Summer Boredom Domination

Oh summer. Very few people my age get a spring break and I'm one of the lucky ones. In my first week off I have already come across the dreadfulness that is boredom. Don't get me wrong, I am VERY thankful I don't HAVE to work right now. I have been able to read, relax, workout, clean, see friends and family, watch TLC and HGTV all day, "sleep-in"ish, eat whenever I want, go the the beach, takes naps, shop. It's been awesome. BUT there have already by times I just want to get away from myself or do something new and exciting. Which brings me to the real reason I am posting this post.

I have a goal. I'm usually not a "goal kinda girl" but eh, thought I'd try it. Goal is... do something new each day this summer. Lofty. I know. I'm already realizing I shouldn't have put that down on "paper".

The idea came to me last night as I was attempting to fall asleep but couldn't because of all my pent up, unused energy from the day. I was sad that my I was bored on my SUMMER BREAK. That has to illegal in at least 49 of the 50 states. The idea continued into day on my run. I began to change my mind as to what route I was going to take. All of a sudden I just decided to go down streets I'd never been on.  "Let's see where this one goes," I thought to my self. It probably went a little more like "Let's see... where... this one... goes." It felt SO refreshing to change up my route. To not have a specific time or distance I was going for. To just...run.

My "I want to do something new" idea continued later on in the day when I decided to go to a nearby beach I always saw from the highway but never knew how to get to. I went down quite a few back roads, made only three U-turns, and found my way there. It was great. Sitting on a picnic bench, reading. But not too long into my happiness and non-boredom, I started smelling something. Smoke. Not fire smoke... like drugs smoke. It wasn't a cigarette, I know that, because I "secretly" kinda of like the smell of cigarette smoke. No no no. This smell brought me back to my time in Jamaica. There was a creepy man a little ways behind me. I tried my best to just ignore him, telling myself I'd be fine. There were people around so I knew he probably wouldn't try anything. But I think I've seen one too many movies because I got up and left. Looking behind me as I got in my car I saw him looking back at me. EEEEE!!! Creepy. Last time I go to THAT beach alone. Fun adventure nonetheless though.

So with my mini-adventures today I have decided to try/do something new each day. Some ideas I have:

Baking/cooking something new (I can use this multiple times if I run out of ideas)
Moving all my living room furniture out of the way and choreograph a dance routine (Ryan and I have been watching So You Think You Can Dance)
Write a short story
Volunteer somewhere
Road trip to see my friend Mallory in Kentucky (already in the works)
Sew something (HAS to be small)
Plant something
Learn how to play a song on the guitar
Make my wedding album that I've put off for over a year

Ok, that's all I can ponder up at the moment.

Boring summer, all I have to say is, watch out. You're about to be dominated.

All I Want Are Some Coupons!!!

I had a fight with a couple of very annoying ink cartridges today. It wasn't pretty and it didn't end well.

We haven’t had a printer set up since being married. Ryan got it up and running last night, but the ink wasn’t working. We figured it was just really old or simply out of ink. 

I have the day off and was so excited to make a big grocery trip- I'm really embracing this whole wife thing. I’m trying to buy as much food for the whole month as possible (except for a few things that need to be fresh, like fruit, veggies, etc.) in hopes that we won't spend as much on food. I even took the time and effort to plan out meals for the whole month, so I get exactly what I need. Nothing more, nothing less. Fyi, it's usually harder to stick to the nothing more part.

Going along with this plan to not spend so much, I’m aspiring to be the next Extreme Couponer (not really). This is why I was so excited to have the ability to print off coupons for this trip. Was is the key word. 

Ok, so all I had to do was run and get new ink cartridges and put them in the printer. Sounds easy enough. I took the trip out, bought the new ones, got home, opened them, and then attempted to install them. I knew where they went, but I could not for the life of me, figure out how to get them in. I saw a website I could go to that would help me, but it failed. Either that or I failed. Not quite sure. On the side of the page it asked if this website was “helpful, sort of helpful, or not helpful”. I kept looking for the “not at all helpful and I’m really mad about it” button. Couldn’t find it.

I texted Ryan at work, being all damsel in distress-like. He called me and tried to explain it to me, but I was just not able to do it. The frustrating part was how simple I knew it was. I could hear the cartridges laughing at me.

A few inky fingers later I gave up. I couldn’t do it. I actually got emotional about it too. I almost started to cry. What the heck?! I'm letting ink cartridges and the fact that I can't get coupons make me cry?! This is when I knew I needed to blog about it, to relieve my frustration. I just really wanted coupons for my big trip today. You know that feeling when you time everything just right, but then one thing goes wrong and throws everything else off? Hate that.

Deep breath. Ok. I'm over it. No, really, I am. I'm not going to let those stupid ink cartridges and even those stupid coupons that are still sitting so nicely on their web page, unprinted, get the best of me. I'm not that pathetic.

So, if you ever need help installing ink cartridges into your printer, don’t call me. That is unless you simply need a sympathetic ear or shoulder to cry on when you can’t figure it out either. 

Wind

Oh wind I can’t see you, but I know that you’re there.

You dance with the branches and throw leaves in the air.

You can cool and can comfort everything in your path,

But then humble and cut down everything with your wrath. 

The way that you move things will always be known.

Your power and comfort have always been shown.

It takes faith to believe, ‘cause my eyes cannot see you

But I can touch and can love and can know and can feel you.

Oh God I can’t see you, but I know that you’re here.

And though I am blind, I know that you’re near.

Your wind an example of simplified faith,

To believe in the wind is to believe in your grace.

I am blind and a sinner, but sinner’s you choose.

To be wrapped in your love, and receive the good news.

You strengthen my faith, with trials and ease,

You’re my rescue and savior from all stormy seas.

Oh wind I can’t see you, but I know that you’re here.

My God, he has made you, My God he is near.

called to greatness...

Think of all the thoughts that have ever been thought.  Trillions.  All of the knowledge and wisdom that people of our world possess.  What does a 25 yr old like me have to bring to the table?  What innovative idea am I going to come up with that hasn’t already been used? Umm, none?

How does a newlywed give marital advice to a friend who’s been married for 10+ yrs? 

How does a sober man who’s never had a drink tell an alcoholic to just give it up?

How does a blessed man who’s never lost a loved one comfort someone who has just lost the one they love the most?

It’s instances like these that leave me speechless.  Man, if only I were filled with some sort of greatness that could heal the crushed souls around me. 

And then greatness reminds me He’s here…

You see, my greatness is not defined like an athletes stat sheet.  How many HR’s I hit, or how many TD’s I throw?  My greatness isn’t determined by how many problems I solved or situations I fixed.  My greatness is Jesus and the promise that His Holy Spirit will guide.

My age has nothing to do with the fact that I can be used to impact people.  Through the Holy Spirit working in me, I can be used for God’s GREATNESS.    

I’m reminded daily that I can’t live on my own.  I have no ounce of greatness within me aside from the perfection that is Jesus. 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 

Time and time again, God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  That’s good news for me!  

Firsts

           What does twelve days ago, George Washington, and this post all have in common? Firsts.  Beginnings. There’s something unique about them, something bold. You can dread them, welcome them, or possibly both.

            I was horrified the first time I jumped into a pool without the comfort of my hunters-orange arm floaties. This particular first took place at my grandparent’s house. My dad was standing in four feet of water; arms open wide, promising to catch me. I must have been convinced, because I jumped. Not without hesitancy though. It took about twenty minutes and eight of my other relatives to shout their encouragement in order for my feet to leave the ground. Point is, I jumped.

            Do you see where I’m going with this?

            Firsts require jumping. In some situations you leap with fearless abandon, and in some, shall we say, you are a tad more timid, if not downright terrified. Point is, you jump. 


-Kristie