Modern Technology and Other Things

My in-laws are putting on a Christmas show in the theatre they run as a part of their ministry. The theatre is in the booming metropolis of Lyman, South Carolina, which is just outside Spartanburg. Unfortunately there was a huge ice storm and massive power outages and the theatre is without power. My in-laws are resourceful people and knew that rehearsal needed to happen so they cleared out some furniture from the home-office and invited the cast over and rehearsal was had.

When I got home from work this evening I called them to see how they were doing and found out rehearsal was in the office. We got on iChat and hooked up the video cameras and for about an hour, Chris and I watched rehearsal. It was really cool. We got to see all of our friends and family and got to listen to some Christmas music and see some Christmas dancing.

In other news, I suck at updating my blog; please still love me and continue being my friend. I have had a few friends get engaged over the past few weeks: Justin Nelson and Bailey Edwards; Brent Lineberry and Megan Robinson. Kat, my bridesmaid and former roommate, is going to be living with Chris's grandparents, despite my numerous attempts to get her to move here and work with me at Horizon. Speaking of Horizon . . . things are a little crazy at work. I'm tired and wish that I had comp time or vacation time and could stay home and relax (and sleep) for a few days, but that's life I suppose. Working 40 hours a week has really made me appreciate college and the almost daily naps and the ability to skip class on a whim and the fun people and learning (I miss my psychology classes, I'm such a nerd).

Dawn is home from France; I haven't talked to her yet, but she's home. I talked with Kimberly Freeman a few days ago, and I love and miss her so very much. Lauren Harris is fabulous and it's been good to see her so much this term. And while I'm mentioning wonderful and fabulous people, I want to mention my husband: I've had a crazy week and he has been patient and loving and caring and just amazing. He is truly one of the greatest blessings in my life. I love him with all of my heart.

Also, I love stuffed animals. Two of my favorites are Danny and William the Super Monkey. Danny is the bear I gave Chris about this time 2 years ago. William is the monkey Chris gave me for our one year anniversary; he has a cape, that's why he's a super monkey. I also love the fleece blanket that Kat made for me during our sophomore year; without it I'd probably freeze to death.

Well, I had best head to bed because I do have to work tomorrow. Have a good night and a safe tomorrow.

Nashvegas

Chris and I went to Nashville this weekend. It was a welcomed change after a long week of work. I got off early Friday and Chris and I went to the DMV and got Georgia driver's licenses, then we were off. The drive up there was beautiful; the leaves have finally starting changing and the colors were just magnificent. Matthew was also at home this weekend, so the whole family was together (which is rare). We went to a findraiser for mom's ministry Saturday morning and then relaxed during the day. My grandparents came over and looked at the wedding proofs. Chris and I watched tv (I won't mention the Georgia Southern game) and then ate dinner from SATCo, my absolute most favorite restuarant! This morning we went to church with the family and then ate dinner with my grandparents (we saw a LOT of my grandparents this weekend). After lunch Chris did some Hebrew and mom and I went to Target. I love Target!! Mom got me a new watch and some other much less exciting, but nevertheless necessary items. Now I'm back in Atlanta. It was good to see my family and spend some quality time with them. I have a full week of work ahead of me, but it's all good. One last note: I have the best, most loving husband ever!

An Update

Furman's homecoming was amazing! Chris and I participated in a lot of different activities (with the exception of a romantic ride, or any type of ride, on the Ferris wheel). We went to Furman Friday and helped pomped the Super Mario Brothers themed float. We ate dinner at Firehouse and I took a walk with Lauren and rode the paratrooper with Shari. Saturday morning we visited a variety of different professors and caught up with some of our favorites and ate lunch. Thankfully we gave Elon a good stomping. That night we ate at Chris's grandparents' for dinner: the salmon was amazing!

Last week I went to Horizon Staffing, the temp agency about a block from the apartment. I filled out all the paperwork and had my first job Friday. I answered phones at a law office.

This weekend was the first in many that Chris and I stayed here. We relaxed and slept in and watched an insanely large amount of football. Saturday night we went to Outback (!) with Jon Dees and his parents. It was good to catch up with Jon, he's a really great guy. Sunday after church Chris took me to Ruby Tuesday's for a surprise lunch. It was truly wonderful. Chris makes me feel so special. Ladies, wait for a guy who treats you like a princess; they exist-I know I didn't marry the last one, Matthew Ferree and Taylor Cox (and others) are still out there!

This week I'm working as a temp at the temp agency. Today I went to a job fair to help recruit people to work at the bank. I learned how to finger print someone and I got to eat lunch at Wendy's! The best part: $10 an hour.

OH!! I forgot one of the most exciting things that happened!! Chris and I got our proofs from the wedding! They are so absolutely wonderful. My parents met us in Chattanooga to look at them and they loved them too. Yay!

Chris is working on a paper and I'm waiting for Trick-or-Treaters! I hope everyone has a safe Halloween!

Stars

This weekend Chris and I are in Spartanburg helping out with a conference at the theatre. There was a lower turnout than we wanted/anticipated, but God did a lot of things and 2 young women came to know Christ. And those things were amazing, but parts of today have just been emotionally draining. Some people did some things unintentionally that hit me in a place I didn't realize was still hurting (if that makes sense), Because of this I decided to pass on a Denny's run and come back to the Cox's for some me-time. I didn't have a car at the theatre so Kat graciously let me borrow hers, a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I rolled the driver's side window down and started towards my destination. To some people, like my husband, running is therapuetic; to me, driving is therapuetic. I love to drive; it calms my nerves. And then there's just something about having the windows down . . . During high school I would take the top off my car and just drive . . . As I drove home tonight, I glanced up at the sky-the sky is so clear here-the stars shine so brightly. I thought of the lyrics to Switchfoot's song "Stars." Part of the chorus of that song is "When I look at the stars/When I look at the stars, I see someone else/ When I look at the stars/ The stars, I feel like myself." And I guess through the therapy of driving and looking at the stars, I felt like myself . . . and that was a good feeling.

Stephen Collins

I know that I haven't posted in a while . . . please forgive me; I will try to do better in the future. I am still looking for a job and trying to get car insurance for Chris and I. We just got back from the GSP-area where we spent some time with Chris's parents and saw Furman beat App State. Last weekend Chris had a retreat and Kat came down and stayed with me; we ate Chinese and stayed up late and googled people we know; she introduced me to Facebook and www.addictinggames.com. Since then I have spent ridiculous amounts of time on those two websites. However, I also spend a ridiculous amount of time reading what's going on in the world via www.cnn.com. I was browsing the CNN website today and found an interesting article about Stephen Collins, who plays Rev. Eric Camden on 7th Heaven. On the tv show, Stephen plays a father of seven and the pastor of a local church. The article states that in real life people view Stephen as a pastor and therefore, he tries to maintain that "character" wherever he is, in the grocery store or at a resturant. Stephen works to keep his calm and not blow up when things get under his skin because he doesn't want to harm the reputation of the man he plays on tv. I read this article and began thinking about how much I blow up in real life and how often I fail to live the way Jesus calls me to. And here is a man who plays a preacher on tv (he may not even be a Christian in "real life" for all we know) yet he makes a conscious effort every single day to live the life he plays on tv; he does not want to tarnsih that reputation. As Christians there are times we don't even try to live the life we claim to have. Stephen Collins is an example to all of us who claim to follow Christ: we must live our lives in such a way so that those we meet in everyday situations will know that the live we life we claim to live.

*The article can be found at the following link:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/10/apontv.stephencollins.ap/index.html

A Quote That Rings True

"We love those who have seen the worst of us and do not turn away." Oscar Wilde

I saw this quote on an IM profile and it rings true, at least in my life. I believe that trust and fear are constantly battling one another; you choose which will win. There have been many times in my relationship with Chris where I have taken a risk and chosen to trust him with some part of me that no one had ever seen or that had been wounded in the past. He never once ran away; he did not even threaten to. He has stood by my side and I know that he will continue to do so for the rest of our lives. I love him with all that I am.

William the Super Monkey and Other Thoughts

-I have a stuffed animal that Chris gave me on our one year anniversary. He's a monkey who's name is William. He has a blue bandana he wears as a cape. He's a super monkey. I love him very much. He is one of the best gifts I have ever received.

-I would like to give a shout-out to everyone who worked at Seesalt this summer! I love you all and hope to see you all soon! :)

-I talked to Lauren today, she is such a beautiful person. I love her dearly.

-The world of car insurance is insanely difficult to navigate. I understand it's necessary, but that doesn't make it any easier to get.

-The job hunt is still a hunt. I found a job that I'm really interested in, however, it's for an organization that is heavily involved in the Katrina relief efforts, so they have put hiring on the back burner. I called earlier this week and they should be looking over resumes and applications at the beginning of next week. Hopefully something positive, like an interview, will come of this. Also, you are only "unemployed" if you do not have a job but are actively searching for one.

-Last night, Chris was studying for a test and I walked back to the bedroom. He asked if I was going to watch tv. I told him I was going to talk to Jesus, to which he replied, "Even better." Then I said, "Wouldn't it be cool if Jesus were on tv? What show would He be on?" Chris said He'd be a carpenter on Trading Spaces. Then I said, "No! He'd be the carpenter on Clean Sweep!" (For those of you who have no idea what any of this means, check out www.tlc.com. On Clean Sweep, an organizer, a designer, and a carpenter come together and clean out cluttered, dirty rooms and make them over. Now do you see why Jesus would be on that show?)

-Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
I had read this verse many times in my life, but I did not heed it's advice until I was in college. I did not know what it meant to guard your heart; I did not truly understand what this meant. All I knew was that my heart had been hurt, and that was why I guarded it. Looking back, knowing what I know, if I had guarded my heart from the beginning, I would have spared mself a lot of pain. Unfortunately I see so many women who do not guard their hearts, but who wear thier hearts on their sleeves and freely give them to whatever man comes along and says the right thing. I know this because I did it. I am the first to acknowledge that there are some truly amazing men in this world, but they are not deserving of my heart. I have friends who are dating some great men, mne who love the Lord, but those men are not deserving of a girl's heart. I have friends who only guard their hearts for a small portion of the relationship but who freely give their hearts away when talk of marriage enters the picture. As women, we must guard our hearts in the way we act phsyically but also in the emotional aspects of our relationships. For example, I know many young women who talk like this: "When we get married . . ." I hear that phrase and see no engagement ring and ask if they are engaged and they are not. The problem with this phrase is that it involves and envokes so many emotions and sets expectations so high in a woman's mind. I know they think he is "Mr. Right" and is the man of their dreams and all that, but the reality is that what these women think might happen in the future (i.e., a wedding) may not happen. We, as humans, are not even guaranteed tomorrow, how we can believe something that may or may not happen what could be years down the road. I'm not sure if all this is making sense, but I hope that what you gain from reading this portion of my blog is that guarding your heart, ladies, is something that must be done until you walk down the aisle on your wedding day and say "I do." I just finished walking down the aisle (almost 6 weeks ago) and on that day I was able to take what God had given me (my heart) and give it to my husband. God had taken my heart and allowed it to heal; He took good care of it. It never belonged to me; it was never mine to give away in the first place. And when my wedding day came, God allowed me to give my heart to my husband, and both he and I were grateful that I had guarded it.

Scrambled Eggs for Dinner

Chris (my husband) is in class until late tonight so I'm on my own for dinner. After watching the premiere of "Martha" (Martha Stewart's talk show on TLC) I decided to make scrambled eggs for dinner. I have made many a scrambled egg in my 22 years, but never over the stove. My family makes them in the microwave, which is apparently something that no one else does . . . I added two types of cheese and ham and my eggs were delicious! Success!

I also spent a large portion of today looking for a job . . . I've talked with the Division of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) and hopefully that will pan out. I'm not too stressed about it, which is a good thing. I will find a job and it will pay money, but what the job will be and when I will start are both unknowns. I must trust God to take care of me and to put me exactly where He wants me to be. If only it was that easy . . .