Good Articles for Singles (and the Married People Who Love Them)

Liz got me hooked on Boundless quite awhile ago. Since I have to deal with her and her singles issues, it's been a good read as a discussion starter, point-counterpoint and Biblical view (when she's not PMSing. Sorry Liz.) They've got some solid, Biblical advice and wisdom for singles and finding a mate.

I wanted to share a couple of the articles I was reading today.

• What Does a Biblical Relationship Look Like? by Scott Croft
• Brother, You're Like a Six by Scott Croft
• Plenty of Men to Go Around, Part 1 by Candice Z. Watters
• Plenty of Men to Go Around, Part 2 by Candice Z. Watters

From a married viewpoint, I can't say there is a whole lot I disagree with. I know there is some things I would have loved to know 15 years ago, but have survived with. Boundless has articulated a lot of things I've felt, but never knew how to present without irritating my dear single friends.

Liz will protest that because I got married at 20, I don't understand the complex struggles of being single and several weeks from 33. I can appreciate that. No, I don't know exactly, but it doesn't mean I'm clueless. I just have a different perspective. We talked about lenses a few weeks ago...

Enjoy!

You Never Know Who Is Watching

I had to laugh when Janel emailed me at work with a tale of running into her pastor’s wife and mom while at the grocery store with the four kids. (Pastor's Wife noticed Janel first.) Janel wrote, “The four natives were getting restless. I hope I was behaving myself enough so the pastor’s wife doesn’t think I’m a horrible ogre.” This tale reminded me of what happened at work earlier this week.

We have a construction project underway at the church were I work. I like to go watch the men… work. Well this one particular time, I noticed one of the guys standing in a corner – peeing. I was shocked and I just broke into hysterical laughter. It would seem that one of the other workers called out to him, which made him turn and I think he must have seen me in the window laughing. It made for a sensational little story to share with the staff. And I suppose that’s what I get for gawking out the window at the construction workers. But it did drive home a little lesson worth learning.

It goes without saying that God is always watching, but we all know it is more embarrassing to get caught by a another person picking our nose in the car or yelling at the kids in the store or getting caught being less than a Christian. You never know who is watching so its best to always act like someone is watching you, because HE is. Or maybe better put, you shouldn’t do anything you wouldn’t want to be caught doing.

Satisfaction

So it’s my day to blog. The unfortunate thing is I can’t always write on demand. So I have been wracking my brains all night for something witty or wise to write about.

I could write about Grimy Joe and his adventures digging for minerals in the Jeffery Mine (Quebec.) Or I could write about the lovely – my roommate called it “stunning” – weather we had Sunday. Or I could write about that twinge of exhilaration I get whenever I see handmade pottery, such as I did Sunday at an Arts Festival with my brother.

I could write about what it is like to be out weeded by a pregnant friend. Or I could write about what it is like to see a friend, who I have known since we were toddlers, 6 months pregnant. I could write about all the reasons why my nose is itching so badly.

I will write about this… There is something very satisfying about doing something you have always wanted to do or should have done by now or have been meaning to do for awhile… When Mom and I pass by this quaint restaurant, we always say, “We should go there sometime.” Saturday we finally did it. My overhead bedroom light blew earlier this week. Today I replaced the bulb. With all the extra light, I was able clean off my desk which has been a mess for weeks – ok months. I even filed papers!

I do like to accomplish things. Sometimes it just takes awhile and some times you need a little push. Janel urged me to make a 101 List after I declined her "suggestions" get "more organized." It’s a list of 101 things you want to do in the next 1,001 days. I still have a long way to go, but the list is always in the back of mind. I keep it there so that I will make an effort to keep pushing forward with the list…So check out my 101 List. Oh I finished #56 this week, now I just need to update the list...

This blog entry is done though. Satisfaction I’ll tell you, utter satisfaction!

In the Air

It's in the air. That crisp whatever that makes me want to sit down with a hot cup of tea and bake until the kitchen is covered in flour and I don't have a clean bowl left. It's here again. It's warm but cold, crisp but friendly. Yup, it's autumn in New England.

Rich loves this time of year. He's been outside all day playing in the coolness getting all those last minute projects finished. I think it's OK. I prefer spring myself. Autumn reminds me that I have to face 6 or 7 months of cold. Cold house, cold outside, cold bathroom each morning, cold floors... I love snow, but I don't necessarily like cold. I wish I could find a happy balance with it.

But despite it all, I'm glad God chose to give us seasons - hot, cold & somewhere in between. As they come and go year after year, we're reminded again that HE is still keeping his promises and bringing us a new day to enjoy.

No, sometimes we don't enjoy the days because of sorrow or pain. This too shall pass and something else will take it's place. It's the way life seems to work. God provides us with enough grace to see us through and hopefully enough hope to keep us moving in the right direction.

Yes, it's in the air... Anticipation of the first snow, Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie, hot cocoa and family huddled around the dinner table, bundled in the cutest sweaters.

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
Deuteronomy 11:13-15

Chestnut Kafuffle

Only close friends and family know about my kafuffle last year of roasting chestnuts in the oven...

It all began one fall afternoon while taking my after work walk in the woods, I noticed these beautiful chestnuts on the ground. Like a true hunter and gatherer, I squirreled away chestnuts into every pocket on me. I set them in my blue pottery bowl for decoration. Then, one night I decided it was time to roast them. So I read online how to roast them. Careful to cut slits in them so they wouldn't explode, I set them in the oven and then went upstairs to call Janel.

As we were talking, I heard an explosion. "Gotta go Janel - I think my chestnuts are exploding!" I hung up and ran. I heard a few more explosions and turned off the oven. Then carefully, ever so carefully I opened the oven door only to have a chestnut come exploding past my face leaving chestnut flicks in my hair! Quickly I shut the oven door - not sure whether to laugh or cry. I almost lost my eye to a whizzing chestnut!

I was so disappointed. Most of my chestnuts exploded in the oven the others were so charred that they weren't edible because I couldn't get them past my nose! Eventually, I got the oven cleaned out, vowing: Next year I will try again and make deeper slits so they don't explode!

So last week, I gathered in plenty. Filling all my pockets and then emptying them into my blue pottery bowl when I got home. They look so pretty and fall-ish. I anticipated lighting the fireplace with my new roommates some night and roasting them there. Like the Christmas Carole, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."

That brings me to yesterday. I stopped by the creek before I went to pick up a friend at the train station. "I'll grab a couple for him," I said to myself.

"I picked up some chestnuts for you." (He knew about last year's exploding chestnuts.) And then I presented him with 2 chestnuts. You have to guess what his reply was!

"These are buckeyes!" He is from Ohio, home of the Ohio State Buckeyes so he should know. He went on to say, "They are poisonous! Only squirrels know which side is safe to eat." Note to self: Before foraging in the forest for food, please verify with an Audubon Society book before you eat anything!

Needless to say there won't be any roasting of my "chestnuts" this year, which will nicely prevent the accidental deaths of my roommates and me. I'll buy my chestnuts at the grocery store where things are nicely labeled!