Side Note:

I'm going to Boston for the weekend!!!

WOO-HOO!!!

See you next week.....

Isaiah 64:8

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I started taking a pottery class this year. It was, for me, a great way of being able to take time out to do something artsy at least one day a week. It really calms me & helps keep me less stressed out.

A lot of times when I'm throwing, it brings to mind Isaiah 64:8. I have always liked the imagery of this verse, ever since I started taking pottery classes in high school. I could really understand what it meant; about how malleable we are as humans, and about how much care it takes to shape the clay on the wheel while you're working it. If you've never seen it done, here's a montage of the pictures I took while I was in Gatlinburg, TN last August with my roommates (you can click on it to see it better).



Well, last night I was working on this pot:



And I was really nervous about it. You see, I've taken pottery classes numerous times in the past but our instructor at Studio S seems to think I picked up some bad habits from my former instructors. So, it's like I have to unlearn everything I was taught in the past to relearn it his way.

Yesterday, I had my instructor looking over me and occasionally telling me how to do something better, or how to make what I was doing easier. Sometimes he would take over and fix something I did incorrectly, a couple of times he praised me and told me he was proud of me; and it really made me think about how much it was like me in my life.

Just my everyday...

I started my life instructed in the ways of the world where we're taught it's all about us. We know basic knowledge of how were going to do things. How to make our lives look good and how to make it work out ok. And now, after being saved by grace, here I am now thinking I have this control and working on what it will become, but the whole time God is there watching over me, telling me how to do something better, teaching me ways to make what I'm doing easier (i.e. trusting Him & following His will). Sometimes when I am completely broken or have amazing clarity in my faith (I'm pretty stubborn...) I finally give up and allow God to take over my life and help me fix things... And someday, when I die and go to heaven, I will hear those words "well done, good and faithful servant".

I have the peace of knowing that the perfecter of my faith is in charge of it all, and I'm glad my pottery class reminded me of that...

Confession

I have always wanted to run a marathon.

I don't really know why, but it's something I've thought about and talked about (to a few people) for years. Now, while I'm working out about 4 days a week or so, I'm still not in the best shape of my life. Also, because my knees still sometimes bother me (not as often as they used to!!!!!!) the thought of running isn't always a pleasant one.

But, I've always wanted to run a marathon.

I wonder, sometimes, if it has to do with scripture that talks about "running the race" and "running with perseverance" and all of the subsequent sermons using marathon-type analogy's I've heard over the course of my life... it's just a sneaking suspicion.

It's made me want to run a marathon.

Now there are people who can attest to the fact that I have talked about wanting to run a marathon, and others I've talked to about training for/running one together. You know, that other person to help keep you motivated. it never worked out.

So today when I was looking at the DNJ and saw an article about running, I read it and thought again to myself "Someday I'm going to do this. Someday" Which is why I confess it here and now on this blog of mine.

I WANT TO RUN A MARATHON

There it is. Wide out in the open for all to read. Now what? I could probably lecture you on all of the things I've ever read (again, this is not a new thing) about the best way to start running and how to work your way up to running one. How if you decide to start running you should wait to actually do a competition for about a year to get yourself really where you need to be. But what should I do?

I'll be honest with you, I don't know that I'm disciplined enough to start running and making myself train for a marathon. After years of talking about wanting to go to the gym more, I am finally doing it... but running?

*sigh*

I want to run a marathon...

...but I think I'm intimidated.

2009

So... no resolutions. But perhaps some thoughts of things I need/want to do?

• Drink more water! It’s not that I’m drinking tons of pop or anything, but I don’t get enough fluids during the day in general. You’re ‘supposed’ to drink 8-8oz glasses of water a day, and I easily subsist on maybe a bottle of water and a can of diet caffeine free pop. So what’s that? Maybe 24 oz of fluids instead of 64oz?? Not so good.
• Take a pottery class. Haha… this one is actually checked off starting tomorrow!! But, it is something I had planned on doing this year, and I found a class that is 10 weeks long, materials included for only $175 total!!! That is an amazing, non-pass-up-able price!! So, tomorrow 6:30-8:45pm begins the de-stressing fun!
• Continue going to the gym 4 days a week. I started doing this maybe the end of October/beginning of November? Anyway, I want to continue doing it because while I end up sore often, and have killed my knee once already, it makes me feel really good! I think it could be addicting!
• Spin class. With Crystal. Sunday’s at 3:15pm. I didn’t over-do it yesterday since my knee was still sore, but I am determined to get myself back up to par to keep up with everyone! The instructor is great and very encouraging, and I have a coworker who will bug me, so it’s good motivation!
• Yoga. Also de-stressing. Are you seeing a pattern with this year? There are talks of a yoga night with the girl’s maybe every other week?
• Save more money. This one will be tough as I have millions of weddings to go to. Not literally, but they are all within a month. Literally. I’m going to one wedding in the morning of a wedding I’m standing up in. Insanity. But R-Jo is really thankful, Rachel!
• Pray about God’s focus for my life. I just get into this place so often where I’m discontent, and I am wondering if it’s because my focus in life is just not matched up to the focus Christ would have for me. Am I where I need to be? Do I need to pray for contentment because I’m not where I thought I’d be?

We’ll see where 2009 takes me… hopefully based on the things above, to a place of low stress and contentment. =o)

So... about the post I did on 1/1/09...

... I feel the need for a mini "WOO-HOO" update!

Ready for this??

Yup...

...ok...

... I (along my 1 of my roomies)...

... will be taking...

... A POTTERY CLASS!!!!!

***WOO-HOO***

*nope... not excited in the least ;-)*

Jerry's Art-A-Rama

There is an aisle in a store that holds items that have the power to

Calm me.

Relax me.

Center me.


These things work well with this manual pottery wheel.

Anyone have an extra couple thousand dollars??

Christmas Ornaments, Disco Balls & Giving Angels Wings

Is it a Disco Ball or a Christmas Ornament?

You decide...

My least favorite Christmas movie is It's a Wonderful Life.

So sue me.

I watched it so many times growing up

I could probably quote the whole movie to you.

Thus the annoyance I have toward it.

But still, I like to joke that,

"Every time a bell rings and angel gets it's wings".

So we have little bells up all over our tree.

Of course it's more fun that we joke that by shaking them a lot,

There are a lot of akward looking angels flying around with multiple pairs of wings.

Look - that angel has 8 pairs!