Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Fill in The Blank Friday (a little late)
1. One of my happiest moments ever was the happiness when Aaron and Amber and I surprised all my siblings yesterday by coming to visit for a week! It was so wonderful and I am so very happy to be with them right now!
2. Summer is wedding season and weddings are beautiful, because they are a picture of Christ and the church. It's so solemn and joyful all in one setting.
3. This summer has been crazy hot. The heat index every day for the past couple weeks has been above 100. But I'm enjoying the pool in our apartment complex!
4. My summer food of choice has been raspberries! They're so sweet and really good for you. I have been eating a lot of fruit this summer though, and recently I discovered that I liked honeydew melon. They're so good!
5. My summer uniform has been cotton dresses! Dresses are so feminine and they're so light and comfy in the hot weather.
6. If I could spend the entire summer in one location it would be Colorado Springs, Colorado. More specifically, Manitou Springs, Colorado. The weather is so lovely there! In the morning, the weather is cool and even though it might get hot during the day, it always cools off in the evening. You can be outside in the morning and be comfortable and you can eat dinner outside and it's lovely.
7. My summer anthem is "Planting Trees" by Andrew Peterson or "Magic Hour" by Andrew Peterson.
I'm sorry I was late, we were driving all day Friday to surprise my family and I didn't want to alert them that we were on the road!
Love,
Anna
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
One Thousand Gifts
31 my Mom's voice on the phone
32 soft kisses on my head from the man I love to wake me up
33 talking and playing dominoes til midnight with Pete
34 deep green sparkly wet dewy grass between your toes
35 raspberry flavoured green tea
36 goosebumps that appear when you're listening to classical music
37 hearing the Gospel again. It's never too much!
38 that happy feeling you have when you know something you've done will make someone else very happy
39 big boxes at the post office
40 Pike's Place Roast coffee smell everytime you open a cupboard
Love,
Anna
32 soft kisses on my head from the man I love to wake me up
33 talking and playing dominoes til midnight with Pete
34 deep green sparkly wet dewy grass between your toes
35 raspberry flavoured green tea
36 goosebumps that appear when you're listening to classical music
37 hearing the Gospel again. It's never too much!
38 that happy feeling you have when you know something you've done will make someone else very happy
39 big boxes at the post office
40 Pike's Place Roast coffee smell everytime you open a cupboard
Love,
Anna
Friday, July 15, 2011
Fill in The Blank Friday
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1. I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person) evening person for sure! But I do like to get up and get things done in the morning, that's when I'm more productive. I could just stay up really late too! Coffee helps with both of those things...
2. My favourite Pandora stations are none of them! I haven't listened to Pandora in a long time.
3. 3 of my "must-have" songs for a roadtrip playlist are songs by Needtobreathe, Owl City, Andrew Peterson and Lecrae. I know that's a pretty eclectic group of artists right there, but it's true! And I don't think I could pick three songs out of all of those, I could do with pretty much any song by those artists!
4. My favourite pattern is gingham and plaid.
5. My favourite perfume is Blue by Ralph Lauren. I haven't worn it in awhile though because Aaron really likes the P.S. I Love You scent from Bath and Body Works, so I've been wearing that most of the time!
6. Rules are not capable of saving you! Rules are there to show us that we can't follow them! We are going to fail no matter what without the grace of God. (Okay so translate rules into the Law and it makes sense.)
7. My most overused phrase or punctuation is "no worries!" I tend to say that quite a bit.
I hope you all have a great weekend!
Love,
Anna
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Fill in The Blank Friday
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1. My plans this summer include being outside every day! Our apartment has a swimming pool and there is a nice trail within walking distance, so I plan to take advantage of those things as much as possible. Also, trying to finish school this summer.
2. The best summer I ever had was the summer I went to Mississippi on a mission trip and then to the Summit in Colorado. I loved Summit so much I went back next summer! If I hadn't gotten married, I probably would've tried to be on staff there some year. I think the reason that is my favourite summer is because I believe I grew a LOT spiritually that year, and both the mission trip and Summit were a huge part of that growth.
3. Summer is the smell of sunscreen and burgers on the grill, chlorine in your hair, sunglasses on your face, the taste of lemonade, late nights, fireflies in the dusk, bare feet and favourite flip-flops, the smell of heat.
4. My favourite summer food is burgers on the grill. My dad makes the very best hamburgers ever! I miss them.
5. The best way to quench a summer thirst is with a limeade. It's the perfect combination of sweet and very sour and it is oh so summery! I think limeade is made from liquid sunshine.
6. My summer uniform consists of dresses and skirts. They're so feminine and also very light, so they're perfect to wear in the heat!
7. The best thing about summer is it reminds us to hope again. It's easy to feel depressed in the winter and wonder if summer is every going to come, but it does. I think God also is gracious to give us more hours of daylight in the summer to enjoy the season. We just can't squander them!
Love,
Anna
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Decline of our Society: Caylee Anthony vs. the unborn child
There are many words that have been used to describe the verdict from the Casey Anthony case. Two of the most popular are "injustice" and "outraged". A young, defenseless two-year-old girl goes missing in June and it wasn't until December that her remains were found. We all know she was killed and disposed of somehow. We want justice for those chubby cheeks and big happy eyes. It seemed like all of America was waiting, breathless, to hear the verdict. Would little Caylee get justice?
And somehow, America doesn't see the parallel to abortion. Every day, 3500 sweet, defenseless babies are killed. And what was the reason? Convenience. The same reason Caylee Anthony was murdered by her own mother. Little children, precious in God's sight, are murdered brutally by those who are supposed to be their most careful protectors, their mothers or fathers. We hear no one defending Casey, saying, "It was her choice! This isn't any of our business because it's a private matter! I wouldn't do it, but it's her choice, not mine." Of course not! That sounds absurd! It's her choice to murder her own child with duct tape? It's her choice to kill her own child so that her life can be easier? And yet, that's what those who are "Pro-Choice" are saying. Those who are Pro-Choice are saying, "It's okay for mothers and fathers to murder children who have faces and names. It's okay for Casey Anthonys to murder Caylee Anthonys.
We might recoil in horror at that, and try to defend the Pro-Choice stance saying that's it's different. But how is it different? In both cases, it's still a parent murdering a child. The only difference is place and age. What different right does a two-year-old have than a six week old child in the womb? Nothing at all! And yet, mainstream America views them as different situations, different entities.
This Sunday, the sermon I heard was on Judges 19. It's a rather gruesome chapter - an unfaithful concubine, a mob of lustful homosexuals, a heartless husband. One of those chapters you read through quickly because it's just so distasteful to read. The sermon outlined four root ideas of a nation's moral decline, evidenced in Judges 19. These root ideas, or seeds, begin in small ways, but if left rampant become worse and worse. Two come to mind in this discussion.
The first point, lack of natural affection, is very evident in Casey Anthony. Say she wasn't guilty, but her daughter is missing. The natural tendency of a mother is worry, and sadness that would motivate her to action. "Find my child!" Do we see this? Definitely not. Okay, say she wasn't guilty, but her daughter drowned in the pool. The natural tendency of a mother would be to mourn her child. This would be a very sad story indeed! Do we see this reaction from Casey? No again! But on top of all of that, what mother would even treat Caylee the way she did? So we can see very plainly, this lack of natural affection.
The second point, selective moral outrage, doesn't create feelings of anger in me as much as just sadness. That mainline America does not see the parallel between Caylee Anthony and all of those helpless little babies murdered day after day, makes me sick. Americans like their convenience. We have fast food, which enables us to eat whenever we want without waiting; the internet, which allows us to read, watch, listen anything we want to at lightning fast speeds; friends with benefits, which allows us to satisfy our lusts without commitment; abortion, which allows us to get rid of our children, guilt-free, so we can continue living our life unhindered. So we don't feel outraged when those helpless babies in the womb are murdered, because we are afraid of losing our convenience. It was convenient for all those people to become outraged at Casey Anthony murdering her two-year-old. It comes from the same root issue, but because it is something we can stand over Casey Anthony shouting, "Condemn her!"- since of course we would never murder our two year old - it's convenient to us.
So, as the public continues to reel after the verdict was called yesterday, think on those two points. In what areas of my life am I being selectively outraged? Think small, smaller than abortion, smaller than child slaves or sex trafficking. What seeds of selective moral outrage are deep in my heart? And, in what ways am I lacking natural affection? The pastor this Sunday said it isn't even something as big as murder, if you aren't loving your spouse by putting their interests first, you are lacking natural affection. Before we walk away from this shouting, "Condemn her!", let us take a look at our own hearts, and repent.
Love,
Anna
And somehow, America doesn't see the parallel to abortion. Every day, 3500 sweet, defenseless babies are killed. And what was the reason? Convenience. The same reason Caylee Anthony was murdered by her own mother. Little children, precious in God's sight, are murdered brutally by those who are supposed to be their most careful protectors, their mothers or fathers. We hear no one defending Casey, saying, "It was her choice! This isn't any of our business because it's a private matter! I wouldn't do it, but it's her choice, not mine." Of course not! That sounds absurd! It's her choice to murder her own child with duct tape? It's her choice to kill her own child so that her life can be easier? And yet, that's what those who are "Pro-Choice" are saying. Those who are Pro-Choice are saying, "It's okay for mothers and fathers to murder children who have faces and names. It's okay for Casey Anthonys to murder Caylee Anthonys.
We might recoil in horror at that, and try to defend the Pro-Choice stance saying that's it's different. But how is it different? In both cases, it's still a parent murdering a child. The only difference is place and age. What different right does a two-year-old have than a six week old child in the womb? Nothing at all! And yet, mainstream America views them as different situations, different entities.
This Sunday, the sermon I heard was on Judges 19. It's a rather gruesome chapter - an unfaithful concubine, a mob of lustful homosexuals, a heartless husband. One of those chapters you read through quickly because it's just so distasteful to read. The sermon outlined four root ideas of a nation's moral decline, evidenced in Judges 19. These root ideas, or seeds, begin in small ways, but if left rampant become worse and worse. Two come to mind in this discussion.
- Lack of natural affection
- Selective moral outrage
The first point, lack of natural affection, is very evident in Casey Anthony. Say she wasn't guilty, but her daughter is missing. The natural tendency of a mother is worry, and sadness that would motivate her to action. "Find my child!" Do we see this? Definitely not. Okay, say she wasn't guilty, but her daughter drowned in the pool. The natural tendency of a mother would be to mourn her child. This would be a very sad story indeed! Do we see this reaction from Casey? No again! But on top of all of that, what mother would even treat Caylee the way she did? So we can see very plainly, this lack of natural affection.
The second point, selective moral outrage, doesn't create feelings of anger in me as much as just sadness. That mainline America does not see the parallel between Caylee Anthony and all of those helpless little babies murdered day after day, makes me sick. Americans like their convenience. We have fast food, which enables us to eat whenever we want without waiting; the internet, which allows us to read, watch, listen anything we want to at lightning fast speeds; friends with benefits, which allows us to satisfy our lusts without commitment; abortion, which allows us to get rid of our children, guilt-free, so we can continue living our life unhindered. So we don't feel outraged when those helpless babies in the womb are murdered, because we are afraid of losing our convenience. It was convenient for all those people to become outraged at Casey Anthony murdering her two-year-old. It comes from the same root issue, but because it is something we can stand over Casey Anthony shouting, "Condemn her!"- since of course we would never murder our two year old - it's convenient to us.
So, as the public continues to reel after the verdict was called yesterday, think on those two points. In what areas of my life am I being selectively outraged? Think small, smaller than abortion, smaller than child slaves or sex trafficking. What seeds of selective moral outrage are deep in my heart? And, in what ways am I lacking natural affection? The pastor this Sunday said it isn't even something as big as murder, if you aren't loving your spouse by putting their interests first, you are lacking natural affection. Before we walk away from this shouting, "Condemn her!", let us take a look at our own hearts, and repent.
Love,
Anna
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Link Love
I just wanted to share some thought provoking articles that I've read in the recent weeks with you all. Some of these may push buttons, but that's okay right? Since as Christians we're never supposed to settle, or think we've arrived, it's always good to have other brothers and sisters in Christ push us forward and onward to our final goal. So here they are:
- Would you vote for an atheist? - After I read this, my thought was that our beliefs shape our worldview. So I actually disagree with Scanlan because an atheist would look at his or her political choices through the glasses of atheism!
- Can Romance Novels Hurt Your Heart? and Romance Novels: Friend or Foe? . The first is an article by Russel Moore and the second is a post discussing Moore's article. It may seem a little startling to hear romance novels compared to pornography, but it's so true. I can say that from experience as someone who has broken away from the addictive hold of romance novels, even Christian romance.
- If Leonardo DiCaprio Got Saved Thanks to my friend Ruthiey at Color My Life With Love for sharing this article! I found this article very encouraging. It's easy to think, "Why doesn't God save... {enter famous person's name here}. They would lead many to Christ for sure!" But that just isn't God's way of doing things.
- The Gospel and the Gay Moral Revolution This is a good article, especially with gay "marriage" legalized in New York. (Gay and Marriage together is an oxymoron, hence my parentheses around marriage. God defines what marriage is, and He said it's between one man and one woman. Anything outside of that is a fraud.)
- Our Robbing Addiction This is a really good reminder from Tullian Tchividjian about a tendency we all have as Christians, even after we're saved.
- The myth of the genderless baby Al Mohler talks about the absurdity of letting a child decide for themselves what gender they are.
- Speak with, like, conviction (?) This video is a good reminder, especially for those of us in the younger generation, to speak with conviction about what we believe, not just about Christ, but all across the board. People won't take you seriously if you can't speak with conviction on so-called everday subjects, let alone the most important facts in the universe - the Gospel!
Love,
Anna
Friday, July 1, 2011
Fill in The Blank Friday
1. The best news I ever received was every time my family got the news that my parents could pick up our siblings in Russia! I have to say all three times, because each time it was the same feeling of utter joy and complete dependence on God.
2. Something I'm looking forward to is getting pregnant, if the Lord allows it.
3. Something I would never do is ...I'm not sure! I have found it's always dangerous to say "never" because usually God dishes it right up to you!
4. If I could choose someone to be my life coach, (famous or not, living or dead), I would choose Anna Magdalena Bach and my Daddy. My Daddy is so wise, there are so many things that he's taught me by word and deed that I think about all the time. I want to be more like him and I know there is so much I can learn from him. And I picked Anna Magdalena Bach because she was such a wonderful helpmeet to her husband, plus they had a large family!
5. If I had to put a label on my personal style, it would be fun. I strive for classy, but I'm never sure whether I make it there or not!
6. One should always stand for truth, no matter what.
7. I want to get a haircut! I haven't had one since about two months before my wedding in March. It's been waaaay too long. In fact, I'm going tonight!
Love,
Anna
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