I'm not a writer...

at 08/13/11 11:24PM
And it's past my bedtime. I've found that I'm no longer at FC and not capable of staying up past 3 am...well, let's be honest, 11 pm...like I used to. Guess that has to do with the fact that I work 40 hours a week and get up at 6 am. :-P I kind of like it that way though.

Jim, Amber, Ben, and I recently went to see Death Cab for Cutie at Stage AE. The concert was amazing...and it caused me to pause and think about where I am at. A little over three years ago, Amber and I drove to Ohio to see the same band. I was engaged to Jim, but he was in South Africa, and we were going through a rough time as long distance relationships often do. I remember during the encore at the end of the concert, the last song they played was "Transatlanticism," a song about the ocean separating two people in love. Needless to say, I teared up.

During this concert, the last song that they played was the same one, and instead I was leaning against Jim with his arms wrapped around me. It is incredible to think of what has happened...I never thought three years ago that in 2011 I would be living in the city with my husband going to see the same band with my sister and her husband.

Life happens fast, doesn't it?

I did a cake recently that said "Happy 70th Anniversary". Jim and I will have three years under our belt on the 22nd. It seems to have gone by so fast, but at the same time, I know we both have changed and grown up so much. In only three years. I pray that God will bless us with many more years together.

I heard "Lord come quickly" in a prayer recently. It made me wonder if I could say and mean those words in a prayer. You never really hear that sort of thing in 20-something's prayers. I'll be honest...I'm attached to where I'm at. I want to know where life will lead me...if we will have kids...would I get that bakery I always wanted...what Jim would look like when he's old and gray.

Amber is an EMT. I hear her stories of the elderly passing away and of people taking life for granted and of people who have nothing but are still thankful for it. It's sobering and has caused me to think about my faith.

These thoughts are all jumbled and confusing. That's usually how things I say come out.

Luke 17:5-6 - "The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.""

James 4:13-14 - "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
  • kattath
    It's good to hear from you dear! Time does seem to fly... it's been a year since Victor and I got married! Hard to believe...
    by kattath at 08/13/11 11:41PM
  • brownie
    thank you for all your support in my little singlehood life. You're a great friend!

    And it's always so refreshing to notice something special about life. Sarah Benson seems to post often about the little things that may seem insignificant, but that can bring you a new perspective on life. Or at least help you appreciate life a little bit more. It's really encouraging. Thanks for sharing your own thoughts! You seem so peacefully content. That's encouraging. A lot. :) :)
    by brownie at 08/14/11 6:31AM
  • apbooklover04
    It's definitely good to slow down and not take for granted the time and blessings that are flying by us. It's nice to hear from you!
    by apbooklover04 at 08/14/11 9:20AM
  • split_rock
    So nice to see your name light up again! Glad you're doing well and not taking your life for granted. Life is amazing; and while we don't want to get too attached to life on this earth, we are put here for a reason and need to make sure we are making the most of it during our sojourn here -- "sojourn" being the operative word.
    by split_rock at 08/14/11 1:43PM
  • kattath
    Hey dear! Thank you!! I hope so too. ;)
    by kattath at 08/15/11 1:41AM
  • sararschick
    I love you, girl. Congrats on making it to the 3rd year mark, the Lord willing, come Aug. 22! I miss you so much, and loved reading your (as always) wonderful thoughts, as well as the accompanying Scripture!
    by sararschick at 08/15/11 10:05PM
  • sararschick
    And I beg to differ about your subject line--you're a fantastic writer, ma dear! ;) (Hey, remember when we used to say we wished Jesus would come while we were together, if it weren't for Stefan not being a Christian yet? I just now thought of that time when we were sitting on the bed in my room back home and spilling our hearts as we often did... now that he has become a Christian, it is all the more comforting to think of that day, if it happens while we're still living on this Earth!)
    by sararschick at 08/15/11 10:08PM
  • butterfly
    sometimes the posts of jumbled thoughts are the good ones. glad things are going well with you :)
    by butterfly at 08/18/11 7:31PM
  • meg
    I "get" jumbled! I'm full of jumbled. And I get how hard it is to say, "Lord, come quickly." I've only got 10 years on you, but I can say that now. I'd rather go home, but I don't want to cause my loved ones grief, so we can just go together! :D
    by meg at 08/22/11 8:19PM
  • meg
    Love you, sister!
    by meg at 08/22/11 8:19PM
  • morgie_m101
    Happy Anniversary yesterday!! :D I haven't talked to you in what seems like forever! :/ It is nice and encouraging to read about you and how well you're doing! 3 you and expect emails :)
    by morgie_m101 at 08/23/11 8:19AM

01/18/11 7:07AM

So I rarely post on here. It's not that I don't care about all of you...I check up on you all on facebook all the time. I guess it's because my life is so busy while being boring that there's not much to post about. But...today that may change.

Jim and I are moving. Again. Maybe it's going to become a yearly tradition or something. Today we are moving to a cute little one bedroom apartment in the city of Pittsburgh. We live near the airport outside the city now...but are frequently going in the city to visit my sister and Ben. We love how busy and active the city is...being able to walk everywhere and that there's always something to do. Plus the fact that we both don't have any kids right now makes it a prime time to get it out of our system I guess.

I'm still a cake decorator at Costco. It's really a bittersweet sort of job right now...I like the work but some of the people I work with don't get along (to say the least) so it makes it hard. But this company is a surprisingly good one. It's relatively easy to move up into management if you're willing to put in the time and the work, and it pays better than any food service corporation that I'm aware of. So for now, I believe that it's good experience and worth it.

Well...I suppose that's all for now. It's been a good year...and I'm so excited about the next.

Take care and pray hard.

"I'm not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything. I've always been a freak. So I've been a freak all my life and I have to live with that, you know. I'm one of those people." (John Lennon)
  • tandielq
    Good to see you a couple of weeks ago and glad to hear you are enjoying life in PA!
    by tandielq at 01/18/11 10:20PM
  • brownie
    "busy while being boring" cracked me up. I enjoyed seeing you too. Good luck with your "yearly" move and everything. lol. I love you!
    by brownie at 01/19/11 11:20AM
  • ominie
    sounds like things are going pretty well! city life sounds exciting, I hope it works out well!
    by ominie at 01/26/11 11:26PM
  • meg
    Hey, get back on now! Well, i guess I could email you...
    by meg at 06/08/11 3:45PM
  • meg
    Yep, I sent you an email yesterday morning. I can double-check my email to be sure, though.
    by meg at 06/14/11 2:28PM
  • meg
    LOL...Evan and Jim--what a pair!
    by meg at 06/14/11 3:02PM

"City lights lay out before us, and your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder, and I had a feeling that I belonged..."

at 03/22/10 10:16PM
Ok...in summary...

Jim and I found the most wonderful apartment in Moon, PA. I couldn't have asked for a better apartment; it is perfect for the two of us.

I have been working as a cake decorator in Costco's bakery for about three months now. It's repetitive work, but I am getting experience picking up speed...so it's good. Jim is working at a call center and is apparently really good at it...he keeps getting free gift cards to restaurants. :-)

I have decided that I don't like the cold weather, and apparently according to the two feet of snow that we got last month, I chose the wrong year to move back to Pittsburgh. :-P Who knows if and where we will move next...but I vote somewhere warm...without two feet of snow...

I love my family. In the past few months I have realized that more than ever. My sisters and brothers-in-law are inspiring and my parents are so giving. I feel blessed to have their influence on myself and Jim again.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if you do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."--Gal. 6:9-10
  • kattath
    miss you!
    by kattath at 03/23/10 12:03AM
  • waynardferguson
    Warm? Florida is warm... :)
    by waynardferguson at 03/23/10 5:17PM
  • blondechick89
    glad things are going well :)
    by blondechick89 at 03/30/10 6:47PM
  • sararschick
    Awww, that's great to hear that things are going well for you both! :) I miss you and love you, sistah! (Texas is pretty warm... ;))
    by sararschick at 03/30/10 6:56PM
  • bibbit18
    Miss you dear.
    by bibbit18 at 06/05/10 2:38AM
  • bibbit18
    Its ok that you ignored it. Everyone else did too. I keep thinking "I cant wait until people dont expect things from me!" I was thinking that would be when I was like 80, but then I realized people will be thinking things like "I wonder when she's going to pass?" Then I decided that I could deal with people wondering when the next great adventure of my life is gonna happen.
    by bibbit18 at 07/04/10 2:38AM
  • mrsfionacharming
    I miss you, Alyssa!
    by mrsfionacharming at 07/05/10 1:30PM
  • kattath
    I read your comment on Bibbit's about "your first child"... I love it!!!!!!
    by kattath at 07/15/10 11:16AM

Psalm...

at 12/14/09 5:00PM
...37:3-7..."Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him..."

...94:18-19..."When I thought, "My foot slips," your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul."
  • heidiw
    I absolutely love Psalm 37. It might be my most favorite of them all.
    by heidiw at 12/14/09 8:31PM
  • brownie
    wow. it brings such contentment to read God's words. I hope things are going well for you this week. love you!
    by brownie at 12/15/09 11:26AM
  • sararschick
    Wow, girl... Back to PA! I hope and pray all goes well for you and Jim while you live in Pittsburgh! And Merry Christmas, girl! Love you!
    by sararschick at 12/25/09 7:19PM
  • sararschick
    I haven't talked to you in ages! :( Hope all is well with you and Jim!
    by sararschick at 03/11/10 8:14PM
  • bonfire
    Oh cool, that picture is from Sara's wedding. I recognize the gazebo like thing they called whatever.
    How are you and Jim doing?
    by bonfire at 03/11/10 8:27PM

"i can't stop and catch my breath, and look no further for happiness. and i will not turn again, 'cause my heart has found its home..."

at 11/30/09 12:34PM
jim and i are moving today.

it's so bittersweet...leaving the people at mt. view (and hannah!)...but seeing the people up north.

amber and i used to daydream about us living next door to each other in the city. we would talk about walking our dogs together, going to late night movies, joining a gym together. never did i really think it would actually happen, especially after i met jim. but then, because God truly is in control and showers blessings, ben swept amber off of her feet and they got married.

i asked jim for one year. one year for us to settle into marriage in this rent-free home, around his family, and in the super warm climate of atlanta. he agreed, and then boom...the year was gone. we went to amber and ben's wedding, and i realized how much i missed my family. the night we returned to atlanta from the trip, we heard a sermon about preaching around the world. this restarted jim's passion for preaching which he had temporarily pushed aside for us. we put two and two together, realized it was time for a change. with much prayer, we decided to move.

looking back at this past couple years i really had no idea what was ahead of me. that i would be married, decorating cakes, living in atlanta. i'm edge-of-my-seat excited to see what's ahead of me. where will God will take me next?...to pittsburgh...to the city life with my sister that i had dreamed of, to renewing old friendships up north, to whatever else may come.

so long atlanta. hello pittsburgh.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
  • ominie
    I am happy for you! I hope it's everything you want it to be :)
    by ominie at 11/30/09 1:11PM
  • tandielq
    Happy for you both! Sad for us. What an adventure life can be!!!
    by tandielq at 11/30/09 2:21PM
  • brownie
    I miss you already. It was the coffee after class. Maybe it was the exhaustion too, but I made a pot of coffee and added the pumpkin spice creamer and then the song Stolen came on. I hope you don't see any trucks with dead chickens on the road. I love you!!!
    by brownie at 11/30/09 3:35PM
  • butterfly
    Have a safe and happy move:-)
    by butterfly at 11/30/09 4:45PM
  • drama_queen14
    AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I CANNOT WAIT!!!! We all miss you guys sooo much and I wanted you to be closer!! now, YAY! :D
    by drama_queen14 at 12/01/09 4:53PM