This is not a post about my wedding...

My pastor recently commented that my blog posts are always about me getting married.  Therefore, this blog post is not about me getting married...

That same pastor also recently finished up a three-sermon series called "Project 68" that was based on Micah 6:8.  The sermon topics were justice, kindness, and humility (respectively).  I thought it was a fantastic series - probably because it issued real challenges to me.

The justice sermon dealt more with social justice than justice for criminals.  An example of this would be justice for children working in sweatshops across the world.  The prophetic books in general, but specifically Micah, spoke out often about bringing justice for the poor, widowed, and orphaned.  So, likewise, we should make these under-served people a concern in our own lives.

The kindness sermon was all about loving love, which sounds weird - I know.  But the premise was to love bigger and better than we are right now.  Simple in theory - hard in practice.

The third sermon, humility, was more or less about relinquishing control in our lives, finding ways to humbly say "I am not God."

Each week, Pastor J offered us a different, but simple, project:

Justice - find one way to promote justice for those who are marginalized.

Kindness - find one way to love better and bigger in your life.

Humility - relinquish control over an area of your life that needs to be relinquished.

Personally, I found that the challenges became harder each week, which is not what I expected.  I would have expected for the challenges to get easier, considering what the topics were.  But I had no trouble figuring out my justice project - that was easy.  My kindness project was a little more difficult, but the Lord had a project kind of "fall in my lap" by the end of the week, which made that one a little easier.

However, my humility project is still unfinished because I have yet to really figure it out.  It's something I've been praying through but haven't quite found the right area.  Ironically, maybe that's the real issue - that I like to be so in control that I can't find any area that I'm willing to relinquish control yet.  I'm not sure.  Whatever the outcome, I know God will place something on my heart (if he hasn't already, and I've just ignored it).

(PS - I'm so blessed to be a part of a church that challenges me spiritually, in simple and complex ways.  I can't help but marvel at God's divine plan for my life thus far.)

So which of these three areas do you struggle with the most?

Pearl Bracelet Tutorial

I was rummaging through my craft supplies and found (1) twine and (2) plastic pearls, both from previous projects and labeled as "leftovers."  So what do I do?  Naturally, I make a bracelet.  This is so easy to do - your kids can make one if they want.

Here's what ya do:

String a pearl onto the twine and tie a knot on both sides.  Be sure to leave several inches on the end for later.

Continue to string the pearls and tie knots until you have as many as you like.  I ended up with six.  Once you've made one strand, make a duplicate.  Now you have two strands of pearls on twine.  Tie them together on the ends.  I made my knots as close as I could get them to the last knots on both strands (on both ends).

I used an old school technique to finish the bracelet - the infamous sliding knot.  Take one end of the strands and tie a knot around the other end.  Do the same with the opposite end around the first strands.  Sounds difficult, but it's not.  Check out this simple tutorial (with pictures) if you're unclear.  You can really use whatever technique you want - this is the only one I could remember off-hand.

It's a simple bracelet, but I really love the rustic feel to it, mostly due to the twine.  I also thought it might work well as a necklace - I might have to try it.  Enjoy!

Northwest Love Story

I recently ran across this linky party and thought I'd join in the fun.  I haven't seen anything like this before, so I'm curious to try it out.  

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Matthew and I have been together for 3 years and 6 months as of February 2nd of this year.  

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

The first time we ever encountered each other was after church the summer of 2007.  I noticed him playing the guitar in church and was really impressed - so, naturally, I walked up to him afterward and told him he plays very well.  All he did was say thanks, nod his head, and keep on strumming.  Little did I know that he was already smitten by me before I ever walked over to him.  So when we were officially introduced by his dad at church a few weeks later, it didn't take long before Matthew asked me on a date.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

Ummm...hmmm...I guess so.  ;)  Just kidding!  We're getting married June 9th!!!

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We will be getting married at the church where our relationship started (and grew), First Baptist Church Port Orchard.  Our reception will be at Bethel Grange here in town.  And we're expecting 150-175 guests to attend.  So I would say big?

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

In texts and emails, Matthew calls me "love," which absolutely melts my heart.  I'm not even sure how that started.  And my pet name for him is Chewie.  It all started because his nieces couldn't say Matthew when they were little, and his nick-name as a kid was Chewie (because the kids he played with couldn't say Matthew - they could only say "Maa-chew," which turned into Chewie).  So I got them to start calling him Chewie, and it became more of a habit for me than anyone.  :)

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

I love that he has an intimate relationship with Jesus.  I love that he's the kind of guy that other people (and I) really respect.  And I love that he works so hard to provide (and does so heartily).

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

On our first date, Matthew took me to dinner at this Japanese steakhouse (my first experience of that kind) and this spot that overlooks the water downtown, and we talked for a couple of hours.  The night he proposed he took me back to the place downtown, told me he loves me, and got down on one knee.  It was super sweet and entirely romantic.  :D

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

He's more of a dinner and candy kind of a guy because he knows how much I love candy!

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I like the idea of a sunset dinner on the beach, but I think I will always prefer the intimacy of watching a movie while relaxing on the couch.  I like the comfort of it.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant other one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I'd like to visit Greece and Rome and England.  I just want to travel with him.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

That's a good question.  We aren't super duper hardcore about doing something on Valentine's day since my birthday is only two days later.  We'll probably just rent a movie and order Chinese or something.  Haha.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Not really.  I mean, he'll get me something, but I'm not asking for anything specific.  I have been kind of begging for a sewing machine recently though.  So I might end up getting one for V-day/birthday.  We'll see.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Learn how to communicate.

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

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