how great is our God

"...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

it's true. i witnessed it yesterday.

i will share the entire story here later, but for now i give you:
the edited-for-dramatic-and-timing-purposes version.

(deep breath)

as many of my readers know, we are planning to move back home this summer. the law student is thrilled to bits and pieces. i have been considerably less so. not that i don't love our hometown, but i was hoping for something bigger, with more people and culture and art and music and space and hills...you get the idea. but, my reasons are all emotional. the law student's are irritatingly practical, and apparently God, in His infinite wisdom, wants us there. how do you effectively argue with the Creator while throwing a fit like a 3-year-old? that's been my struggle.

well, we hit a hiccup on tuesday. i got some very unexpected news that impacts us considerably.
and no, it's not baby lang, for those (all) of you who are wondering.

i knew God knew what was up. He was not surprised. He has guided us back home so far, and i knew He was going to provide, even in this. so i sent a text to family and friends, asking for prayer over the situation and praise for His plan. i received so many responses - they mean so much! needless to say, the law student didn't handle this news very well, so tuesday night was kind of blah, and i went to bed a little upset, but not shaken.

y'all.

God answered that prayer. YESTERDAY. in less than 24 hours. and with a bonus to boot. my face almost fell off. i could never have imagined something this perfect, and i know it's because we stepped out in faith. how could i have ever doubted His plan to move us home?

i can't wait to share the ENTIRE story with you - just give me a week or so.

squeal!

lyrics

we sang the song below at church on palm sunday.
i probably hadn't been to church in 2 - 3 weeks, and had just broken lent the night before (one of two times). a woman from pakistan, a graduate student here, spoke about her family's persecution from their own government over their christianity, and another woman they knew who was in prison for allegedly speaking out against islam. this woman has contracted chicken pox, likely due from fasting during lent.
in prison.
that hit me like a ton of bricks, and still does. these people are suffering for the Lord - what have i done or had to endure for Him?

hope you enjoy the lyrics.

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulder
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

*disclaimer - please know this post is not bashing islam or muslims. i am simply relaying a story from a woman i heard at church.

and another one...

takes the plunge!

meet the newest nearlyweds, my jules and her zachary
been waiting on this one, folks. they were goners as soon as they met.
wishing you all the love and happiness in your marriage you both can stand.

p.s. move closer?

i feel a wussy wednesday coming on...

wednesday wussy, budget edition. please take the following post with a hunk of cheese, 'cause it's a whiner.

i do not like being on a budget. i do not like not being able to spend money without thinking about its very real impact on other areas of my life. oh, to be single again, and in a time not of economic recession, and saving all my dollahz for fun and frolic while living off daddy's charge accounts. all i'd have to do is not eat much for a while and save up and then purchase away, guilt-free, and worry about it later. the only reason i even got a job in college was for dating purposes. plane tickets to see the law student cost money, and i'm pretty sure the parents would not have footed that bill.

enter marriage (or heck, even just adulthood). budgeting is hard. it's hard for two people living on one paycheck, even with some familial assistance. it's hard to cancel travel plans because of rising gas prices, or choose to cook at home instead of going out for dinner. it's hard when you're having a wardrobe crisis and you can't really afford to revamp it, only mix pieces differently. thankfully, my weight has not drastically changed since college, or i'd really be in the hole! of course, even if i didn't have a budget, i probably still would be a bad shopper and just as indecisive to boot. but that's a separate problem.

but a budget is necessary. my paycheck only contains x amount of money, and we have to make it work, and we have to do it together. fighting about money is not an option in our marriage - we flat-out refuse to do it. we reached this decision before marriage, thankfully, and not after an issue arose. our personal budget is pretty simple. i bring home a paycheck (yes, ben adds whatever he makes too), the law student faithfully designs our budget, and i trust his judgment. even though i work for a CPA, i could not make or stick to a budget on my own. i can barely work my calculator, and have never balanced my checkbook! this way, we control our finances instead of them controlling us and plan for expenses ahead of time. we work to balance wants and needs, the fun things and the necessary ones, so that we're not crying at the end of every month and/or up to our ears in credit card debt. budgeting is a great discipline and though uncomfortable at times, it is good for us and keeps us making smart choices in how we use our money.

unfortunately, insurance, groceries and bills take precedence over fancy nights out, wardrobe updates and gifts. and that's about where i am right now. sigh.


in other news: i'm working out in the mornings (i'm as surprised as you are), the law student is semi-employed and in an office of his own, entertainment icon elizabeth taylor has died, and i found out roseanne barr lives on a nut farm.

wedding post overload

who knew 2011 was wedding season spectacular?
below are some sweet friends who will be wedded these next few months.
wishing nothing but the best for you and yours! love you all

mandi & heath, edited per request

chris & michele

sister & mister

melanie & chris

kristi & nick

elizabeth & danny

i'm so excited to celebrate with y'all!

of course, the law student told me today a church believe the exact rapture date to be may 21, 2011, so all this may be moot. but i prefer to celebrate.
(and privately freak out - y'all know the rapture scares me).

finally

my sister's got a mister!


dear connor, thank you for making baby sister happier than a tornado in a trailer park. you've got your hands full now!

dear anna, aren't you glad you no longer feel the need to slam down your beer bottle in frustration over someone else's engagement news, again?

wishing you both all the happiness and love you can stand.

oscar style

although i check msn's wonderwall multiple times a day, i don't really get in an uproar about awards shows and such. but i did watch the oscars. mostly. i fell asleep before the most important awards - best actor, best actress and best picture - but i got to see all the pretty dresses. below are my favorites, in no real order.

i personally prefer a little more skin showing around the chest, but i love the color and the sparkle. it just works for amy.

so, i may be a little biased because mila's my celebrity doppleganger, but this is my favorite look from the night. hands down.

a bit kooky, but really great, and on par with cate's signature style.

great color, great shape, and classy. well done, dame helen.

oooh, fluffy and sparkly! this dress makes us suspend belief that halle is not possibly a crazy mama bear.

scarlet on the worst dressed list? um, no way, no how. i want this dress.

total wow factor. jennifer hudson totally rocks this. flaunt it!

can't leave off natalie. she's just too cute, and the color is great.

points of interest:

1. who knew anne hathaway could sing?
2. her song to hugh jackman (swoon) was awkward.
3. how did true grit win nothing?
4. apparently, i missed out when i didn't see the social network.
5. reese witherspoon is still the cutest.
6. christian bale - lose beard, learn wife's name.