Presently...

Listening: Glee's tribute to the Beatles... which has some pretty kickin' tunes!

Watching: Gilmore Girls, Season 2.  How can you NOT love this show?

Reading: Just finished Robin Caroll's Injustice for All, which was a super great read, by the way.  Also, Dee Henderson's new book released today, so hopefully it will arrive from Amazon by the weekend!

Eating: Since we missed our Saturday night pizza last week due to a family reunion, we made up for it tonight. I LOVE pizza, so that was more than ok with me.  Also, French Onion dip and potato chips sounded really good yesterday, so I may or may not have eaten more than a proper share of those...

Wishing: That I was independently wealthy and able to travel the world at my leisure... but alas, this is not the case.

Needing:  to not be so tired.  It doesn't seem to matter how much sleep I get lately, I'm still tired.

Rejoicing: That I am able to take the day off on Friday, so that Leah and I can ROAD TRIP to see our best Helen for her 21st birthday!  Look out, Ohio!  The Vances (AND the Petersons) are in town!

Indulging: The french onion dip thing applies here, too, I believe.

Loathing: Still Halloween.  Can't wait for November 1!

Saying: Not much lately... totally not like me!

Meditating: We just finished talking about Joseph in Adult Sunday School, and I never tire of meditating on that account of Scripture.  Joseph is such a great example, and his story always reminds me to trust in God's plan, even when it seems to make no sense at all.

Picturing:  This weekend!  Can't WAIT to spend almost three whole days with Helen in beautiful Ohio!

Sometimes God Says...

Sometimes God says "yes;"
Sometimes God says "no;"
Sometimes God says "not right now;
You've still got a ways to go."

Sometimes God says "just be patient;"
Sometimes God says "slow;"
Sometimes God says "trust in Me,"
After all, He already knows.

Sometimes God says "Please, Enjoy!"
Sometimes God says "Whoa!"
Sometimes God says, "Read My Book;"
There's still much room to grow!"

Sometimes God says "wait"
Sometimes God says "test;"
Sometimes God says "Come to Me
And I will give you rest."

Sometimes God says "maybe."
Sometimes God says "yes."
Sometimes God says "later."
But His way's always best.


This is a little poem I wrote that basically sums up everything I've been going through over the last two months.  Trusting God during trials is not easy, but it's always worth it in the end.  It's hard to see the "why" when I'm focused on the "what," but God never does anything that isn't for my good, and I know that even when I'm in discomfort, He has a plan. Thanks to all who have been praying with me (and will continue to pray, I hope!); it's made all the difference!

My mom has been telling me over and over that maybe this is just what God wants for me right now, and I should make the best of the opportunity to grow.  But it's SO HARD!  Then, last night, God brought a character from the Bible to my mind that I've studied many, many times since three-year-old Sunday School: Jonah.  God told Jonah to go to Nineveh.  He didn't say, "I want you to go to this general area, and choose whatever city makes you the most comfortable."  He didn't say, "I want you to go to any city that makes you happy and minister to whatever Ninevites happen to be there."  No.  He said, "Jonah, go to Nineveh."

And Jonah's sin was saying, "NO!"

And it ruined the rest of his miserable life.

So I'm choosing RIGHT NOW to start saying "Yes" to my "Nineveh."  Now, I realize that my location is nothing like the extreme sinfulness of Nineveh, but I can still be a witness and have a ministry there.  I know it will be a daily decision for happiness, and I definitely know it won't be easy.  But I'm thankful for God's use of Jonah to remind me that sometimes all He wants from me is my obedience.

Right Now I'm...

Listening: I've added quite a few songs to my ipod as of late, and some of my favorites are: Where You Belong (Kari Kimmel), Jet Lag (Simple Plan), Glorious Day (Casting Crowns), & Live Out Loud (Steven Curtis Chapman)

Watching: I'm working my way through Seasons 1 & 2 of REVENGE (again).  I LOVE this show, and I'm super excited for the Season 3 premier at the end of September!

Reading: This is a rare occurrence, but I'm not actually in the middle of anything right now.  I don't think that has happened in quite a while!  I'm sure that will change soon, though, as several of my favorite authors have new books coming out in the next months.

Eating: It's Saturday, so that means.... PIZZA!  Every Saturday night for as long as I can remember, we've had pizza for supper at the Vance house.  I LOVE Saturday nights!  Oh, and also, we're having root beer floats for dessert--- YUM!

Wishing: That fall would hurry up and get here.  Fall is my absolute favorite!  Also, I wish it would RAIN!  It makes me so sad to drive anywhere these days because all I can see is slowly dying crops! :(

Needing:  Absolutely nothing.  I can't think of a single thing I MUST HAVE.  That's good, right?

Rejoicing: I'm rejoicing in the fact that the Lord, in His goodness, has provided our family with a lovely home that is fully equipped with central air!  I would DIE without it! Also, that Monday is a holiday, and I don't have to go to work! YAY!

Indulging: Uh, I kinda already mentioned it, but we're having root beer floats for dessert tonight!  Oh... and we also had them for dessert last night...

Loathing: Halloween. It's coming.  All too quickly, it's coming.  And I HATE IT!

Saying: Well, I've been talking about my job a lot lately.  I'm sure my family is getting super sick of hearing about it, but they just nod and offer their encouragement.

Meditating: Well, I'm not technically meditating on it just yet, but after I'm done here, I'm going to read through the book of Esther.  I teach children's church, and for the month of September, we're going to be learning about Esther. I super enjoy this account, so I'm excited to be teaching the children!

Picturing:  Fall.  Have I mentioned that I LOVE FALL!?  I can't wait for almost cold weather and sweatshirts and jeans and scarves and pumpkin everything!

Focus

It's easy to lose focus when life seems to be spinning out of control (which is almost always an exaggeration in my case).  It's easy to have tunnel vision on what's wrong.

In light of yesterday's post, I'm afraid I may have given the wrong impression.

When life gets hard, I don't just fill my mind with random tunes and movies/shows that make me forget my problems.  Those things don't contain the answers.  As much as I enjoy them, they don't hold a candle to the hope, encouragement, and comfort I find in Christ!

Just like every growing Christian, my walk with God can always use improvement. There will always be time I could use to read my Bible instead of (whatever activity I choose). But in the midst of the storm, I find that the harder I run after God, the more peace I have.

This morning, as I was heading back to work (and dreading it very much), before I even left my driveway, I put on Legacy 5's cd It's A Wonderful Life.

SO. Much. Encouragement!!

I also teach children's church on Sunday's at my church, and we just finished talking about Nehemiah.  So as I was humming along with the cd, I was reminded of our lesson from Sunday: I can CHOOSE to do what's right.  Even when it's hard.

And that's what REALLY helps me feel better. It doesn't make me forget my problems, but it DOES help me to face them!

Sound & Silence

During one of the times I was living away from home, my mom once told me that she didn't worry about me when I called everyday; she worried about me when she didn't hear from me for days... that turned into weeks.

For me, silence is a very good indicator that something is wrong. For someone who likes to talk, most people find this part of my personality very surprising. 

I fully intended to blog about vacation weeks ago. After all, it was quite simply wonderful.  It was everything vacations are supposed to be: relaxing, refreshing, and rejuvenating. I spent the first few days all by myself in my favorite place in the world, then I spent a few more days there with my family.  

THEN, we got home, and I went back to work.

Without going into sordid details, I will just say that I switched locations upon my return to work, and after speaking with the proper personnel on Friday, I think this particular switch will be short-lived.  This is the reason for the silence.   I haven't been myself since we got home from Colorado.  However, I am optimistic that I will be back to my spunky, life-enjoying self very soon.

During these times of silence (which are rare, but do happen), I tend to listen to music or watch tv more than usual.  I think this is because it's easier to forget about my own troubles when I'm caught up in the unreality of some non-existent person's perfect "it always works out in the end" life.

While I was spending two whole days to myself in my favorite place in the world on vacation, I watched all 10 episodes of a new summer show on ABC Family.  This is the theme song, and it has been stuck in my head because (1) it's fantastic and (2) it makes me feel happy:

 (For those of you who receive this via email, the video probably won't show, so I'll just tell you that the song is Where You Belong by Kari Kimmel.)

Enjoy!