of a middle eastern pastor whom he had the opportunity to meet recently; it was a side point, but I barely heard anything else he said because I kept thinking about the horror of what he described and asking, Would I be willing to suffer that much for the Lord? and trying to find ways of getting around admitting, "Well, probably no."

I'm reading Atlas Shrugged and watching the rain, the Falcons, and my house plants--and the topic of suffering for something you love/believe came up in Atlas Shrugged. Francisco tells Dagny, "The measure of the hell you're able to endure is the measure of your love. The hell I couldn't bear to witness would be to see you being indifferent."

My first thought was, I'm not sure what measure of hell I am willing to endure out of love for the Lord; I remembered Revelation 3:16, "So, because you are lukewarm [indifferent], and neither hot nore cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." What I remembered right after that was, Jesus endured LITERAL hell out of love for me, to save me. "Greater love has no one than this: that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Clearly, Jesus' love for me is greater than I realize.

Maybe I did hear the rest of what Randy said, because his message from Romans 8:35-39 was that Christ loves me in spite of my lack of love for Him. ". . . While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). THAT truth is the small seed for the love I have for him now. Clearly it's a seed for something huge if people are willing to lose everything for His sake, as He did for us. I do see though that the more I look at Christ, the more I see his love for me, and the more my love for him grows. So I attempt to "look"at him often--by reading the Bible, talking about him, thinking about him, and finding glimpses of him in fiction books!