Highlights from the past week or so...
- I figured out how to solve a Rubik's Cube
- Nick and I put together a puzzle of Muhammad Ali (don't ask)
- It snowed and school was out for 2 days
- Game night at Shawn & Lauren's
- MADEA
- I made Chicken Chili, finally
=)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Step into Africa
Yesterday Nick, Tony, and I went to an exibit in Athens called "Step into Africa" that was put on by World Vision. In case you don't know, World Vision is an organization that works all over the world to support and help those in poverty. One of the main things they do is child sponsorship, where you give a certain amount of money every month to take care of a specific kid, and you exchange letters and pictures with them... This particular event was focusing on the huge crisis cause by AIDS on the continent of Africa. Every vistor gets an identity of a child and then you walk through that child's story listening to a headset. My name was Emmanuel...
Emmanuel is from Uganda. Uganda is in southern Africa, where the AIDS problem is the worst. He lives with his mother and brother, named Fred. Fred is a few year older than Emmanuel. Their father died before Emmanuel was born, of a mysterious disease...
When Emmanual was 3, his mother began to get sick. Finally Fred, who was 8, borrowed a bicycle from a neighbor and pushed their momma for half a day to get her to the medical clinic. They gave her medicines, and after a month, sent her home. She used up the medicines, and got sicker and sicker. One day she didn't wake up...
The boys carried their mother into the nearby banana grove and buried her there. They walked miles and miles to their aunt's house, but when they got there their aunt made them leave. She said that their mother made their father sick, and that she gave them the disease, too. So they walked the miles back home. They had brought all they owned with them, but their aunt took everything from them but two blankets and a cooking pot. Finally they made it back home.
They lived alone for a little bit, but one night a huge storm came. It rained so much that it caused their little hut to collapse. Fred took Emmanuel back to the banana grove where their mother was buried and they built a little shelter out of banana leaves and stuff. They lived there for awhile, two kids, trying to survive.
One day a neighbor came through the grove and saw the boys and how they were living. He told them he would help them build a better shelter. They worked and built a small shelter out of mud and sticks. It was much better than where they were living in the grove. The boys lived there for a few years, somehow finding food and staying alive. I guess when you are forced to do whatever necessary to find food, you somehow manage to find what you can...
Emmanuel began to get sick. It would come and go, but it worried Fred. Fred met a teacher one day who explained to him what AIDS was. Up until that point, the boys didn't know what it was that had made they mother and father so sick and killed them... But now, was Emmanuel sick, too? Fred took him to the clinic one day, saying that they needed to find out if Emmanuel had this AIDS, if their mother had given it to him at birth. Emmanueal was scared. He was about 6 now. He didn't want to die. He had seen how sick his mother was, nursed her through her dreaded disease, and watched her die, still too young to really even understand what was happening. He took the test and waited. Finally they called his name and he went up to the window to get his results. He was HIV...negative.
The boys went back to their shelter and continued with their life. One day a World Vision worker found the boys and saw how they were living. He took them and found sponsors for them. With the money from the sponsors, World Vision was able to build a small two room house for the boys and provide healthy food and water, and education. Now Emmanuel is 11, and Fred is about 16. And they are finally okay.
This kind of thing happens everyday in Africa. Every 14 seconds, a child is orphaned because of this horrible disease. There are thousands of children living in Africa just like Emmanuel and Fred, trying to survive, but not really knowing how or what to do. Without our help, they won't really have a chance. I know it seems a world away, and it's hard to really understand from all the way over here in America... But think of it this way - when those mothers and fathers were sick and dying, I bet they worried and prayed that somehow their kids would be okay. And, in a lot of cases, World Vision and other organizations like it, are the answers to those prayers. We can help. We can be the answer.
Emmanuel is from Uganda. Uganda is in southern Africa, where the AIDS problem is the worst. He lives with his mother and brother, named Fred. Fred is a few year older than Emmanuel. Their father died before Emmanuel was born, of a mysterious disease...
When Emmanual was 3, his mother began to get sick. Finally Fred, who was 8, borrowed a bicycle from a neighbor and pushed their momma for half a day to get her to the medical clinic. They gave her medicines, and after a month, sent her home. She used up the medicines, and got sicker and sicker. One day she didn't wake up...
The boys carried their mother into the nearby banana grove and buried her there. They walked miles and miles to their aunt's house, but when they got there their aunt made them leave. She said that their mother made their father sick, and that she gave them the disease, too. So they walked the miles back home. They had brought all they owned with them, but their aunt took everything from them but two blankets and a cooking pot. Finally they made it back home.
They lived alone for a little bit, but one night a huge storm came. It rained so much that it caused their little hut to collapse. Fred took Emmanuel back to the banana grove where their mother was buried and they built a little shelter out of banana leaves and stuff. They lived there for awhile, two kids, trying to survive.
One day a neighbor came through the grove and saw the boys and how they were living. He told them he would help them build a better shelter. They worked and built a small shelter out of mud and sticks. It was much better than where they were living in the grove. The boys lived there for a few years, somehow finding food and staying alive. I guess when you are forced to do whatever necessary to find food, you somehow manage to find what you can...
Emmanuel began to get sick. It would come and go, but it worried Fred. Fred met a teacher one day who explained to him what AIDS was. Up until that point, the boys didn't know what it was that had made they mother and father so sick and killed them... But now, was Emmanuel sick, too? Fred took him to the clinic one day, saying that they needed to find out if Emmanuel had this AIDS, if their mother had given it to him at birth. Emmanueal was scared. He was about 6 now. He didn't want to die. He had seen how sick his mother was, nursed her through her dreaded disease, and watched her die, still too young to really even understand what was happening. He took the test and waited. Finally they called his name and he went up to the window to get his results. He was HIV...negative.
The boys went back to their shelter and continued with their life. One day a World Vision worker found the boys and saw how they were living. He took them and found sponsors for them. With the money from the sponsors, World Vision was able to build a small two room house for the boys and provide healthy food and water, and education. Now Emmanuel is 11, and Fred is about 16. And they are finally okay.
This kind of thing happens everyday in Africa. Every 14 seconds, a child is orphaned because of this horrible disease. There are thousands of children living in Africa just like Emmanuel and Fred, trying to survive, but not really knowing how or what to do. Without our help, they won't really have a chance. I know it seems a world away, and it's hard to really understand from all the way over here in America... But think of it this way - when those mothers and fathers were sick and dying, I bet they worried and prayed that somehow their kids would be okay. And, in a lot of cases, World Vision and other organizations like it, are the answers to those prayers. We can help. We can be the answer.
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.
Matthew 10:42
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Leaving Guilt-Driven Faith
I found this article on Relevant Magazine's website. It's called 'Leaving Guilt-Driven Faith' and is very thought provoking. I have had this conversation with myself many times and am so glad I've found freedom from, yet again, another burden we tend to place on ourselves as Christians. By no means have I completely gotten past it, as we never do, but it did finally click that we don't have anything to feel guilty about... anything we've done has been forgiven, if we're found in Him. I spent so many years trying so hard to live up to the dreaded 'standard' that I set for myself... 'Follow the rules and you will be blessed and highly favored..." Once again, keep it simple...
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Bailout from Busyness
We've been going to this really great church in Hartwell some lately. It's called Real Life, and it's a satellite of a church in Texas. We both really like it - it's real laid back, no pressure, good word, pretty good music (the worship leader is my dentist - how weird is that)...
So, on Sunday the sermon was entitled "Bailout from Busyness". It totally goes right along with all the stuff that Nick and I have been talking about and dealing with lately. You can check out their site and the sermon online here (click on "Bailout 2"). Here's the outline:
Psalm 23:2
Americans are so busy...
34% skip exercise
38% skip enough sleep
55% skip church
58% skip lunch
75% of couples skip quality time together
Reluctance to rest is a sign of immaturity.
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31
Recalculate my value
"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
Enjoy what I already have
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." 1 Timothy 6:17-18
Schedule time for the most important things
"I've learned why people work so hard to succeed; it is because they envy the things their neighbors have." Ecclesiastes 4:4
Trade the world's pressure for God's peace
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I"ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't layanything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-29
So, on Sunday the sermon was entitled "Bailout from Busyness". It totally goes right along with all the stuff that Nick and I have been talking about and dealing with lately. You can check out their site and the sermon online here (click on "Bailout 2"). Here's the outline:
Psalm 23:2
Americans are so busy...
34% skip exercise
38% skip enough sleep
55% skip church
58% skip lunch
75% of couples skip quality time together
Reluctance to rest is a sign of immaturity.
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31
Recalculate my value
"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
Enjoy what I already have
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." 1 Timothy 6:17-18
Schedule time for the most important things
"I've learned why people work so hard to succeed; it is because they envy the things their neighbors have." Ecclesiastes 4:4
Trade the world's pressure for God's peace
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I"ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't layanything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-29
Nick's Birthday
Yesterday was Nick's birthday. We both played hookie from work and just hung out all day together. We had a ball - we took the bike out, rode around, went shopping, ate good food. It was fun. I really love my hubby.
He said it was pretty weird that he was born during one of the worst blizzards in Minnesota's history, and 27 years later, it's 70 degrees on his birthday...
I bought a kinda 3-in-1 Donald Miller book, and I've started reading Blue Like Jazz (yeah, about 5 years too late!). I'll let you know what I think.
He said it was pretty weird that he was born during one of the worst blizzards in Minnesota's history, and 27 years later, it's 70 degrees on his birthday...
I bought a kinda 3-in-1 Donald Miller book, and I've started reading Blue Like Jazz (yeah, about 5 years too late!). I'll let you know what I think.
Friday, February 6, 2009
I kinda like this guy...
Yesterday I read an article about President Obama's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast and his establishing the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. It was really very interesting... I went back later to read it again, and somehow it had been changed - guess it pissed some people off...
So this morning I decided to look up the text of what he actually said. You can read it here. Please go check it out. Not only does he show that he really is focusing on helping people, but he talks about his religious upbringing and conversion to Christianity. Straight from the horse's mouth. I tend to agree with him - yes, people need to get saved, but if more people showed love, there would probably end up being more salvations.
I'm starting to really like this guy...
So this morning I decided to look up the text of what he actually said. You can read it here. Please go check it out. Not only does he show that he really is focusing on helping people, but he talks about his religious upbringing and conversion to Christianity. Straight from the horse's mouth. I tend to agree with him - yes, people need to get saved, but if more people showed love, there would probably end up being more salvations.
I'm starting to really like this guy...
Monday, February 2, 2009
Wedding Bells and Ozzy
My aunt, Connie, got married Saturday. It was definitely an interesting time... We had so much fun - all my cousins were there, and we goofed off like we were 10 again. We danced, sang karaoke, and I got completely stressed out trying to make sure things ran smoothly. I don't see how my wedding planner friend, Mary Ellen, does it... But then again, I guess she actually knows what is going on before the rehearsal dinner... Anyway, it was fun. My cousin Rita started off the karaoke by singing Ozzy Osborne. I'm sure Connie would have had a heart attack if she knew that... lol...
Since my mom did the decorations, Nick and I ended up staying at the church until almost midnight cleaning up. If I EVER see another fake rose petal again I think I will hide under a church pew and never come out... I thought we'd never get done, but of course we did, then headed to the WH for a waffle with all my others aunties and my mom. They all were amazed that Nick stayed and helped clean up, especially since all of Connie's kids and everyone else skipped out... I have the most awesome husband ever.
Since my mom did the decorations, Nick and I ended up staying at the church until almost midnight cleaning up. If I EVER see another fake rose petal again I think I will hide under a church pew and never come out... I thought we'd never get done, but of course we did, then headed to the WH for a waffle with all my others aunties and my mom. They all were amazed that Nick stayed and helped clean up, especially since all of Connie's kids and everyone else skipped out... I have the most awesome husband ever.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Crystal Clear
For first time in a long time, I feel such a clarity in my walk with God. When you are so overly involved with church & ministry (not that I'm saying that's a bad thing, just speaking about my experience) it is so easy to get cluttered and out of focus. For years, I've practically lived at church, between youth ministry, band practice, this service, that meeting... Just recently I've cut back - limited my commitments, I guess you could say. I had gotten so overwhelmed that not only was I miserable, but I had no idea who God really was... In a way I thought that if I did all this stuff, acted a certain way, it would please Him, and that was what I was supposed to do. Right? Wrong.
Finally, after cutting out and pruning and leaving and, well... simplifying, I can see so much better. I actually have a desire to be God's friend, to read the bible, talk to him... I've started reading some Christian books again, and I really feel a strong desire to get involved - not so much with a specific ministry or church, with too-high expectations, but to be involved with what God is doing. What he really wants from us is actually so simple and easy - to let Him love us and take care of us, and for us to trust that He'll do just that. Then in turn, we are to show others that kind of love.
My prayer is that more will find this simplicity, this love... We make things so confusing sometimes, especially by trying to be a "good" christian. I know for so long I felt like if I did it right, if I did everything like the bible said, lived up to everyone's expectations, then He would love me more and I would be A+ in His book. I felt that is what He expected of me. And time and time I'd fail, and feel even more confused and miserable. But when I got away from all that "stuff", I finally saw that God doesn't have that expectation of us at all. He just wants our love. And He loves us all the same, sinner and saint alike, no matter what we do, what we've done, or how awesome or horrible we or anyone else thinks we are. And that, my friend is refreshing...
Finally, after cutting out and pruning and leaving and, well... simplifying, I can see so much better. I actually have a desire to be God's friend, to read the bible, talk to him... I've started reading some Christian books again, and I really feel a strong desire to get involved - not so much with a specific ministry or church, with too-high expectations, but to be involved with what God is doing. What he really wants from us is actually so simple and easy - to let Him love us and take care of us, and for us to trust that He'll do just that. Then in turn, we are to show others that kind of love.
My prayer is that more will find this simplicity, this love... We make things so confusing sometimes, especially by trying to be a "good" christian. I know for so long I felt like if I did it right, if I did everything like the bible said, lived up to everyone's expectations, then He would love me more and I would be A+ in His book. I felt that is what He expected of me. And time and time I'd fail, and feel even more confused and miserable. But when I got away from all that "stuff", I finally saw that God doesn't have that expectation of us at all. He just wants our love. And He loves us all the same, sinner and saint alike, no matter what we do, what we've done, or how awesome or horrible we or anyone else thinks we are. And that, my friend is refreshing...
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:29-30
Monday, January 26, 2009
Meatball Subs...
So I made meatball subs last night. We were all excited and stuff, looking forward to it. But...big mistake. We were both sick all night and gross feeling all day. I dunno. But I sure as heck will throw out the leftovers and burn the crazy recipe! Ewww... I don't think I'll ever eat another meatball again...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Coupons, Coupons Everywhere!
I've been collecting coupons for awhile to send to military families overseas. I started thinking about how much we always talk about "supporting the troops"... What exactly does that mean? Yeah, people send care packages to those guys in the desert, but what about their families, or those people in the military that are stationed other places? I think those folks get forgotten... My brother was stationed in Korea for a year, and no, it wasn't "dangerous", but it still sucked, and he still served his country...
Okay, enough about that - back to coupons... So I started wondering what I could do to make some military people's lives a little bit better, and I came across a video online of this lady who mails coupons to military bases. What an awesome idea! I love coupons, and I know every other woman in the world MUST love them, too, so why not help out those army wives a little bit? It can't be fun to be stuck overseas trying to make ends meet with that wonderful, overabundant military paycheck (not!) - especially if your other half is halfway around the globe fighting somewhere! So I looked and found a similar program online at http://www.ocpnet.org/. What you do is collect coupons and mail them to a base that you "adopt" overseas. The families on the bases can get the coupons from the Family Support Center and use them at the commissary and PX on base. They can even use the coupons for up to 6 months after they expire. I picked a base in Korea, since that was where my bro was.
So, for the past month or so I've been collecting coupons, most of which have come from my awesome co-workers and fellow coupons lovers. Finally I had enough to send and today I packaged them all up. I ended up with (drumroll, please) $1515.44 worth! I'm mailing them tomorrow. And now my hands hurt from cutting them out and I don't want to see another coupon for a month.
I can't believe that I just typed that much about coupons...
- Carly
The Simple Life...
So I've decided to start a blog. I had one years ago, but then when myspace and facebook became the world's addiction, I let it go. I've realized lately that I just don't use my brain quite as much as I should, which is pretty bad, seeing how I help educate kids for a living... I read constantly, but usually novels, and I read so dang fast that I barely take in the small nuances of what I'm reading - just get the big picture. Since we don't have cable or whatever, Nick and I sometimes don't realize what's happening in the world around us. Yes, I know I can watch anything I want on the internet, including every episode of Everybody Loves Raymond and CSI, but if you lived by space heater and your computer was in the coldest room of the house, I bet you wouldn't spend too much time browsing for videos either. =)
So I get this blog thing rolling, and Nick and I are trying to come up with a title, something that "defines" us... and we settled on "Life Made Simple". Ever since we tied the knot this summer, we've been really trying to settle down and get our heads on straight. Our lives were so busy, at least it seemed that way, and we were stressed to the max. Now that I look back on it, I can't really figure out why things were so crazy... Yeah, we had some commitments that we've since let go, but a large part of it, I believe, was the pressure we were putting on ourselves to perform, to live up to expectations. When we finally decided what was really important, what we wanted from life (of course we don't have that totally nailed down yet - we've only been married 8 months!), we both felt a huge weight lifted. And now we're both happier and more peaceful that we've ever been. Yes, we still love Jesus, and no, we haven't turned into total heathens, but we have found true freedom and love in the life that Jesus told us to lead - love Him, and love people. That's the true simple life...
So I get this blog thing rolling, and Nick and I are trying to come up with a title, something that "defines" us... and we settled on "Life Made Simple". Ever since we tied the knot this summer, we've been really trying to settle down and get our heads on straight. Our lives were so busy, at least it seemed that way, and we were stressed to the max. Now that I look back on it, I can't really figure out why things were so crazy... Yeah, we had some commitments that we've since let go, but a large part of it, I believe, was the pressure we were putting on ourselves to perform, to live up to expectations. When we finally decided what was really important, what we wanted from life (of course we don't have that totally nailed down yet - we've only been married 8 months!), we both felt a huge weight lifted. And now we're both happier and more peaceful that we've ever been. Yes, we still love Jesus, and no, we haven't turned into total heathens, but we have found true freedom and love in the life that Jesus told us to lead - love Him, and love people. That's the true simple life...
"A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
a plain and simple life is a full life." Proverbs 13:7
- Carly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
