That's What Summer's For!

The kids screaming, phone ringing
Dog barking at the mailman
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning, baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and put it back
There goes the washing machine
Baby, don't kick it.
I promise I'll fix it
Long about a million other things

As I sit here typing this, Jodo is screaming, Helen is going back and forth between trying in vain to tickle me and pestering me with lots of random questions while Grace is playing away at the piano.  All these things are harmonizing with the sounds and smells of the currently-being-prepared supper!

Who am I kidding?  The Shoe -- my affectionate nickname for our home -- is filled with chaos!  But in the words of one of my favorite country artists, Phil Vassar, it's just another day in Pardise!  This is what summer is for!


Well, it's okay, it's so nice
Just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise


Oh me oh my, I absolutely adore my family, but I have to remind myself of that when the noise gets to be just a bit much.  ;)

This summer I'm looking forward to coffee dates with siblings and parents, Monk marathons, trips out of state, reading for fun, pick-up soccer games in the backyard, sleeping til noon, eating good food, staying up late into the night watching movies with Luke, listening to great country music, and swimming laps at the pool.  Yes, it's gonna be a great summer around work.  =)

Here's to a great summer and all the noise that goes with it!

Just another day in Paradise!!!

Things of Note

-  Don't just up and leave without telling anyone where you're going or even that you're going.  The family doesn't seem to appreciate it.
- I bought myself a book of all the "Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe" today for $7.  I was pleased with myself.
-  Running in the rain is a glorious thing, but running in the midst of a thunderstorm is quite another story.
-  Tickle fights are the best way to induce laughter in small children.
-  Driving one's own self around is quite refreshing after having to rely on the goodwill of kind friends for the past 4 months.
-  Nothing makes you feel like a worse person than not officially being back at work and already having to ask off.
-  Going out with one's mother for coffee and telling her everything that is laying heavily on one's heart is quite cathartic.
-  Getting to take a nap at any time of the day is absolutely wonderful!  Nowhere to be and no one that needs seeing.
-  God is good.  Life is good.  If you haven't experienced either of these things, you should try changing your perspective.  It's worth it.  :)

And That's a Wrap!

Well, school's over and I arrived home at 4 a.m. on Monday morning.  As you can imagine, I spent much of the day sleeping and being loved on by my brothers and sisters.  I'll miss Dallas with a passion, but I know that there is still life to be lived here at home.  There are jobs to be worked, people to catch up with, home cooked meals to consume, music to listen to, games to be played, sun to get, pools in which to swim, and graduations to attend.  And that's only the month of May!

In June, Lord willing, I'll be driving up to Minnesota with part of the family and help cheer Luke and Eliza on as they compete in the national speech and debate tournament.  I've been watching their progress from afar this year, and I can't tell you how proud I am of my brother and sister!  They've both given their utmost, and even though Regionals was just last week, they've already set their noses to the grindstone in preparation for Nationals.  I'm so happy for them!

As far as work goes, I'm applying for a part time position in the produce department, and I'm throwing up the idea of applying at either Gap  (so I can work with Luke) or Barnes and Noble (where books and coffee abound).  Also, I'd love to spend a good portion of time volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center.  God has given me a heart for children, both born and unborn, and I'd love to be able to do something in that area.

In other news, I'll be praying alongside my awesome Worldview Academy staffers, knowing they'll do a fantastic job with their small groups, giving all glory to God.  I wish more than anything that I could be right there with them, but I also understand that that's not where God wants me this year.  It was one of the hardest decisions I've made, but I trust His flawless plan.

And I think that about sums up life right now!  I'd love to hang out with y'all while I'm home, but just know that I need two weeks notice so I can ask off of work.  ;)

May God guide and bless the paths you take this summer!

Check-A-Roo

Wootness!  I have completed every last bit of required reading for the semester (that's over 1,500 pages worth of material [roughly reminiscent of high school, if you ask me ;) ]), decimated three finals, written two book reviews, given a presentation, and memorized passages of Scripture.

I've soaked up way more sun than I usually have at this time of year, seen more movies over the past three months than I usually see over the span of 5 years; I've eaten more bananas than ever, run more consistently than I have since my junior year of high school, grown my hair longer than it's been in years, grown much closer to God than I've ever been, and found yet another extension to my family.

Now all that's left is to study for one last final, pack up and move back to Cedar Park, drive back up and help celebrate at the wedding of a beloved roommate, work for a medical seminar, drive back home in time for my little brother's high school graduation, attend another wedding, figure out a way to get involved in a crisis pregnancy center, then go back to my old job punching in PLU codes and pushing carts in the hot summer sun.

These are exciting times.  Stay tuned...  :)

It's 1:30 a.m. ...

...which means it's time for me to write another blog post!  :P  I realized that I haven't exactly kept up with my blogging since my move to Dallas.

First off, I just want to say that God is good!  He has been gracious and merciful time and time again this semester!  He has provided in areas where He really didn't have to (ask me about it sometime), and has really been magnified in my eyes.  The ultimate goal of my move here was that He would be magnified, and He hasn't disappointed.  I can't tell you how often my heart has been filled to overflowing over the past couple of months!

On a slightly random note, did you know that it's possible to worship while working out?  Seriously.  I went on a run the other evening, worship music blaring in my ears, pony tail swishing back and forth (which I actually find more annoying than anything else, just fyi).  My heart sang praises to my Savior, thanking Him for the wonder of movement, the creation of oxygen, and oh the glory of sweat (I was telling my roommate the other day that it just doesn't feel like a workout unless I'm soaked)!  Yes.  I love Jesus, and I love exercise, so why on earth not spend some Jesus/Alex time while running?

My eyes are trying to droop shut as I write this, but I've got so much studying to do that  I think I'm just going to tell them "NO," make a pot of coffee, and get back to it!  Haha!

God is good.  Life is good.  :)

Love y'all!

An Issue of Trust

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  ~ Matthew 6:19-21


Why is it so hard for us to keep our focus heavenward?  Why isn't it the case that as soon as we profess belief in Jesus Christ, we can suddenly overlook the troubles of this world and build up our heavenly storehouses?  Why is it so easy for us, like Peter with the waves crashing around him, to take our eyes from the Prize - that is Christ - and to put our dependency on the tangible things surrounding us?

It is my firm belief that we stray so far from straight and narrow at times because we've never seen, touched, or experienced in any way the treasures of heaven that Jesus promises.  What have we experienced?  Accolades from Man.  What does that entail?  We get our name in the paper.  We have books written about us and movies portraying how we rose from the ashes to climb the ladder of success.  People covet our autographs and desire to get their picture with us; people we've never even met and have a 99.99% chance of never seeing again.

It is an issue of trust.

It was lack of trust in Jesus that made Thomas doubt the reports he had heard of the resurrection.  Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas, but here's what He said, "Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." ~ John 20:29  Who is blessed?  Those who believe in Christ - that is, putting their trust in Him - without physically seeing Him.  It is because of their trust that they believe, and it is because of a lack of trust that we stray from the path set before us.

When we were little, my siblings and I were forbidden to ask "why," when Mom or Dad asked us to do something.  We wanted the reasoning behind it, but they required obedience; immediate obedience with no questions asked.  Oftentimes certain things they'd ask us to do wouldn't make sense to our young minds, however, we had no choice but to trust that Mom and Dad knew what they were talking about.  It wasn't until much later, when we matured a bit, that things began falling into place, making perfect sense.

I desire to be a disciple of Christ that trusts Him so much that I'd be willing to do anything for Him, no questions asked.  I have to understand that I don't always get to know the why behind a situation, but that I just have to do it because it is what He requires of me.  It's not going to be easy, but I'm told the reward is worth it.  :)

Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea
The great high priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of Glory and of Grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God!