entering into the crafting world...

I have so many beautiful, talented friends who are so creative and artistically gifted. Every time my friend Becca sews a beautiful new apron or knits a cute little baby hat, I just sit back in amazement. And I so admire the beautiful pictures my friend Bethany  takes or the way she expresses herself  in her writing in a way that just takes you to where she is. Whenever my sister learns to play an instrument or sings one of the songs she written, all I can do is listen in awe. 

I could go on for a while with this list. 

Being surrounded by such beauty and creativity has left me feeling a teensy-bit insecure about tackling any sort of artsy project. I mean, most of my life has been spent on the softball field and I never really thought the art world and sports world could collide. And the part of me that doesn't like to try an activity unless I think I'll naturally excel at it didn't want to go anywhere near a pair of knitting needles or a sewing machine. 

But...as I try to overcome my fear of failure, (which is a ridiculously crippling fear), and spend more time around Becca, I've been finding myself dabbling in a few projects. I finally figured out knitting a couple months ago-thanks to Becca-and just last week I finished my first sewing project. 

Just like Becca and Sam, TJ and I have been doing a cash-only budget for the last few months. We really like it, but those darn manilla envelopes kept ripping, not to mention that they looked a little tacky...not that it matters...but when Becca suggested making cash pouches, I was convinced. 

So here are a couple pictures of our cash pouches. We used the artsy clutch pattern from the book, Bend-The-Rules Sewing. 

The different fabrics correspond with a different budget category. For example, the brown pouch in the back is our grocery fund, because we think the little circles look like doughnuts... 

TJ even got in on the sewing action. He made this bag and chose the fabric. Yes, those are dancing skeletons, so of course this would be our entertainment fund. 

We both had a lot of fun learning to sew together and now I just have to find the ambition to tackle a new project. Any suggestions? 

to-do list

The last 4 days have been emotionally and physically draining. So today, I slept in. I've been up for nearly an hour and so far I've done nothing, and I have the feeling nothing will get done. I work in less than 4 hours, so my time is limited. Here is a quick list of things I hope to get done today.

1. run 3 miles

2. go to bank

3. light housework

That's it folks. It should not be that hard to do this...but lately it seems like God's been wanting to show me just how impossible it is for me to do anything on my own. So by God's grace, I will have a productive morning and look to see Him through all of it.

23 today

My friend Megan turns 23 today!

In honor of her birthday, here are 23 things I've found most memorable about our friendship. 

1. My first friend

2. Since I could remember we were always competing - around the world, pig, who could hold their breath the longest under water, who was taller - and Megan almost always beat me, but she never made me feel bad about it. 

3. We watched David the Gnome after school in kindergarten and ate her mom's canned peaches and pickles 

4. We started t-ball the same year. She was a little penguin and I was a lucky duck

5. We were tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum for halloween

6. We also were golfers for halloween

7. Can dance like no other- especially to The Lion Sleeps Tonight. (I do have that on tape by the way)

8. We took swimming lessons together and were the only two in level 6 and our teacher passed us both, even though I'm sure I shouldn't have... 

9. We played softball together on the Gophers, the Twisters, Hallie Stars, the Flash, and at Immanuel Lutheran, but played against each other in college

10. The best softball catcher I ever had 

11. She totally hit a home run off me in college

12. We were tour choir partners 2 years

13. We did a Bible Fair project in 8th grade about Hell 

14. We've had numerous crazy sleepovers with our friend, Bethany.

15. We've been friends for 23 years

16. We both stopped playing softball the same year, but wished we could have played together again. If only I would have transferred to Eau Claire... 

17. She helped me realize that I really didn't like what I was studying in school 

18. Milo and Otis

19. We would call each other before school to see what the other person was wearing

20. She always burned me the best music mixes in High School. That girl has good taste in music!

21. She got me one my favorite birthday present ever ... and Disney Children's Cookbook

22. I credit Megan for getting me through summer softball because at the time, we were both so different from the girls we were playing with. Maybe it was all those years of Lutheran school... =) 

23. Even though we hardly ever see each other, I know the next time we get together we will pick up right where we left off. 

So Megan, I don't know if you are reading this or not, but thank you for your friendship. 

fleeting happiness

"God is not after our happiness, He's after our joy." - Matt Chandler

When I woke up this morning, I felt happy. I was anticipating how I was going to spend my day off, planning on a nice long run, busting out the new sewing machine, and maybe even making dinner tonight...maybe. The day was already gorgeous, barely a cloud in the sky, and I just felt happy.

Then I was getting ready to go for my run and my phone rang. Guess who it was.

My boss.

Here's the conversation that took place

Boss: "Andrea, Billy just hurt his foot today and he can't come in to work his shift tonight. He's scheduled with Vince, who isn't cleared yet, and so we need another staff who is cleared to come into work. "
*(the names of the staff were changed, and not being cleared means that a staff's background check has not gone through and therefore, is required to work with a cleared staff) 

Me: "uhhh...can I think about it for a little bit? I did have some plans today and things that I was hoping to get done. Can I call you back in like an hour"

Boss: "Well, I don't want to be mean but you are my first call and I would like to know whether or not you can work it so I can keep calling around."

Me: "Can you call other people first? If nobody can work it I suppose I can do it."

Boss: "There really aren't that many options. There are only 2 other cleared staff besides you that aren't working today and Jenny probably has day care issues."

Me: "Ok, well if you could try calling them and then I'll call you back soon."

Boss: "That's fine"

It was amazing to me to see how fast my mood could change. I went from smiling to crying within a matter of minutes. (I really did cry...) And it didn't take much. It wasn't like something tragic happened. My boss just asked me to work. That was it. 

I guess the point I am trying to make is that if I thought God was coming to make me happy, I would be daily disappointed and frustrated with God. God is after my joy, which can be sustained through sadness and grief. And working overtime.

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

Andrea - A.K.A...

The Android. 

One of the 'perks' of my job is getting the coolest nickname I've ever had. That's right. One the kids I support calls me 'Andrea the Android'. It doesn't get much better than that. 

sparta

My dear TJ loves finding quirky videos on youtube. I, on the other hand, feel like sifting through the bazillions of videos is an overall waste of my time. But don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good youtube video just as much as the next person. 

Especially videos featuring cats. 

TJ found this video a few nights ago and I pretty much love it. And those of you who are cat owners might get a kick out of it. And not to mention this guy's dance moves are the bomb...  

out of my comfort zone

It's amazing how quickly I can be pushed out of my comfort zone. I think my comfort zone is more like a comfort box, because it seriously doesn't take much. 

Earlier this week I was watching a debate about the reality of Satan. I wasn't even the one debating, but I felt so uncomfortable watching my beliefs getting challenged that I literally was nauseous, and I was so close to just turning it off. 

Just today, I did a training where I had to pretend like I was non-verbal and blind, and then use body language to communicate that I hadn't eaten all day and I was hungry. For those for those of you who know me well, probably know that I would rather sit in a lecture hall for 8 hours than get up in front of people and try and act something out. So that was extremely awkward for me (though I must admit, an enlightening representation of what some of the people we work with go through...). 

Or on a more personal level, I am terrified of being known. I've gotten to the point with some of my coworkers where we've said all of the basic introduction talk - where are you from?Are you in school? Any kids? and so on - and what I tend to do is just avoid people after this point, because I'm uncomfortable sharing on a deeper level.

So my gut instinct is to run away. I realized that this way of thinking has stunted my growth, both spiritually and relationally.  If I stay in my little 'safety box' all of the time, when will I ever get the chance to get to know people and love them as Christ does? Or when will I be able to no longer be ignorant about what I believe and why I believe it? And then go on to discuss my beliefs with someone who doesn't agree with me and not get defensive? How many times have I rejected what God was telling me to do because it made me feel awkward? How selfish am I? So often I think that if something is difficult, God doesn't want me to do it. Like the easy way must always be God's way. Or if something doesn't work the first time, that must mean he doesn't want me to do it. Which it seems that in scripture, it's really quite the opposite. Like God is asking, "how much are you willing to sacrifice and suffer for my glory?" 

I guess I don't really have a complete thought on this right now, so overall, what I am trying to say is that my life died with Christ. I am not living for myself. I shouldn't have a comfort zone. My comfort is in Christ crucified. 

1 Peter 1:6-8 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which  perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."