Twenty

Twenty days to go and I'm starting to get anxious.

Excited anxious? No.

Nervous anxious? No.

Poignant anxious? No way.

All of the above? Yes.

I'm approaching the finish line, and now that I'm staring it in the face - more than anything, I just want to get it over with. Most in part, I guess it's already over with. It's been over with. I'm thinking maybe the move will finally just put things into perspective - make reality set in indefinitely. Throwing myself into another world seems like a promising solution, although I know the struggles won't end there either - they'll only be packaged a little differently.

::

The "kids" and Uncle Jeff are opening a bottle of bubbly (cider, that is).

It's a pretty cute sight to behold, all of them with wine glasses in their hands acting so sophisticated.

Grandma is on her second glass of wine and is toasting everyone individually. In the middle of her toasts, she gets sidetracked and looks over to Granddad and says, "love you, dad!" and starts talking about the time he played "Superman" and broke the bed.

I didn't ask any questions.

Grandma never could hold her wine very well.

I'm sitting in the corner in my chair with a full stomach, typing away. I don't know why I'm so apt to write all the time. I guess I kind of find it somewhat therapeutic. I used to fall asleep to the sound of mom typing on the computer when I was younger - but mom has longer nails than I do and it makes a way better sound than my short, calloused, fingers do. But I don't know if it's the sound of the keyboard that does it, or if it's the idea of ridding myself of thoughts and stringing them together into something tangible that calms me. Maybe both.

The holidays are going well; I miss my older brother and my sister-in-law though. It's just not the same without Jay's boistrous laugh and Jenn talking a mile a minute, but they'll be in late tomorrow night and maybe then it will start feeling like Christmas.

I'm speaking of the 'holiday' of course.

The other kind of Christmas, the real Christmas, speaks of a baby boy who would live a life to be given for those He loved. That Christmas, is not bound by December 25th any more than we're no longer bound to the very things He came to free us from.

What a beautiful gift Christmas is.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

-John 3:16

Hope you all are having a very, merry Christmas...
today.

-C

Twenty-Two

Turns out my family left last night at ten-thirty and drove straight through from Jacksonville. I woke up to the sound of ice cracking all the way up the driveway telling me they were finally here. It was such a beautiful, beautiful sound.

By the time I had put my boots on, covered up my zits with some concealer (gasp, I have zits; what a surprise) and put my contacts in, they had already made attempt number one at getting up the mountain to Grandma's house.

If you've visited me in New Market, you know that the hill up to Grandma's is a pot-hole ridden, 80-degree incline. With the snow and ice, there's no way you're gettin' up there without 4-wheel drive or chains on your tires. Ron let the kids (who aren't really kids anymore - Morgan turns 18 tomorrow and Camron turns 15 next Tuesday) and Aunt Cari out to walk the rest of the way up. They, needless to say, got lucky. Mom, Uncle Ron, Chase and I on the otherhand had to walk the entire way up.

I'm so out of shape.

We didn't stop once we got to Grandma's house though. The kids and I (there I go again) - my COUSINS and I (better) - found an old sled in Granddad's garage and attempted sledding. I had to pull Camron down the first 50 times so we could pack down the snow (it is, afterall 2 feet deep) but once we did that, it was pretty successful. I don't remember the last time I played in the snow, but it was super fun and we were super soaked - none of us having any kind of winter wear on whatsoever.

We then continued the festivites by doing what we do best: eating.

Lunch: Sandwiches, Braunschweiger, Cheese Spread, Pickled Eggs
Snack: Popcorn and Cheese Spread
Post Snack: Fudge
Dinner: Beef Stroganoff, Salad, Crescent Rolls, Broccoli & Cheese
Dessert: Cheesecake
Post Dessert: Peanut-Butter Balls dipped in dark chocolate, and toasted, sugary pecans.

Sometime after dinner, it finally dawned on me that Christmas is Friday. I was just so happy that they were here that the thought of waking up on Friday morning to gifts under the tree somehow escaped my mind entirely. Family is enough.

Jesus is enough.

I also had a moment when I wondered where my husband was. He's out there. I don't know who he is or where he is, but he is. I really wish I could tell him how much I respect him, how much I miss him, how badly I need him and his leadership in my life and how I never want to spend another Christmas without him.

Seeing Ron and Cari, Grandma and Granddad and also watching those Mark Driscoll sermons and hearing him talk about his wife makes me think upon such things. I just find it so hard to believe that someone could ever love me the way these men love their wives; love me the way Christ loved the church. It just seems so impossible. Unfathomable. Unreal. I'm nowhere near worthy of such a love.

Dude, these chick-flicks are doing me in.
No more, I say - no more!


I just can't wait to go to school, to devote my time to the Lord, to build my character. Truth is, my heart wrestles with Him more than it should, and claiming that He is enough is sadly nothing more than a rebel sigh more often than not. If I could ask anything for Christmas, it would be that my heart would know and cry out in honest liberation - Jesus, You are enough...

Goodness, how much I want that...

Twenty-Three

I have a really good feeling this post is going to be completely and entirely, one of the most scatter-brained posts of all time with no point whatsoever. You have been forewarned.

It starts with the turkey.

No, not the kind you eat - the kind that gobbles in the morning. You never know exactly how much that gobble means to you until there's two feet of snow outside, and you're worried to death that your beloved turkey is frozen and on his way to becoming Christmas dinner. Trust me, that gobble quickly becomes music to your ears.

With worry finally off of my shoulders, first knowing that some of my favorite people in the world finally made it out of this wickedly beautiful weather and back home in one piece, and knowing Filmore wasn't going to be making it to the dinner table anytime soon, I did what I do best. Nothing.

Curled up on the couch with a grapefruit and some coffee, wishing - wishing desperately - that I had more motivation in me to cross some things off of that list of mine, here I am; pecking away at my keyboard and watching t.v. simutaneously only like a true unemployed 21-year-old can.

I spoke of some of my favorite things a couple of days ago, but I've also recently discovered a few of my least favorite things as well--my newest dislike being those new NyQuil commercials. They're just so disturbing. Who wants to watch a semi-unconcious person snoring and snotting and drooling in bed? And then the movie finally comes back on and a feeble attempt is being made to make the gal look down in the dumps simply by messing up her hair some, and putting her in a t-shirt and sweats before she goes to bed. It looks somewhat convincing except for the fact that they somehow forgot to take off the loads of perfectly airbrushed makeup she has on. Come on - I mean, at least get rid of the lipgloss. Can't we just find some sort of happy medium here, Hollywood?

Speaking of movies, U.S.A has got the chick-flick marathon down today by starting with Licensed to Wed, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Sweet Home Alabama, and then by wrapping up the estrogen-overload with Disney's Enchanted.

Yup...
the couch is looking good. Real good.

Did I mention there's two feet of snow outside?

My family from Florida is leaving tonight around 2am to come to Virginia and I've been anticipating it like nothing else. They've been praying they'd get to see some snow and well, they won't be disappointed that's for sure.

The minutes are going by slowly and have been for the past week - and its driving me up the wall - but these next couple of weeks are going to be a complete blur. Not to mention a complete blast.

My family is coming up for Christmas, I'm stepping up to lead worship this Sunday without Cameron by my side (I'm not too fond of the idea myself - it'll be like I'm missing an arm or a leg or something else equally vital), and then I'm heading to Lynchburg for Winterfest on the 30th and 31st, which shortly thereafter I leave for Atlanta to attend Passion which is the 2nd-5th, and then I start packing for Liberty and you guys will finally be reading about more than just ridiculous ramblings about turkeys and chick-flicks, I promise.

Anyhow - not a bad way to spend your last couple of weeks, ay? Even though I just realized that I only have one more Sunday left at Aletheia after this Sunday and well, that kind of sucks.


By the way, I'd much rather see this commercial than those NyQuil commercials anyday. It might just be the music, Kate Winslet, or the fact that I've stood on that bridge, but I love it - except for the french dude speaking at the end.
Oh well, what can you do?



Okay, I know what you're thinking; the chick-flicks have got to stop...

...and yeah, you're probably totally right.

23 days,
-C

Twenty-Five

Yep, pretty much.

Twenty-Six

Ya'll are going to be hearing from me a lot for the next twenty-six days, I feel like. I apologize in advance.


You'd be happy to know that today was a little different than yesterday!

It was wayyyyyy more boring.

There is a big "however" however, and it is this:
I made buffalo chicken wraps for lunch and salmon cakes for dinner.

Call off the hordes, the gal can cook!


Being unemployed and unenrolled is awful, but it sure has it's perks. I'm sure my husband will appreciate it someday. I've learned to be way savvier with money (a.k.a 'frugal') but only because I have no other choice but to be, and I've been so up to my elbows in domestication you might as well start calling me Donna Reed.

Okay.

So we won't go that far.

I always get a cravin' to watch Sound of Music and Anne of Green Gables around this time of year. My cousin and I sit around and watch them together every Christmas. Only thing is that every single one of those movies I have on VHS, and I discovered today that we no longer have a VHS player. Drats.

Well, if that doesn't put a damper on things...

So since Sound of Music was on my mind, I found that while I was walking around the house today I kept spotting my favorite things. They're always close by. Imagine that.

Here, I'll share them with you!

My Starbucks Travel Mug.

Two friends from Norfolk gave this to me just to be awesome. It makes me warm and fuzzy inside whenever I see that it's in the cupboard ready to use. However, when it's dirty in either the dishwasher or sink it's a completely different story.

My Starbucks Cup.

It's double-walled, doesn't sweat and you can use it for either hot or cold drinks. I use it constantly. Byrd got this for me as a surprise one time when we stopped in at a Starbucks on our way home from the beach. It was in my cupholder when I got in the car. The girl's got game.

The Liberty Sweatshirt / Pink Victoria's Secret Sweats Combo.

Lord, have mercy on my lounging.

My TOMs.

.

Enough said.

My New Columbia Water-Repellent Fleece.

Punches North Face in the face any day.

Taylor.

Duh.

The Keurig.

It's quick, easy, and perfect every time.

Merona Scarves from Target.

They're super, super soft.

My Brown Beanie from Wal-Mart.

Four dollars and I'm just happy.

My Book-Bag from NAMB.

Because it was free, and since I have it,
it's one less thing I have to worry about getting
before I go to school.

My Black Skinny Jeans.

Pay no mind to the mess. It was intentional.

For the sake of the shot, ya know? Trying to be all artsy and what not....

My Burberry London Perfume.

Mostly because it smells good.

My MacArthur Study Bible.

 

Because, "Jesus is word."

So we can pretty much sum up my favorite things into four different categories: Clothes & Accesories, Coffee, Guitar, and God.

And there ya have it folks.

Turns out I'm not as complicated as we all thought.

I hope ya'll are having an awesome Christmas break.

Shoot me a comment on here or on facebook and say Hi or something. Oh, here's an idea: tell me what YOUR favorite things are! It'll take up some of my time - and some of yours too, so uh - in that case nevermind. Just keep doing your thing...but if you want to...that's cool too, cause I'd really love to know.

Okay bye.

-C

P.S. Please don't judge me for my room. I've turned over a new leaf - I swear. "Donna Reed," remember?

"...and then at the end of the letter I like to write 'P.S. - this is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R got rebellious'" - Mitch Hedberg

Twenty-Seven

Mom scheduled an appointment at Dr. Gate's office for me today a few weeks back to get my vocal chords checked out. It was a miracle that I even got an appointment on such late notice, not to mention during the holiday season. Our insurance goes bizerk after December, so if I wanted to have them cover my appointment I had to get in before the end of the year.

I didn't give a second thought about getting my vocal chords checked out. I knew they scoped it, but somehow I never thought about how they actually went about doing it - so I got on youtube a half hour before leaving for my appointment and found out that they shove a tube up your nose and down your throat.

Uh, what?

The thought of it alone made me sneeze, cry, and gag all at the same time.

I debated for about five minutes if I wanted to be brave or not, but I've always been partial to the cowardly lion. Actually that's false. I was all about those glittery, red high heels and the pigtail wearing gal that wore them. I wonder if she ever got her vocal chords scoped out?
So - I need not drag this out any longer than need be: I called and canceled my appointment with hardly ten minutes to spare.

When I got home, Dad said that they numbed your nose and throat and that you hardly felt a thing. He made it sound like a breeze, as did some of my friends who've had it done on facebook later that day.

"Gosh, Chels. If I could do it, you can do it."

He's not kidding. Dad's about the biggest baby in the world. Come to think of it, I think he actually had agents knocking on his door wanting him to play the part of the cowardly lion. Obviously, he was too scared to do it.

I'm not helping my case here.


Not that this is going to help my self-esteem any, but instead of going to my doctor's appointment, I started to read Twilight. I found myself skimming and skipping over pages though, so don't be so quick to judge me yet. It's actually been really difficult to get into. I don't know if that's because I've already seen the movie or what, but I found myself looking through my library here at home for a replacement read.

Sorry, fellow Twilighters -- I'm just not pickin' up what you're throwing down. In fact, I'm starting to think there's a reason it's been thrown on the ground.


So I fell asleep (okay, now I'm just being mean), and after I woke up I started working on my gingerbread house as was suggested as a to-do on my to-do list.

It worked out a lot better than last year's attempted graham cracker houses

(attempted being the key word).

It wasn't really as fun though.

I was at the Ministry House pretty much all day by myself, with the exception of Asher who was just as bored as I was except a little more verbal about it. I did let my frustrations out on Byrd's camera however, which was conviently sitting on the coffee table infront of me. I recorded a little video that can easily be summed up in about ten so's for every bored.

My advice to you?

Don't get fired if you can help it.

It sucks.

So! Progress on the list so far is as follows:

1) Draw a picture

2) Paint a 'byrd' house

3) Meet someone on a bus and take a picture
4) Treat someone to a random act of kindness
5) Make homemade dog treats
6) Take Asher to the groomer and have Lauren pay for it
7) Make homemade playdough
8) Throw a Rosie O'Donnell Party
9) Stuff a Turkey
10) Go hunting
11) Dig a hole
12) Put on a puppet show
13) Make a pillow case (I'm counting the bedspread as a pillow - a really big pillow)
14) Make a video of my day (Even though it was totally lame)
15) Try to make as many different kinds of hot chocolate as possible
16) Make a gingerbread house
17) Handwrite letters and mail them to people
18) Cook Weiner Schnitzel
19) Give a tour of New Market
20) Memorize a Psalm
21) Read both Twilight and New Moon (Can we please just say I did?)
22) Cross stitch a picture
23) Put together a Science Project
24) Punk someone  (I'm thinkin' Asher counts)
25) Make butter
26) Can something
27) Make popsicles
28) Research another religion
29) Buy black socks

Gosh, I can't wait to go to school...

27 days,

-C

Twenty-Eight

I haven't been to New Market since I left for Lynchburg on Friday and have since stayed here in Harrisonburg with Lauren and Byrd while Sarah's been in Warrenton. I've been interchangebly wearing the same two pairs of pants and two shirts for the past four days, and I'm thinking tomorrow might be the day I wander back up to my nothing town, take a shower and put on a new change of clothes.

It's so hard to believe that in twenty-eight days I'll be laying my head down at night in a new town, in a new bedroom, with a new group of girls to call housemates. It'll be strange to say the least, because this is all I've ever known since I stepped into new life: Aletheia Church, the Ministry House, the band, the Galati kids...

Once you accept Christ it's like you see everything again for the first time--which is most likely the reason why I can remember everything that has happened in the past year in intricate details. I can remember dates and times and I'd be able to tell you what clothing was worn and what song was playing in the background, what we ate, what was said, where we were heading, what I was thinking...

It's your first time for everything again and with it comes new meaning and new understanding. You actually see Christ in Christmas and the empty tomb in Easter---you see Him in friendships and in relationships---you see your job as a ministry opportunity instead of merely a way to make some income---you view marriage as a way to make you holy and not just happy, and you view having children as not only a blessing to you, but as a blessing to God -- with the burning hope and desire that they would be able to do more for His kingdom than you ever could.

Everything-- everything is different when Christ is in your life.

It was the first year for me--the first year of an eternity spent in communion with God. Every place, person, and thing will forever hold a special place in my heart and will never, never be forgotten.

I just love you all so much, gosh darnit.

Thank you for an amazing year...

...there's no one else I would have rather shared it with.

-C

Twenty-Nine

It's actually a really nice December day here in Harrisonburg and I've glady enjoyed it from the indoors so far. Byrd threw me over her shoulder about an hour ago in an attempt to get me to go on a walk with her but I hadn't had my coffee yet and without my coffee, I am useless (even my legs fail to be of use apparently).

Last night we sat on the couch and brainstormed 29 things I could do with the 29 days I have left of unemployment and aside from that being an absolutely hilarious way to spend an hour of your life, i.e:

Byrd: "You need some Ginkgo Biloba"
Me: "What the heck is 'genkamolobo?'"

...this is what we were able to come up with. If you have any other ideas, leave a comment and let me know. I am desperate for some entertainment.

1) Draw a picture
2) Paint a 'byrd' house
3) Meet someone on a bus and take a picture
4) Treat someone to a random act of kindness
5) Make homemade dog treats
6) Take Asher to the groomer and have Lauren pay for it
7) Make homemade playdough
8) Throw a Rosie O'Donnell Party
9) Stuff a Turkey
10) Go hunting
11) Dig a hole
12) Put on a puppet show
13) Make a pillow case
14) Make a video of my day
15) Try to make as many different kinds of hot chocolate as possible
16) Make a gingerbread house
17) Handwrite letters and mail them to people
18) Cook Weiner Schnitzel
19) Give a tour of New Market
20) Memorize a Psalm
21) Read both Twilight and New Moon
22) Cross stitch a picture
23) Put together a Science Project
24) Punk someone
25) Make butter
26) Can something
27) Make popsicles
28) Research another religion
29) Buy black socks

I'm off to knock some of these off the list,
check back to see if I actually do.

Thirty

Yesterday:

Went to Lynchburg to go visit Jay and Jenn.
Ate at Waterstone.
Watched a movie.
Went to Liberty's Christmas Coffeehouse at 11:30pm.
Someone played August's Rhapsody and I was thrilled.
It didn't end until 1:40am.
Almost froze mid walking stance on the way back to my car.
Got back to the apartment and fell asleep.

Today:

Bought a Columbia fleece jacket for way cheaper than I even realized.
Ate lunch.
Drove back to Harrisonburg.
Helped watch some kids at Aletheia.
Made one cry.
Turns out it was Byrd's fault the kid got in trouble.
Laughed about it.
Went to the Ministry House.
Cameron came over and fixed us dinner.
It was amazing.
Watched a movie.
Screamed once...
...okay, maybe twice.
Got ready for bed.
Thanked God for the chance to make some new memories.
Felt torn.



     I was in Lynchburg this morning, not wanting anything more than for it to be January 13th, and then by five o'clock I'm in Harrisonburg, wishing January 13th would just hold out for a bit longer...

I'm somewhere inbetween.



Liberty isn't here yet, but most of my friends in Harrisonburg are either already gone for winter break or will be leaving soon - so with the exception of a few, my life in Harrisonburg has pretty much already come to a close.

So I guess, this is goodbye?

                                                  Really?

                                                                   ....so soon?

Thirty-Three

::

Fourteen days until Christmas

Nineteen days until Winterfest

Twenty-Two days until Passion

Thirty-Three days until Liberty

::

Time is going by super, super fast.
Once Christmas hits, that's all she wrote - I'll be at Liberty before I know it. I have about two more weeks of complete boredom until the madness hits.

I'm excited.
Really, really excited.
(Just in case you haven't picked up on it yet.)

I've spent the last hour trying on the clothes and shoes that I want to pack up and take with me, and I put together a little bag of medicine that Byrd-lady got me when I was sick a couple weeks ago to take. I've also gotten really excited about my apartment, my new bedroom and bathroom and I've had fun wondering what it's going to be like and who I'm going to share it with. I've had my eye on this comforter from Target for the past couple weeks, but it's way too expensive...

Sweet, right?

It's just strange to think about your life changing.
One day it's one way, and the next, it's never the same.

Crazy.

Thirty-Seven

I really want to write about what I'm feeling right now, but I don't even know where to start. If I could somehow register the greatness of the Lord, bottle it up, and hand it to you, I would - but He is far too big to put in a bottle and far too great to sum up in words on such a little page. I'm at a loss.

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with {Him} so that we may also be glorified with {Him.} For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." -Romans 8:12-18


..."For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. - Romans 8:24-25
 

 I am the daughter of the Almighty God...

....and I'm going to see Him one day.

Holy crap.

Thirty-Eight

The power is out in our house today and I’m running on 72% battery power. The house is quiet, pitch black and freezing, but I pulled out some of my old scrapbooking supplies, lit some candles and have been busy making home-made Christmas cards. One must do what one must do with no income (and no electricity).

I felt somewhat domesticated, but I also woke up this morning to cinnamon buns and Mom stuffing a turkey (which is now sitting outside in the snow because there’s no way to cook it), and the reality of where I am on this voyage to womanhood struck me. Simply put, I’m a freakin’ amateur.

How the heck do you know how to stuff a turkey off the top of your head? And put Christmas decorations up at the same time?

It's the first snow of the winter, and there’s about 5 inches of it on the ground and it’s still going strong. The concert last night was AMAZING, and my heart desires the Lord and His wisdom now more than ever. All I could think of last night at the concert was, "God, I need to be doing something like this for You, but it's so totally beyond me."

Because let's face it: I'm no Bethany Dillon...
                                             ...or Proverbs 31 Woman for that matter.
                                  

Seeing Bethany and Shane last night also clarified all the more how badly I would like a husband who I can help lead worship with, because really - how much more fun could it get than that?

Maybe for Christmas, but I've got a feeling I'm going to have to learn how to stuff a turkey first, and well....that could take a while.

Thirty-Nine

Phil Wickham, Bethany Dillon, and Shane & Shane
Tonight, 8pm - VA Tech

Forty-Two

Forty-Two days until move-in, which ironically means forty-seven days until classes officially begin on the 18th.

My life apparently likes to change drastically on that day.

The countdown means a little something different for me today and yet strangely enough, when I wasn't expecting to be - I'm actually doing better than just "okay."

There's just too much to be thankful for.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven,"
Ecclesiastes 3:1

                                

                                                   December...

                                                       ...it's good to see you again.