Real Life, Real Mugs

Life with my favorite mug, compliments of my girl Ashley. #cariboucoffee #MinnesotaGirl

We have a favorite saying at the church office that goes "real life, real mugs." Basically, we believe real life demands a real mug. There's something soothing about holding a warm mug, gently sipping life away. Along with the real mugs comes the real life.
Unfortunately, our lives aren't the pinteresty, instagrammed or tweet-worthy moments all the time.

My life has changed quite drastically over the last couple months. I've gone through some major life shifts and I am constantly feeling like I'm battling a world that wants to let out the ground beneath me. Because of this shifting, I've been spending a lot of time doing some serious introspection, journaling, praying, and just generally thinking about my changing situations and expectations (and the ones that don't change).

I headed to our weekly game night and a friend who noticed my tone that night asked me about how I was doing. In general, I stated "I've just been thinking a lot." She said back to me, "You're over thinking it."

I thought to myself "She doesn't understand - she's just not being sympathetic. I'm not over-thinking this, I'm just praying a lot."

But the more I thought about it that week, the more I realized that I was over-thinking it. I was over-thinking it to the point of worrying and stressing, and that wasn't healthy. I had become so self-centered by simply spinning my own issues over and over and over in my head that I had shut out the needs and blessings of others around me.

Last night I had an event I was to go to.

Instead, half an hour post-event-start, I am sipping tea with my roommate in our real mugs and talking about our real life struggles.

It reminded me that I needed to get outside of my own head and my own problems. Because others have theirs. And if you can look outside of your own current problems and spend more time looking at how to bless others, you'll gain perspective on your own issues without being told "There are starving children in Africa who have life worse than you."

So meet up with a friend, grab a couple real mugs, fill them up with your favorite warm beverages of choice, and share life, asking how you can bless one another.

If you ask me, that sounds like a better way to do real life.

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You know you're a pastor's kid when

You know you're a pastor's kid when....

1. You or your siblings are frequently an illustration point in the sermon.
2. You are frequently "asked" to read scripture, sing, play piano, harmonica, or the recorder for every special service, as well as most offertories.
3. Basically everyone in the church knows you by name.
4. Your family is the 1st to arrive at church and the last to leave after what seemed like 40 hours of "goodbyes."
5. After you move away and begin being a pastor's kid at some other church, you go back to the other church and feel slightly out of place.
6. You have more family than anyone you know, because those churches have become your aunts and uncles, siblings, parents and grandparents, and even great-grandparents that care for you just as if you were part of their own family. This also includes punishment as if you were part of their own family.
7. You are used to getting birthday and Christmas gifts to "the family" from members of the church.
8. You had major speaking roles in every Christmas pageant.
9. You grow up and realize that normal people have these things called "weekends" where sometimes they go on a short trip.
10. Private. Christian. School.
11. You weren't allowed to be in any traveling sports teams or go to any NFL football games because they conflicted with church.
12. Holidays weren't vacation days.
13. You're used to your house being a revolving place where members of the church stop by to chat.
14. You're used to cleaning and decorating the house for church parties.
15. You were either pegged as the "good kid" or the "rebel kid."
16. You felt an inordinate amount of pressure to be "the good kid" - otherwise known as "perfect."
17. Two Words: Church Camp.
18. The church was secretly another facility for birthday parties and you used the church ovens to make Thanksgiving dinner because they were big enough.
19. Pastor's appreciation month was your favorite month because you were usually included in the small gifts the congregation gives.
20. You end up doing something ministry-related as an adult, because you realize that there's no other job in the world quite like it and you've already got a lifetime of experience.

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f a v o r i t e s

BOOK: Wiser than Serpents by Susan May Warren.

PLACE IN THE HOUSE: The blue striped couch in our living room, in front of the fireplace and our beautiful 

french doors to our back yard.

PLACE TO CREATE: In a coffee shop.

WAY TO HEAL: journaling, walking and praying.

FORM OF RELAXATION: Drinking tea while being completely absorbed in a good book.

PLACE IN THE WORLD: In the woods, on the lake in Northern Minnesota.

FOOD: Chocolate

TOOL: a drill (my dad would be so proud)

FORM OF TRANSPORTATION: Driving. Driving to nowhere. Just driving.

HOUSEHOLD CHORE: Making dinner/dishes

MORNING BEVERAGE: Tea

EARTH ELEMENT: Water

TIME OF DAY: At night, when it gets quiet and still

SEASON: Winter. I love the snow.

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Christ is Here! Finally!

Outside the snow has added a fresh layer to the corners of the window. My tea warms my hands as I curl up on the couch, listening to my favorite Christmas album. My family's Christmas tree sits before me, miraculously holding up the pounds of ornaments that adorn its branches.

It's Christmastime in the Midwest and I am beside myself with joy and contentment. There's something about coming home, holding family tight and celebrating the birth of our savior.

Into my adulthood, I've realized that while digging into Christ's story and His character, I learn so much. It seems that each Christmas season there's one new thing God is teaching me throughout my favorite time of year.

Last year was my first Christmas season away from family and away from the Midwest. Moving to California changed how I had to see Christmas. It didn't need to be about the snow, the traditions I had made years before but now couldn't be a part of, or even being with family. God stripped away those things last year to make room for Him, to clear away the clutter so that I could focus on what Christmas really is all about - Christ.

This year God has me focused on a different aspect of the Christmas Story: the fulfillment of the prophecy.
It's been incredible as I've been doing my devotionals to look at the Christmas story and go to the corresponding Old Testament references to that part of the story. For instance, Hosea 11:1 predicted that Joseph would take Mary and Joseph out of the country to Egypt after His birth (at this point, now 3 or so years after) because of Herod.
That is just one example out of many. There are countless other Old Testament verses that indicate certain things in Jesus' birth story.

After reading all the Old Testament references, I couldn't help but wonder what it might have been like to live before His birth, anticipating this day, and the joy that fell upon them learning of His birth.

For so long, the scriptures, their heritage, their teachings said that one day a savior would come. That he'd be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, and that Shepherds and Kings would come to worship Him. And that later they'd flee the country fearing for their lives, then return...and that He would be the Son of God and called Lord. They knew it was coming. They anticipated that day, I'm sure.

Then it happened. Exactly as the scriptures indicated, God gave his Son to this earth. He who would become our savior. And they worshiped him, for they were filled with unspeakable joy that, in fact, God hadn't abandoned him. For, you see, Immanuel was prophesied by Isaiah to come - that name means "God with us." All of those years, waiting, hoping, praying for His coming, and they finally had Him. It was, in fact, the greatest gift, for he represented Hope. Hope for a future filled with peace, joy, love.

And those who came to see him fell upon their knees in awe, in joy, in gladness, in thankfulness, in worship to Christ, their Lord. I would imagine tears streamed upon their faces as they sang praises to God. The heavenly hosts sang "Glory to God in the Highest! And on earth, Peace among men with whom He is pleased."

Tonight, as I stood next to my family and hundreds of other families at the Christmas eve service, singing hymns praising his birth, I began to cry. (I usually don't admit this, but in the past couple years, I've become way more of a crier than ever before.) I began to cry, imagining bowing down before my Lord, in awe and wonder that He is with us, just as was prophesied hundreds of years before He was born. And just as was prophesied, we were given Immanuel - for the gift of Christ was given.

          "O, Come let us adore him! Christ, The Lord!"

"Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song?

GLORIA, IN EXCELSIS DEO (glory to God in the highest)!"

"Fall on your knees - Oh hear, the angel's voices! Oh, night when Christ was born!"

These songs carry such weight and emotion in them - can't you hear it in the words and the melody? What joy must have been that night! Everything they'd hoped and prayed for was in front of them, there, in the flesh.

And that couldn't embody the truest meaning of Christmas more: God giving His son to us, our savior, our Lord and King.

I hope you take some time to consider the Old Testament prophecies and how they bring so much depth to the Christmas story this season. But mostly, I hope you celebrate the birth of our savior, and what joy comes with accepting his grace and love.
Merry Christmas to you, from snowy South Dakota!

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It's Christmastime in The Cottage!

One of my favorite traditions during Christmas-time is all the Christmas decorating. Who doesn't love staring at lights, tinsel, garland, and, now that I live in Southern California, *fake snow?

A couple nights ago, my roommate and I went to go get our Christmas Tree, which we later affectionately dubbed "Alfalfa," for he has a funny cowlick of a branch in the back. He smells like a great Christmas tree and oftentimes I will walk up to the tree just to close my eyes and take a whiff of the pine.

Though the majority of our Christmas tree is filled with round shiny ornaments, there are several that have cute meanings behind them - Kim and her love affair with owls, plus a Hello Kitty arrangement that she bought upon her engagement with Wes...me and a few I handmade recently.

In addition to the obligatory wrapping-selves in lights and sipping hot cocoa while dancing around to Jingle Bell Rock, we also decked our halls in garland, poinsettias, tinsel, stockings, and more lights.

There is something so calming and soothing about just sitting and staring at the lights in silence late in the night. The peace that fills my soul as I sit and sip on a cup of tea, getting lost in a daze of memories and dreams.

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year. And though I still have no (real) snow, I am truly enjoying the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ and celebrating the season with friends that are family.

Soon this house will be busting with people, eating and chatting and having a grand time. Now its time to get baking and prepping!

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november

In Ten Words:searching . preparing . tea . writing . friendships . hopeful . wandering . pumpkin . longing . caribou mug (I concede the last one is 2 words.)

Perfect Day:Sunday. No matter how tired, frustrated, stressed, worried, and anxious I am about everything, from the time I enter into worship in the morning, take the afternoon to wander and be quiet, and then spend the evening with the youth group, it's a day full of spiritual refreshment. I wish all days could be Sundays.

Inspiration:a book of poems I picked up at a garage sale a while back.
Dee Henderson & Susan May Warren.
the dream of cozying up next to the fireplace writing for hours on end.

Unwind:Sipping a cup of tea while reading, writing, or watching Friends as my roommate sews a dress.

Can't live without:My walks. I love getting to take short breaks throughout the day and taking some time to spend with God, discussing my future, my heart, my frustrations, my fears, my dreams...

Favorite Indulgence:Chocolate. I guess nothing changes.
That, and bedtime tea in my Caribou mug or my "H" mug.

Currently Most Played on iPod:
Moon River - Andy Williams
River - Sarah McLachlan
After You - Breanne Duren
Helicopter - Branches
Home - The Piano Guys

Proudest Moment:NaNoWriMo 2013!
If by some miracle I finish, I'll have 50,000 words by November 30th.

Biggest Challenge:Making time for writing and chores and cooking every night.

Memory:The day the Vikings won. Victory never tasted so sweet.

You can find me:When not at work, either curled up on the couch with a mug of tea writing or at Element or a bookstore writing.

3 goals:
Write
Write some more
Write 50,000 words by November 30th

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contentment

I usually think of birds symbolizing adventure, soaring on the wind, taking the breeze wherever it leads them. Watching them fly on the streams of air, I often forget that they just sit, too. I recently saw several birds sitting on phone wires and singing to each other. And I couldn't help but wonder about their seemingly content nature, just resting and enjoying the place they're at.

Part of me longs for adventure, always wanting to fly away. But many times, I often forget that I need to sit. To stay. To stay and be content to stay.

It's always greener on the other side of the fence, and it's always easier to want adventure when you're sitting and to want to sit when you're on an adventure. But contentment is something to be learned. And I am learning just that.

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