September Grass

Ahhhhh. The wait is over. I am finally engaged to Truman Wendell Faeh.
For those of you who don't know me very well, let me inform you that I am quite possibly the most impatient person walking the earth. Truman and I have been discussing engagement since September of 2009 (that would be a year!) so it's safe to say I've been thinking about this for a while.

It all started at a coffee shop...
Jewel and Lanny Faeh opened up Barista's when I was a senior and hired me that fall. That winter, Truman moved back to Nebraska and started working at the coffee shop. We didn't start getting to know each other until that summer. I knew I liked him the moment he said he knew who William Fitzsimmons and Sufjan Stevens were (that was rare back then).
For some reason we started working together all the time and getting more and more acquainted. (Little did I know, he was scheduling us together...)

Fast forward to college.
He moved to Arkansas, I moved to Lincoln. I was positive nothing was going to happen. He started emailing me and that lead to phone calls which lead to a relationship. We "dated" for a whole year while being 8 hours apart.

When he came back for fall break, it was going to be the first time we had seen eachother since we had worked together. We went to a park and had a picnic under this unique tree. I remember taking a nap, listening to "September Grass" by James Taylor, and thinking "this is the one".

Little did I know that under that tree was where it would all begin.

Change Is Hard

I have been having some technical difficulties as of late (dog spilt cup of water on computer) but the good ol' mac is up and running again so here we are...

I have been doing this bible study by Beth Moore on the book of Esther.

The only knowledge I had of Esther was from the Veggie Tales movie so needless to say I was a beginner. I strongly encourage any female to consider picking up this book.

I would have never thought that a story like this could teach me so much about my own life.

The last lesson was on selfishness and conceit. It was hard to read because I hate to associate myself with those words, but it was necessary.

I won't go into detail because I couldn't do it justice, but the main message was "we don't have to think highly of ourselves to think obsessively of ourselves."

Obsessed.

That word leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I hate to think that I tend to be obsessed with myself. But if I'm honest, I have to admit that I can be.

Thankfully I have some bible verses to set me straight and keep me grounded...

"For by grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."

Romans 12:3

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Philippians 2:3-4

Humility. This is what I need.

Am I the only one convicted of this or can I get an amen?

J.

Best Day of My Life

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

I recently found out that THE Sufjan Stevens is having an actual tour!!! This may not seem so exciting to you, but Sufjan Stevens has been my absolute favorite artist for years and years and I never thought I'd see the day where he would come to the midwest.


Well, folks. I was wrong!

This fabulous evening will take place in October...which just so happens to be in the same month as my birthday...cough, cough...Truman.

Man. The Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, AND Sufjan Stevens.
It's going to be a good fall...

J.

The Things We Do For Love

Ever since I was a little girl, I was in awe of the fashion industry.

The clothes, the pictures, the pretty models--I wanted to be a part of it.

I dreamed of being a successful career woman with much power (and clothes) and I scoffed at the idea of someone putting anything before their career.

I dreaded Nebraska and in high school I couldn't wait to leave Grand Island behind for good.

The minute I graduated I was out the door and contemplated never returning.

I was ready for college and ready to start plucking away at MY dream.

***Fast forward two years later***

In college I chose to work at a personal relationship with Christ.

As Truman and I started to date I became even more influenced by him and got a glimpse of how great it was to live a godly life.

God showed me a love for Truman that I didn't know was possible and suddenly a silly career didn't even matter to me.

Long story short--Truman is staying in Central City for the semester. One day he suggested that I stay in GI, take time off from school, and work so we would have some money when we got married.

I about slapped the kid.

I could barely stomach the idea of living in Grand Island, Nebraska....with my parents!!!

I did a lot of thinking and praying and finally agreed to stay here.

It's going to be so tough. I'm realizing how hard it is to swallow my pride and my ability to be content is going to be tested over and over.

But I have already learned so much by making this change.

(I'll try to say this without sounding like a giant cliche'...)

I chose to love.

And that's a BIG step for me.

If you would have told me in 2008 that this is where I would be, I would have packed my bags and ran. But that's not God's plan.

I think He has a lot to teach Truman and I in this next semester. I'm scared to death, but ready to learn.

I'd say this counts for being content, eh?

Still plucking away at the resolutions...

J.

Practical Theology for Women

I finally finished The Ragamuffin Gospel (took about all summer). I've been a slacker in the reading department this summer but it was a great book nonetheless. Mr. Manning did a fabulous job of explaining what a ragamuffin is, why I am one, and how beautiful it is that it doesn't matter to God.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around it....

Anyway, on to the next book: Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Horger Alsup. I have absolutely no idea how I found out about this book. However, I was thrilled when I found out that she is a part of Mars Hill church (same church as Mark Driscoll) and she is writing under the same publisher as he.

Needless to say I have high expectations.

When it comes to christian theology I am a rookie to the max.

I didn't grow up in a christian school (it has it's positives and negatives) and I didn't study the Bible growing up. As a matter of fact I thought the Bible was dull and boring and groaned whenever my mom would tell me it held all the answers.

She was right.

Dang it, mom.

I have a strong desire to attempt the understanding of who God is. This is impossible, of course, because he is greater than my mind can imagine. But it IS possible to study Him and what He is. Wendy makes a good point in the book that many Christians think they are beneath the understanding of christian theology--they leave it up to the pastors to study and hold onto a verse or two to get them through the week.

I'm guilty of this.

It never occurred to me that I, too, needed to have a better understanding of christian theology.

I'm only into the first few chapters, but Mrs. Alsup already explains that by studying God and His word, you learn to become a better wife, friend, sister, mother (won't need that one for a while...). So in a way I'm killing two birds with one stone!!

1. Reading a book

2. Learning how to become a killer wife (in a way)

Pick it up! (Or order it) I'd love to have someone to study it with.

Any good books lately?

J.

Rocky Mountain High

I went to Steamboat Springs, CO this weekend. It was one of the most beautiful towns I have ever visited--I could live there and I don't think Truman would mind being a mountain man.

I definitely bonded with nature. Hiking mountains, seeing waterfalls, and swimming in springs. Everything is so freeing in the mountains (hence the hippies everywhere). Speaking of...my absolute favorite part of the trip was Strawberry Hot Springs. These natural springs were way up in the mountains and after dark clothing was optional. It sounds a little questionable, but part of me thinks it would be liberating to swim through warm springs with nothing but my skin and the moon.

Maybe the mountains got to my head a little too much...

Anyway, I had a great time and appreciated the peacefulness of God's creation.

J.