Definition

Apricate, meaning to bask in the sun.

This is a word that I learned yesterday from the book I'm currently
reading, and it pretty much discribes today perfectly.

Sent from my iPhone

A girls summer refrigerator

Since Linds moved in with me a few months ago I had to make some adjustments in the Fridge to make room for the exta food that was added with the extra mouth to feed...thus certain things had to be moved into the, perviously unused vegetable drawer*

*It should be noted that since Brett left, I've been almost a full time vegetarian, so I actually eat a lot of veggies...I just choose to not keep them in the drawer. It seems that "out of sight, out of mind" is very much the case when it comes to all foods for me...however, its not so much the case when it comes to Diet Coke. For it is the nectar of life. haha!

A little gift

So, I started a new book this afternoon...its another book from my list, and my library just so happen to have it sitting on its shelves ( normally I have to request books and get them in a few days time), so it seemed destine that this be the next book that I read...its called " Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages" ( OED stands for Oxford English Dictionary for those of you who aren't bookish)....

Anyway, in the process of reading the first two chapters I've come to realize something about my style of reading...one of the things I do to gauge ( usually this is all done subconsciously) if a book is good or not, is if I can think of someone who I think would also like it. Would this book make a good gift? A good recommendation? A good doorstop?
If I find that book cannot fit into any of these categories for anyone that I know that ultimately I'm not that excited about it.
Thankfully, this current read has me thinking of several people already...

more to come...

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

This book was sent to me by my dear friend Amy K.. It seems rather fitting that of my friends, Amy would send me this little number, since Amy's always had a particular sense of humor that...well...is fitting to this book. Hehe!

Anyway, so basically, if you've read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen than you've got a pretty good handle on this book too...its the same characters, the same general plot line, except that everything has a mean twist. And by mean, I am basically saying mean. Characters that where subtly unkind to one another in the original novel ( i.e. Mr. Bennet/Mrs. Bennet's relationship...Lady Catherine and Elizabeth) are full of outright unkindness and cruel remarks and bloody fighting.
In fact, there is soooo much violence in this book, that I couldn't read it in long sections or I too ( like many of the characters within) would have considered vomiting.
Of course, what is to be expected of a book that is not Just about the coupling of singles...but also very much about the fighting of the Undead? Zombies. Seriously.
My positive review- without giving anything away, are the plot twists that include Charlotte Lucus, and Mr. Wickham-for they where particularly satisfying.
My Negative review-is mostly that this book is not for everyone...and while its incredibly clever in mixing a Classic novel with the current rage in todays culture for blood, guts and all things crude...I personally would not recommend it to the faint of heart.

All that being said, this book was positively genius in doing exactly what Jane Austen did in her time-which was to comment on society and its particular quirks towards decorum and what is important- and to do the exact same thing but with todays society and its particular quirks. This book does a great job of poking fun at the millions and millions of horror movies that seem to come out every weekend, it makes fun of the silly vampire/goblins phenomenon that seems to be running rampant among the youth of this nation.....no matter HOW badly written, it seems that if its about a handsome vampire-then we're all in. Unbelievable. Almost as unbelievable as this book, in fact. In the end "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" was much better written then the "Twilight Series" could ever hope to be....but then, again, that's not saying much-is it? ;-)

goodbyes

Today I dropped my friend Katie off at the airport. This was a particularly sad moment for me, since Katie was my very first friend in Washington. Even before Brett and I got married, I heard about Katie and her husband Mike, who Brett had met and subsequently moved into an apartment near theirs. Thus, my first introduction of Katie was just how very helpful she was in getting my ( future) husband situated. In fact, if it had not been for Katie's "gentle nudgings", when Brett and I got married we would have had no bed to sleep in...or couch to sit on...or table to eat at. Basically, Katie helped set up house before I even arrived! This would be worthy of thanks in itself-but ultimately Katie's friendship has meant far more to me in my first ( and second) years of marriage. She is truly a sister who I could NOT have made it through the roller coaster ride of marriage, a new state, a new city, a new roll ( as a wife), and a new ministry here in Washington. And now she ( and soon her hubby, once the silly army gets around to letting him follow!) is starting in on a new adventure in the Kentucky region -where soon she'll be a mommy!
Of course, I'm saying all sorts of prayers as they head out on this big adventure, but selfishly, I'm a bit sad....yet, also terribly grateful for the time I did get with Katie....whoever gets her as a friend next is a lucky duck!

Opening the Vault: July 19, 2004

So, I can't sleep...this is annoying since I went to be early for the specific reason of getting lots and lots of "healing" sleep...arg! Anyway, while I'm up I'll share another old post from my blog circa 2004...and after you read it also bare in mind this piece of truth:
Now, five years later I can honestly say I do not really know why I was in so much anguish and sadness that particular night...I mean, I can guess...but I'd only be guessing...because, see? Somethings do fade....

Monday, July 19, 2004
So, I know that the quote at the top of my blog as been there for a long time-in fact a few times I have thought about putting up a different one-but then I go back and I read it again,

" God does not open paths for us before we come to them, or provide help before help is needed. Yet when we are at our point of need, God's hand is outstretched.~ Unknown"

and I am just encouraged again.
I also think the quote has been SO true in my life, so many times that has happened for me, it really is perfect to discribe what my life is about-therefore what my blog is about.

In the past few days I have been thinking specifically of the idea of the "point of need"...usually the point of need is not the happiest of places-Personally at the moment I am crying on my bed...and not just tears but actually crying OUT....it is that place where you are totally STUCK for some reason or another. The all important part of the quote "God's hand is outstretched" is really the key and yet I dont think I really got it the first time I read it, or even the second- Because, I the first thing that came into my head when I read that, is that God just helps you out of the situation. Done deal. But, these past few days I have been thinking about it and I realized that is rarely the way. It just doesnt always work out: Problem, solution, problem, solution...
I realized that the best part of this quote is what it implies: God takes your hand and LEADS YOU....He does provide help, but it's still a battle...the sting is still there, you still have tears running down your face, except this time God is holding your hand, He is providing you with a friend, providing you with His word of Truth, providing you with a situation that gives relief...all things that never meant quite as much as they do in that moment of need.
I think so many times-especially in this day and time-we are taught that when we become Christians we will be safe and sound-peachy keen...not true. We are also taught to expect results quickly, sort of like fastfood-if it doesnt come in 5 minutes it should totally be free...I have been reminded once again that God isnt like that at all-infact, many times at the point of need we are not even given relief right away...no, instead we are just given PROMISE of relief....wait, strike that-we ARE given relief right away...infact, it has already been given. Jesus died for us. THAT was the ultimate relief for all our sins, for all our grief, for all our points of need. *sigh* so THATS why that quote is going to stay there a little bit longer.

a ball of tissue

Sooooo....let's seeeeee what's happened in the past few days? Well, for one thing I've gone through a box and a half of tissues. And while, yesterday, I seemed SO much better-I guess my body was just being a trickster because my nose and throat have reached new levels of grossness. Lovely.

But even in the midst of me not getting much done because of the blowing of the nose action, I am starting, with much trepidation, to get excited about Brett's upcoming R&R ( rest and relaxation, and for those of you who have come to me with confusion...this, sadly, does not mean that Brett is coming home for good...nope, he's coming home for 15 days....just long enough for me to get good and attached to him before he goes back to A-stan for another four and half months....but believe me I'll take it!!!)...so even though every part of my military-minded-mind is telling me that NO! IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN! DONT GET TOO EXCITED! THE DATES COULD CHANGE! THINGS COULD HAPPEN!!
I realized that a teeny tiny bit of the funk of been experiencing of late has been due to me being all nervous-y about this leave time...I mean, GEEZ...it's been SEVEN months since of seen my husband...and while I've seen pictures to prove that he's as hot as ever, and I've heard his voice most days to remind me that its still as deep as ever....it'll just be weird for him to come crash this little "party" I've been livin' in for the past while....don't get me wrong, I'm GLAD! But its weird.
For my readers who have been separated from their spouses for any long length of time, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about...its this strange factor that you must fight against...and for those of you who DON'T know what I'm talking about...May you never understand.

Anyway, so to combat all the mental gymnastics my mind is going through, I've decided to throw caution to the wind and just GET EXCITED! Because, seriously? How much do I miss Brett?! ( a lot)
And how LONG have the past seven months been?! ( long)
And how silly is it to be married and not get all the benefits of having someone else take out the trash? ( really silly)


Just ( partly) kidding about the last thing...

getting my barrings

I'm feeling a little better today, although I keep getting light-headed and dizzy every time I turn my head quickly or stand up. According to my nurse roommate maybe this is an inner-ear infection or something weird. Awesome. Just what I wanted.

Anyway, my quiet time this morning offered some encouraging morsels:

"Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad you restored your inheritance as it languished." Ps 68:9

"By faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. "
Romans 5:2-5

A "summer" cold

I woke up this morning with a hardcore sore throat followed by a runny nose all day...I only say "summer" in quotes because its NOT really that warm outside.

This cold is disappointing because, honestly, other than the times I been to Texas, I haven't been sick much this year. Typical! I would get sick right before Brett comes home for his two week break. Rgh!

Let's hope this cold goes fast!

I like balloons...

How emotional are you? I know most of you who have read my blog for any length of time will laugh at me when I say I feel like I'm somewhere in the middle of emotionalism...I say this because I've got friends who are WAY dramatic and who-no matter what-are always going through huge emotional issues:
LIFE IS SO UNCERTAIN!! LIFE IS WONDERFUL AND IS EVERYTHING I COULD EVER HOPE FOR! LIFE IS HARD AND UNBELIEVABLY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT!!!

I love these friends because they are so dang honest about how they are feeling at all times. I'm pretty sure they COULDN'T lie about it even if they tried....

Then I've got the other side of the coin. They always sound about like this. Everythingsfine. Everythingsfine. Everythingsfine. Itwasagoodday. Itwasabadday. Everythingsfine. Everythingsfine.

Its a little bit harder to distinguish what is going on deep in side of this type of a person, but you better believe that just because they don't talk or live their lives in All-Caps, it doesn't mean that their emotions don't swing. That some days they don't have a better grasp on their goals, a better feeling about where they fit in the grand scheme of things. And if they are followers of Christ then I bet we can ALL relate ( whether we're ALLCAPS people or if we're runonsentence people) to how some days we feel closer to God and have a greater understanding of Who He is and What He wants for our lives, and some days we're doubting just about EVERYTHING we've ever heard Him say to us. Ever.

This morning while Brett and I were praying together on the phone ( I highly recommend this....if there is anything I regret about this deployment its how little we have prayed together on the phone, considering how much we need prayer.), I was struck with a better understanding of the verse;

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." Heb 13:8 ....

I was encouraged that this means He is the same no matter how I may be "feeling". People, whether you've been a Christian two days of twenty year there are Truths that do not change depending on how you are. I think sometimes we get this feeling that Christ's love is dependent on what we do or don't do. That Christ's grasp on our situation is dependent on Just how bad it is ( if its a little problem, YOU can take care of it...if its a BIG problem, maybe you'll hand it over to God and cross your fingers and hope for the best..), That Christ's Understanding and Help is directly connected to whether we feel like we deserve it or feel it.
False, False, False.

His love and acceptance , His knowledge of our lives, His complete control over situations and circumstances, His ability to save us from ourselves, all of these things are absolute and complete ALL THE TIME.

Today you might not be feeling it, you're emotions might be high, they might be low...or they might be smack dab in the middle ( like always! haha!), you might be not particularly interested in God or you might be wishing that you COULD some how get and Him through all the mess stacked up around you....no matter what, I promise you He is the Same. He is with us and For us.
He is at the Right Hand of the Father (Acts 2:33 ) right now...making our Case for us, Fighting for us. (Heb 7:25)

Playing with icing

Fun! And thanks again Katie!

Christmas in June

This week has been quite the week for surprises! I wonder if my mail woman is wondering what's going on...
On Monday, Brett sent me roses and chocolates ( awwwww!)
And then today I opened my mail box to find the little key that means that there is a package for you in one of the bigger boxes underneath and low and behold there was not one and not two, but THREE packages!

A fun little cupcake decorating kit from Katie that she got from Bakeitpretty.com, which couldn't have COME at a better time, since I just so HAPPEN to have a party on Saturday that I need to bring something, I'm thinking cupcakes are now in order!

I also received books from Amy K.-one of which is on my list that is on my sidebar, of books I plan on reading. ( as well as a book for Brett, that I'm pretty sure, from the cover alone, he's gonna love) This also came at a the perfect moment since I just came to the end of a book and I was at a quandary of what to read next!

And THEN I got a package from my parents... presents from Russia from my Papa*, for Brett and I as well as a T-shirt and CD that I had requested my Mom pick up for me from a band that I knew was playing in my home town a few weekends ago and I've been wanting their CD for a while now....( incidentally, Darcy is just quirky enough and clever enough for me to tell you all it'll be a treat if you ever get the chance to hear them play or get your hands on a CD. )...this ALSO came a just the right moment, because I was having trouble deciding what to wear today since the tempature can't seem to decide if its Spring or Summer-meaning you need a jacket, scarf, tanktop and a pull over shirt.....just so that you can be ready for any weather changes....so the beautiful scarf he sent was PERFECT*

So, anyway! Today was lovely...I had Thai Food with Tina where we talked about Tithing ( among other things, but that alliteration is hard to pass up!) and then walked around Olympia WA-which is quickly becoming my favorite day trip...with all its boutiques and waterfront views and cafes and teashops, you can't go wrong!
And now I'm sitting on my balcony in a perfect sliver of afternoon sun, waiting on Katie so that we can go see the newest Pixar movie UP ( I know, I'm a bit behind, but better late than never!)

I will now leave you with the self-portrait that I tried to take of myself in my new scarf! hahaha! Very artsy don't you think?!

Abigail, don't forget about Time.

Sweet is the feeling of renewed ( or should I say "renewing") Hope that the past few days have brought along with the sunrise. Seriously, I'm writing this now because I'm sure one of these days ( hopefully not soon?!?) I'll feel this down and hopeless again and I'll need to be reminded of the time that it takes to climb up out of such a place. But, that's the thing! I think we wish it didn't take time, that instead we could say a prayer, snap our fingers and get back up. We wish those prayers for help would be answered with a reassuring hug from Jesus, and maybe a card with a printed list( maybe written in something fancy like calligraphy) of just HOW things are going to be get back to being awesome. But instead we have to wait. Such desperate prayers are usually just answered by silence. But is it? Is it really silent?
I think not...

If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I'm Yours

I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life


Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
This love sets me free

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I'll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm


And everything rides on hope now
And everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
This love sets me free

You've become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free


I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
This love sets me free

This love sets me free
Your love sets me free

Eating up my time...

Today I woke up, did my personal quiet time, talked to Brett on the phone for a little while, then did a bible study with Lindsay, headed to the Stroud's house where I babysat for all four of their children ( summer has a whole new meaning for me now: more work! hehe!)....where I played basketball, calmed several crying fits, watched a movie and put a three year old to sleep with the sound of my voice ( I was talking on the phone) and a backrub ( thank goodness! I support napping for ALL ages!)

I then headed to the library to pick up season 2 of West Wing ( I love how you can just request a movie or a show and they just send it to your nearest branch. like magic!) and then straight home for a shower ( umm...all that basketball made me a bit sticky! heh) and then off to eat Korean BBQ with a bunch of friends and now I'm home again!

It wasn't until right before the Korean BBQ that I realized I'd totally forgotten to eat! All day! This just about never happens...hahaha! But considering the oil and fat involved in my dinner I'd say I barely came out even....

I gotta tell you though, this busy day was an answer to prayer! I needed a day full of constant distraction...sometimes its really good for the soul! ;-)

Opening the Vault: June 5, 2004

Well, when I was doing a little reminiscing on my 100,000th view the other day, it got me thinking about how SAD it is that the year of 2004 version of my blog is no longer available on the internets (sic). Soooo, I've decided to periodically give you a little slice of the 2004 pie, so to speak, and let you take a journey back in time to when I was a silly university student who seemed to think life was complicated, when in actuality I had NO CLUE what complicated really meant ( hahah! how time would tell!) But, every so often that 20 year-old version of myself would say semi-funny things....like this post I bring you tonight, a post that I wrote in jest at all the books I was reading for my Rom Lit class...
Enjoy!

Well, my dear friend, it is with no small joy that I write to you today. At brunch this morning, I was infinitely pleased to discover that cream cheese and croissants were on the menu. I have not the language to describe the delight and trepidations that this caused in my heart and it was well into the second course before I was able to truly recover my emotions.
I had the good fortune of attending church this morning, though the weather was far from favorable. I had feared that the cold rain and wind would severally dampen my spirits as well as my attire but, I had the honor, however, to be received into Rueben’s car halfway through my journey, thus I arrived at church without any alterations to my appearance, being saved from a very dreary walk. Providence has truly looked upon me with Mercy this day!
I also had the great joy in having an interview with my dear mother this afternoon. We were in no way brief in our discourse and it was not less than two hours before I was unengaged again. My mother always offers great relief and no small diversion when I am studying and I was, as always, most grateful for her intercourse.
I was, this afternoon, inclined to study, even for a short time, however my mind was most diverted by various thoughts and the dreariness of the weather and I was in risk of being quiet melancholy. I did collect my countenance, however and thus I found myself happily entertained in making lists of useless professions that I could acquire in the coming year when my studies have ceased. A few days previous I had written a small note to my dear friend, Sam stating my desire to become the sound technician for a local group of deaf musicians who are planning to go on tour. I found no small amusements in this jest, and therefore I was determined to continue the game.
Even before tea was being served I found myself, once again nervous and out of spirits. I was ashamed at my lack of restraint and have thus resolved myself to this letter in hopes that your love and acceptance will again remind me of my Duty to you and to those far less fortunate than myself. It is with this that I will end this letter as your most faithful humble servant, Abigail Kathryn Abt of Nacogdoches Abt family

Posted by: Abigail / 10:55 PM