timeless truth

                                                    

Yesterday John and I had the privilege to join other Florida Navigator colleagues and listen to Jerry Bridges teach on trusting God.  If you are unfamiliar with Jerry Bridges, he has been serving on Navigator staff for 50 years, he is currently 81 and still working, serving the Lord.  He served in the Navy as an officer in the Korean War before joining The Navigator work.  He has written 17 fabulous, time and truth-tested books. The Pursuit of Holiness, Trusting God, Respectable Sins and The Gospel for Real Life to name my favorites.

I needed to hear what he had to say yesterday.  Trusting God, he said, can be harder than obeying God.  Often obedience is clear because scripture is clear about commands to obey.  But trusting God can be harder because we do not know what God has planned for our lives, even tomorrow is a blur.  

A helpful truth that he communicated was God’s control over EVERYTHING.  I want to blame.  I want to blame myself, others, choices, timing and anything else I can get my hands on when my life is not written how I dreamed it would.  Blame rests on someone who has done something wrong, and I cannot say God has done anything wrong.  He is purely and always GOOD.  Despite the circumstances or the presence of blessing, He is good.  He is good because He is good, not because of the "good" He gives us.

The way certain circumstances in my life are playing out may be a disappointment to me, but to God it is pleasing.  He sees the whole picture.  And I am not forgotten.  Details of the past few years have made me feel forgotten, by God mostly.  But when everything and everyone else seem to move forward, I feel stuck, left behind, forgotten.  Thankfully Jerry pointed us to verses where God states He cannot forget me.

In all of this there is purpose.  And it is not for me to know or be able to explain.  It is for God to carry out and fulfill.  

It has been made very clear that I am weak.  I have proven over and over that I am not able to do what I want, when I want it and how I want it.  My heart aches with this realization.  But God's power is made perfect in my weakness. Will I trust Him with this weakness? 

There are 101 downsides to being a one-car fam. An upside today was having a spontaneous lunch date eating Publix samples while we waited for our oil change.

Inspection

We just left our house from the inspection. And most everything looks great. A few repairs to be made here and there, all things the seller will do beforehand. HOWEVER the A/C compressor was stolen since the last time we were in the house. Apparantly thievery is common in vacant houses. So it stinks for the seller, sweet for us because their insurance will cover the cost of a new one. The olderish A/C has been in the back of our minds as something we migt have to fix in the next couple of years. Now, we don't have to.
And our inspector gadget friend has become our go-to man for advice on our home as we make changes, repairs and mistakes.
Now I can't wait. Let me in. Give me the keys. I am ready.

27 days until closing.

there is not much to share on the home front.  We have just been signing whatever our realtor, bank and lawyer send us.  Yikes!

But we have been thinking about how to use our carpet allowance.  We have a certain amount of money the seller has agreed to pay in order to redo the floors.  This is because they had a cat whose litter box was in a hall closet.   Yucko man.  Who would put urine and feces in a small, unventilated area meant for coats?
So what do we do? Carpet? Part carpet part laminate floors?  Laminate floors instead of the tile in the kitchen?  Can we install laminate on our own?  Is it worth paying someone else to sweat and swear their way through it? Who knows.  If you have any thoughts please feel free to share.

the inspection is scheduled for monday.  You may join us in praying God would protect us financially!

coffeecube follow up

my little effort is paying off. the cute little coffee hearts are chilling my iced coffee and not watering it down.

after church picnic along the river

we had errands to run today so John packed us a lunch before church. we found a park with this charming view of the st. john's river. i am thankful for today.

spring break

Its spring break for UNF students. That means time to fundraise for us. We took a mini trip back to gainesville to see some people. And I am sitting in places I used to spend hours upon hours with girls. We would read the bible together, pray for our friends and family, cry over broken relationships and build memory upon memory over cups of coffee. I miss those girls. But they are doing what we prepared them to do. Live in the world, work among peers and walk alongside people loving them and caring for them in the name of Christ. I want them to spend hours with other young women, showing them the riches that are in Christ that they have seen for themselves.

And I start fresh, with new, young, sweet girls who need to be shown the love of Christ and the freedom that comes from trusting in Him for salvation. I get four years with them, Lord willing, to stuggle our way through growing pains, asking God to make Himself known. This is a bitterSWEET calling. Some days its too much to handle, and others its too wonderful to imagine anything else.

in honor of some dear and precious friends

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep, loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." 

--Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

no fun

What's the fun in buying a house? At first, none. All you do is sign and initial this and sign and date that. Addendum yours, addendum mine. Please scan and email your life and while your at it, fax your first child to us too, ASAP, time is of the essence.

When do we get the keys bro?

accepted

Our second offer was accepted on Saturday! What? We kind of own a house if the appraisal and inspection go well. We are very excited about it all. And we are already learning how to dream but expect reality to kick in when it comes to updating the house.

Thanks for praying with us. We trust God, not our decision-making skills, not our realtor, and not the bank. The Creator of the Universe is sufficient for us.

waiting

Writing up the offer went well yesterday. It was surreal to throw around huge-to-us numbers like it was no big deal. So we wait today to hear back from the seller. Oddly enough this is the easiest thing I have waited for in years. Maybe because I don't forsee all possible complications, maybe because waiting a day is nothing in my book anymore, or maybe I have learned by now that nothing is in my hands. This is completely out of our control, considering God who already owns that house.
Update sure to come soon.

tomorrow!

We are putting an offer in tomorrow.  Can you believe it?  I can't.  These two slow movers are picking up the pace.

Until then, here is what I am dreaming and scheming FOR MY VERY FIRST HOUSE

from DecorPad

from Hardwareisle

from Holly Mathis Interiors

secrets out . . . I LOVE BEADBOARD.  I would put it everywhere if that were not OVERboard.  We will probably play it safe and go the dining room route, but don't tempt me, or you will see it in our closets too.

where our heart might be

We are ankle deep in the process of owning our very first home! We have been tossing around the idea of buying a home for years and it might be time to take this bull by the horns. We barely stepped into this house before I started mentally arranging our furniture in the rooms, painting the walls and watching, God-willing, our kids run around the corner of the hallways.
So here goes, two non-commital, easy-going, slow decision-makers are about to take the Jacksonville housing market by storm.
Melissa

Good to the last drop

What did you do with the last cold drops of this mornings brew? I put mine in tiny ice cube trays to freeze and use later in my iced coffee. It will take a couple of mornings to make a glass-worth, but I am giving it a shot. No pun intended, but appreciated once I realized it.

almond butter

Totally worth its $4 weight. Delicious. Sounds healthy with that flax and omega talk. And its not too hard to stir, being natural and all. All I need now is a TJ nearby.

date night

John and I enjoyed an evening in San Marco Square, a quaint nook of Jacksonville. It has beautiful homes along the river and has this cute little square filled with eateries and shops.
We never pay to see movies in a theatre, but we couldn't resist the historical theatre showing the Kings Speech. The theatre was built in the 40s and serves beer and wine. Certain to be a place we take visitors! So come visit!

Sunday

After a few days in a town so wonderfully hip but not our own and hours of driving around jacksonville homes we can afford but wouldn't dare buy . . . A girl needs the beach: free and in the town she lives!

pit stop

We saw Andalusia, the home of Flannery O'Connor, while driving home. John is a fan of her literature so we took a look. And John bought her complete stories. He is the mysterious literary brooding type these days.

By the way. I LOVE road trips with the hubs. Nothing bakes my biscuits like hours of time next to that man.

breaking the fast

what I miss: local, diverse, delicious breakfast

training

We are in Athens GA for a couple of days of training with The Navigators. Although we are technically in the enemy's territory (being Gators and all) I really like it: the campus, the feel, the hipsters, local eats. And now that I don't live in Gainesville anymore I can say that without shame.
Athens, I'm going to enjoy you and your cute coffee shops and your southern ways for the next few days. And I'm not afraid to spend a few hours at Trader Joe's either.

We got to hold this little treasure box this week while visiting Knoxville. Our friends on staff with Navigators at UT just had another babe. So cute and manly already, the baby too!

John and I are in Knoxville for a few days after he spoke at the UT Navigators meeting.
On our drive up I decided to tackle learning to crochet. John bought me a hook and yarn 12 months ago, and I never really gave it the all american try. My first practice chain and single crochet something or other resulted in what looks like a mustache. I will be really good at this thing if all I have to make resembles facial hair.

I got to spend a half hour walking the beach of jacksonville with a new girl in my bible study. We talked about relationships, her future, what God's teaching me, and summer plans. How is it I am lucky enough to spend my days getting to know college girls and walk with them for as long as they'll let me. Thanks Lord, its by your grace we have this ministry.

This semester I was invited to attend a seven week womens bible study at our church. For those who have never heard of Apples of Gold, its a study designed around the verses in Titus 2, that tell the older women of the church to teach the younger women. The study addresses kindness, loving your husband, loving your children, submission, purity, and hospitality. On top of it all is that each week a full meal is demonstrated and prepared from appetizer to dessert by the older women. Its soooo fun. A cooking show, bible study and a meal all wrapped into one. Tell me a better way to spend a thursday afternoon. Last week they made honeyed pork tenderloin with avocado-mango salsa. These ladies don't mess around. And creme brulee for dessert, helpful, since I failed at that recipe very recently.
I am thankful for these women.

John and I have the honor of leading a workshop on godly relationships for college students this weekend at our annual spring conference.
We have been working on it for the past few weeks and are refining it now, over much coffee.
Would you pray with us for the weekend? We desire that students from all over Florida and Valdosta State will have open hearts, and be hearers and doers of God's word.

Just got to pick three kinds of citrus in a friends backyard. John and I have decided to ask God for a house with citrus trees!

congrats

our friends Ben and Caryn were wed yesterday!  Caryn is our friend from Colorado State University and joined Navigator staff the same year John did!  Ben is our friend from the University of Florida Navigator ministry.  They met in the most unlikely of places, Branson Missouri!  Yesterday they made it official and their wedding was beautiful (not to mention filled with some of my favorite people)

 Nikki, Emily and I.  I refashioned one of my mothers old dresses and wore it to the wedding.  I will have to get a full-bodied pic to show later.

who we like to call carynjamin!

and it helps living closest to the wedding, we were picked to take home some wedding cake.  Yum! 

a last minute craft

As I was taking down our christmas decorations, sadly, I remembered a small addition I made to our bedroom in December.  Before, we had nothing hanging above our bed.

All of the frames were found in thrift stores.  The round ones had these comical pictures in them!

All it took was a bit 'o spray paint and wallah! I can interchange the christmas wreath with holiday appropriate wreaths.  The wall is a faint grey, they would look much better with a darker grey behind them.

Enjoy your weekend, we have guests here for a wedding and I cannot wait!

Enjoyed a last dinner with our friends who are moving to Texas. Its one of the first times we are the ones left, we know well what it feels like to leave. I don't like being left. :(

We will miss our Jacksonville friends.

new

Its a new year, and I am a new age.  26!  It is the first time I feel like my age is more old than young.  I know that most people would scoff at that statement, but I feel it.


My 25th year was different than I expected.  In both great and frustrating ways.  One thing that is true is that I have come near Jesus through His word in ways I have never known before.  I have experienced the power of the scriptures in my life.  Praise God.


I look with anticipation at this next year.  A song lyric from John's favorite band says, "this year is a sealed envelope; with apprehensive hope we brace for anything."  I feel a lot of apprehensive hope for all that lies ahead.  


A verse that sums some of the lessons of the year is psalm 107:9


for he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.


Only my Lord can satisfy me.  Only in Him will I not be found wanting.  And in addition to Himself, He graciously offers good things too.  So I seek to be satisfied by God, and to humbly see the good things he is giving me.


And finally, this morning I read a verse that I want to pray for this year.  Psalm 119:74


those who fear You shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in Your word.


How marvelous it would be if by grace I would hope in God's promises and that it would cause rejoicing!  Well. . .here goes . . .

New Years Eve Day
Started with cinnamon roll breakfast followed by reading and spending time with the Lord by the fire as light snow fell outside in the 2 degree weather.
We made creme brulee lattes for lunch. Because the dessert never turned out and it had enough calories to count as a meal.
This afternoon promises games, reading, and a fajita dinner. A little bubbly will complete our Colorado celebration. Does my happiness revolve around warmth, food and a charming husband or what?

Happy New Year. May you see God's perfect love at work in your life.

Finally. A snow. It snowed in Jacksonville FL before it snowed in Colorado this Christmas. Beautiful. Dangerous. We escaped collision a few times on these roads.

Boeuf Bourguignon from the sister. Delicious. Merci beaucoup.

A sweet gathering of friends.

What did Wednesday in New York hold for us?

Well the only thing I have held today is a bottle of sprite and gatorade. Lets just say I was sick with something that my body was trying to expel any way it could.
So only John left our room today, to get some fluids and eventually a meal for himself at 5pm. John is so wonderful and took great care if me. Apparently we were supposed to stay in today. The statue of liberty and a coffee shop tour in Greenwich Village will have to wait til next time.

ice-skating in central park. Its bitter cold, but so fun. The pic earlier is our accomodations for these days, thanks to Susan.

Dinner @ Spice in Chelsea
We made it, we are rejoicing with curry

Headed to NYC! Don't worry John wont carry me the whole way. (this was last weekend at a friends beach baptism)
Not more importantly, I can now blog from my phone, which will be better than waiting to upload the sounds and sights of the city.

stay tuned . . .

for upcoming big apple adventures!

"the hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets before we reach the heavenly fields or walk the golden streets"


from an Isaac Watts hymn

weekend

 . . . falling in love with homemade salted caramel hot chocolate (from starbucks)

 . . . a beach baptism of dear college student friends

 . . . getting the husband new digs for christmas festivities

 . . . cooking my first pot pie, and eating it so fast, the recipe here, from the Pioneer Woman

 . . . making the easiest crust for the pot pie, recipe here, from the Pioneer Woman

 . . . watching Elf with the man.

 . . . enjoying time with the Lord and snuggling at home as it gets chilly outside.

time of thanks

I didn't start taking photos until after our wonderful meal and dessert, after decorating our house full of Christmas cheer, after a beautiful wedding on the river, but not before our night of wonder at the river downtown.  We watched tons of boats decorated with lights float by us as the competed in the Parade of Lights.  It was more fun than we expected.  It was perfect to experience it with  David and Pamela!

This boat was one of this crowds favorites, its a live manger scene!

After the show we had to warm up at Starbucks.  David introduced us to the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, and I am pretty sure our lives were changed. 

We also decorated gingerbread men and women.  Mine was adorned with buttons and red finger nails!  And big white bow too

Merry Christmas!

man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord  

Feast on His word today friends.  Happy Thanksgiving

the earth is satisfied with the fruit of HIS work.  psalm 104

saturday trip upstate

saturday started as it usually does in this Teten home with John making me breakfast.  I know, what a deal  right?  

We also very spontaneously decided to go for a walk.  At first we were going to walk on Hugenot beach, which we have never been to before.  That turned into driving a little further to Little Talbot Island State Park.  Once there we figured we might as well see what Amelia Island is like . . . which is so close to Fernandina Beach we just kept going.  Our initial plan was to hike or walk along a beach.  But we never made it to those trails.  We did stop at the sweetest little town of Fernandina Beach and we walked around the antique shops and farmers market.  We had our pick of outdoor cafes for lunch and enjoyed perfect 70 degree weather.  

Then we stumbled upon none other than the International Petanque Tournament!  What is petanque you say?  All we saw was men and women, young and old, American and international alike throwing silver balls around on the dirt!  Ha, the things you learn and see when you leave home on a saturday.

North Florida is just beautiful, and we are thankful to be here.  We listened to M. Ward on our ride home through spanish moss- covered trees, over bridges and winding roads.