First Hand Perspective on Sarah Palin

The following link is from a blog of the sister of one of my sister-in-law's friends (got that? :). Her name is Jess and she's a native of Wasilla, Alaska (yes, that Wasilla).

I've greatly enjoyed corresponding with her through email as of late, and I immensely enjoyed this first-hand perspective on Sarah Palin as shared by Jess's husband. Thought I would share it as an insider's view on our potential next vp. :) Enjoy!

http://we2r1preston.blogspot.com/2008/09/our-governor-next-vice-president.html

What I'm Reading Right Now

So, I picked up a free copy of "Joni" (pronounced like "Johnny"). It's the story of Joni Eareckson, now Joni Eareckson-Tada, who became a quadriplegic at the age of seventeen as the result of a diving accident.

It was her first book, and it's an eye-opening account. She walks the reader through her struggle from day one of her disability. I'm only about half-way through, and she has been sharing candidly her fight with depression, loneliness, pointlessness, and the ultimate question: "How on Earth could God's plan possibly include this and mean it for good?" I can relate with every one of those attacks from Satan--can't you?

I want to share a quote from the book that struck me as very poignant. In her journey, she's come full-circle in the "Is there even a God?" debate. She's read Marx, Kafka, and many others, but those only leave her in despair. After turning to the Bible once again, she says:

"I was angry that my life has been reduced to the basics of eating, breathing, and sleeping--day in and day out. But what I discovered was that the rest of the human race was in the same boat. Their lives revolved around the same meaningless cycle--except with them, it wasn't as obvious. Peripheral things distracted them from the fact that they were caught on the same treadmill. Their jobs, schools, families, and recreation occupied them enough so they never consciously recognized their lives were the same as mine--eating, breathing, sleeping.

"And slowly, I became aware of God's interest in me. I was some sort of 'cosmic guinea pig'--a representative of the human race on whom truth could be tested. All the distractions, trappings, and things were gone. God had taken them away and had placed me here without distractions...I had to find meaning, purpose, and direction, not just some measure of temporary satisfaction.

"Yes, there had to be a personal God, I reasoned. He may choose not to reveal himself to me...but them, why should He? Why was I any more important than the next person who had to find God and purpose by faith, not by sight. Why should I be different?"

(from: "Joni." by Joni Eareckson. 1976. pp. 105)

So often I feel as Joni did. What is there in the world that will have lasting effects? lasting meaning? I get bogged down by the drudgery and monotony of day-to-day living sometimes, because, lets face it, life is difficult. As Christians, however, we must never forget that the work we do that honors the Lord is lasting and permanent. Praise be to the Lord!

One final thought, and it's not my own. Let us turn to the ultimate authority on this topic:

"A man can do nothing better

than to eat and drink and

find satisfaction his work.

This too, I see is from the hand of God

for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?"

~Ecclesiastes 2: 24-25

! * ! * Boomsday * ! * !

Happy Labor Day To Everyone!

Kevin and I had our first official taste of big city life last night. We went to Knoxville's annual spectacular fireworks display, appropriately named Boomsday. I've never been, and Kevin had not been in several years. There was lots to partake in, and we were joined by thousands!

Thanks to some friends we had a great spot on top of a parking garage. This is the view from the top:

Like I said, we met up with several friends, including, but not limited to two of my college roommates. Len, Ashley, Laura, and me waiting for the fireworks to get going! :)

The fireworks were spectacular! The set them off to music--it's a fabulous sight!


Those two vertical sparks on the far right are set off from the top of a hospital. Gotta wonder what the patients think of that, huh? :)

Proof that Kevin and I were actually there:

Just before the finale, they do something called "The Waterfall." It looks like water falling from the bridge. It's beautiful!

i LOVE these things!

1) Last movie you saw in a theater? We went to see "Prince Caspian" for our anniversary. I cried.

2) What book are you reading? "Knowing God"--not far into it, but rearing to go. :)

3) Favorite board game? Probably Scrabble. I like Canasta, too, but it's hard to teach other people how to play.

4) Favorite magazine? I like several. Reader's Digest. Glamour (I know, I know...).

5) Favorite smells? Kevin has this cologne called "Good Life" and it smells SOOO good. :)

6) Favorite sounds? little kids laughing.

7) Worst feeling in the world? letting someone that I love down.

8) What is the first thing you think of when you wake? "That wasn't long enough."

9) Favorite fast food place? mcdonalds (yes, I agree with Jessica :)

10) Future child's name? We haven't settled on any specific names, but a few that I like, and some that we like, are: Grace, Isaiah, Cameron (boy or girl), Joel, Ruth, Renee...

11) Finish this statement - "If I had a lot of money I'd..." pay off our student loans.

12) Do you drive fast? faster than Kevin, so I get in trouble a lot. ;)

13) Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? I did all the way through college, then I got married, and Kevin won't let me. :)

14) Storms - cool or scary? I like good, hard lightning/thunder storms--none of the sissy constant drizzle that Seattle had.

15) What was your first car? 1992 Honda Civic--no air, no power windows, 4 cylinder all the way, baby!!!!

16) Favorite drink? Ginger Ale. (lame, huh?)

17) Finish this statement--"If I had the time, I would......" write my novel.

18) Do you eat the stems on broccoli? um, we generally eat frozen broccoli (after it's been cooked of course), so I guess so....?

19) If you could dye your hair any other color, what would be your choice? i've always wanted red hair, but not like liccorice red, like a pretty strawberry blonde red. :-D

20) Name all of the different cities/towns you've lived. Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Auburn (near Seattle), Maryville, Knoxville.

21) Favorite sports to watch. Basketball.

22) One nice thing about the person who sent this to you? I stole from a new friend's blog, and she seems pretty dern cool. :)

23) What's under your bed? this crooked little spring thing that supposedly supports us...it's strange. come see it.

24) Would you like to be born as yourself again? I'm not a big fan of this question. I've enjoyed my life so far, so I wouldn't mind living it again....

25) Morning person or night owl? I hate mornings. I get sleepy easily at night. Catch me around 6 or 7. I like the evenings.

26) Over easy or sunny side up? sunny side up. :)

27) Favorite place to relax? Does sleeping count as "relaxation?" It's seriously my hobby.

28) Favorite pie? Cherry.

29) Favorite ice cream flavor? butter pecan.

30) Of all the people you have tagged, who is the most likely to respond first? I'm not tagging anyone either...namely because I'm not sure how. :-D

"The Harvest is Plentiful..."

We've been in our new home a little over two weeks...I finally feel like we're settling. I think it's the pictures. My mom told me that when we confirmed that we were moving, the first thing I should do is take all our pictures off the walls. In the same way that I took them off our old home, I'm working to get them up in our new home. Pictures and wall decorations have a way of making a house a home.

And there's a burden that's on my heart, and I'm not sure where it's going to take me. Save the last year where we lived relatively remotely, I've always lived in the city. Moving back into the city confirmed that I am indeed a city girl.

I'm friends with, live near, and am related to so many who love the private, remoteness of mountains and farms. I appreciate that in them, but I am starting to accept that I am not one of them. Growing up in Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, and Seattle before coming to Tennessee cultivated in me a love for the metropolitan life. I love living four minutes from a Kroger (five if I miss the light :). I don't mind the sound of sirens at night. I like being able to walk next door to borrow an egg if I'm lacking.

My burden, however, is this: we've moved in to a mission field. Both my parents taught me that with all the neighbors we've had over the years. We live in a small apartment, not a dorm room and not a house. I've only seen a handful of the people who we share a building with, and I can only identify one of them by name. They are single, married, old, young, and some seem to be from different countries. I'd love to get into these people's lives and get to know them, develop a relationship.

The cynic in me scoffs: "How? They don't care. And you don't, either, really." And maybe some of that is true, but I can't escape that Jesus does care, and through Him, I can love them and Lord-willing develop relationships with them.

Pray for me on that, will you? It's a burden that I feel nearly every time I pull into our parking lot.

Eight units on our half of our building, times two halves to our building, times five building in our court, times two courts= a lot of opportunity. :-)

Thanks for all you mean to us! We love you all!