Thoughts on life

Do you ever have one of those weeks where so much happens that you can't remember what has happened? I am in the midst of one of those weeks. I have the usual work responsibilities that are always present in my life, but mixed with that are meetings and events and interactions that are out of the ordinary and have thrown a bit of chaos into my week. This in itself is not uncommon - everyone has busy lives - but yesterday an acquaintance of mine died in a tragic way and for awhile, even as I was walking through my hectic day, I found myself reminded again that we have no idea when this life is about to end.

I have had too much opportunity to reflect on this fact of life - it will end. Sometimes that is a depressing thought; sometimes it is one of hope and sometimes it is just curious. I think we all want to leave our mark on the world. Most of us will not make big speeches or become famous, but we want to be remembered as a person who did some good. So, how do we know that we have done that until we are gone and then, do we really know that or does it become completely unimportant in the light of the glory of God? That kind of circular thinking can drive you nutty and try not to let my mind revolve around like that too often. I guess the bottom line is that you really do have to live each day as if it is your last, because as is proven day in and day out, it really may be your last day. Now, I will say that this lady who passed yesterday morning was one who did some good, who was well thought of and who, and this is most important, lived a life that was full of God's love and shared that with others. She will be missed by her friends and family. And when all is said and done, that is probably the greatest thing that any of us can hope for - to make a difference in the lives of people who are closest to us, and pray that somehow our lives will encourage others to live lives that do the same.

The Spring Clean

You wouldn't know it to look at the forecast, but Spring is coming. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 39 degrees in central Illinois, but I have faith that warmer temps are just around the bend. In this spirit Terry and I embarked on our first annual Spring Cleaning-a-thon this weekend. It was the first time in MONTHS that we both had a Saturday when neither one of us had to work - a fluke of the calendar. We got up at 7 and a list was made - two pages, with every room having it's own sub-list. I love lists! Absolutely, positively LOVE LISTS! We moved furniture and cleaned behind it; we dusted ceiling fans; we rearranged rooms; we cleaned out and bleached the fridge; we did loads and loads of laundry. 8 solid hours of cleaning and you know what? No one but us would ever know we did it! We don't live in a dirty house - it gets messy from time to time because of the crazy schedules we keep, but it doesn't get dirty like some of those places you see on reality TV. So when we were finished and our hands were pruned from all the chemicals, our backs aching from bending over for so long - we looked around and said WOW it looks good, but nothing really changed. :) I'm sure that is a metaphor for something, but I haven't figured out what that is as of yet. I will let you know if I have a major revelation. But for now, I am enjoying a kitchen where everything is in it's place and a closet that is color coordinated again.

Have a great day!

AJ

Going to try this again

I haven't written here in almost a year, but thought I would start it again. I miss writing and I've been reading some really good ones lately on other people's sites, and thought what the heck.

So, it is March 2, 2009 (23 days until my first Anniversary and 26 days until my 33rd birthday). I'm excited about the first of those events and shocked at the number of the 2nd! Terry and I have been quite busy lately. Both of us are working two jobs in our seemingly never-ending attempt to be debt free in 2 years. Between that and trying to wrap up a class in masters program last week, my sister getting engaged, planning that wedding for the summer, and all the day to day stuff we have to do - I'm exhausted! Saturday my body said STOP and I basically slept from 5 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Sunday and then from 10 a.m. Sunday til 3 p.m. Sunday - wow! Felt pretty lazy, but so much better today.

Anyway, this is the last week of third quarter at school - only about 11 weeks left of this year - hard to believe. It has been an interesting year and I can't say that I'm going to be sorry to see it end.

This is not one of my more exciting posts, but just wanted to let you know I'M BACK again and will try to have opinions on things in the near future. :)

April

Wedding

As most have heard, Terry and I decided to move the wedding date up a bit - well a lot if you want to get technical! We were married in a private ceremony in Hannibal, Missouri on March 25, 2008. This past weekend we had a reception back in our home town of Springfield, IL and were blessed beyond measure by the friends and family who were in attendance. It was truly an amazing experience that will treasure always. Yesterday we opened the gifts and cards that had been given to us to start our new life together. The outpouring of love and generosity bestowed upon us was of such an overwhelming measure that Terry and I were in tears at several points throughout the day.

We know we have been blessed to find each other and that blessing continued in the support of our family and friends. What a wonderful way to begin our life together. We are so excited to see what God has in store for us as we follow His direction for our life.

At Last

Isn’t it funny how you get to a point in your life when you are sure that you have “leveled out”? You are still striving and working for things; you are still looking forward to the future; but you are relatively secure in the foreseeable future and content with it the way it looks. This is where I found myself a mere three months ago. Content in my job as a high school history teacher; content as a single woman in her early 30s; content living in my small basement apartment alone. Little did I know that a field trip with 25 wild and crazy teenagers would forever change the course of my life and bless me in ways beyond measure.

For three months ago on that field trip, Terry Jones walked into my life – at a time and in a way that seemed to be ordained by God. Looking back at the last three months, I see an amazing progression of ordered steps, for there is no other way to explain the perfection of God’s timing. In the beginning I found Terry to be a smart and talkative companion – one I had so much in common with and with whom I was eager to spend more time. As our relationship progressed, I found him to be kind, considerate and caring in so many areas. When tragedy struck my life on December 20th of last year, he was my safe place. He was always within reach to talk, hug, cry or just be. As 2008 began, I would find myself thinking that I wanted a life full of beginnings with him. Over the last couple of weeks our discussions have turned to the future and with more and more confidence we began to express our desire to spend our future together. On Wednesday, February 6, 2008, he asked me to marry him and I have never been so happy to answer a question in the affirmative as I was that day.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting my fiancé, let me say that you are truly the lesser for having missed the opportunity. He is an amazing man - one who loves God, his family and me with a sincerity that is rare. I am truly blessed to have found him and to have been found by this wonderful man. Those of you who know ME, know that I am not known for my romantic notions, and may be surprised to read such gushy prose coming from me, but know that I truly never imagined that I would experience a love like this. As I said at the open, I was content in life and confident I would remain as I was. Now I cannot imagine a life without Terry in it and I will thank God every day for the gift He has given.