Picnics and Popsicles

Growing up in Texas, I was under the impression that Texas is the only state that can begin with warm rain have a beautiful sunny day at lunch and end with snow. That is just not so. I've experienced more weird weather here in Kentucky than I ever did in Texas. Though Texas did have some strange weather it is usually hot or warm and muggy (well atleast in that college town!!). I am weird, though I don't like frozen toes... I do love cold weather. I especially love brisk sunny days because it is easier to be cheerful on those days. On those days I feel totally myself with a book, cup of hot constant comment green tea and a blanket (and a husband). I love hot drinks but I just cannot stand to drink them when it's hot outside. So by the time it gets around to fall I am dying for some hot tea! I hate being hot. I do love spring and summer though... that's why I don't say cold weather is my favorite... I just love it. Because I also totally love spring, even though I always get a sinus infection. I love having a folding chair and blankets in my car at all times so that I can go to the park and do my homework while drinking lemonade vitamin water (which I love and am drinking right now!). Okay back to the story.... yesterday it was 60 degrees and cloudy... then it rained and STORMED big time and then 30 minutes later it was bright and sunny with a nip in the wind and then by the time Drew came home from work it was sleeting... weird! but I like it.
Today we are also debuting (I think that's how you spell it) a new friend......



This is Matt and Lauren. Matt was one of the first people that we met at our awesome church. He and Drew hit it off istantly talking about bikes. Little did they know that in the not too distant future they would bike 800 miles together around the state! We also liked him b/c his girlfriend at the time, who we didn't meet until later, was from TEXAS....and our town also! She and Drew also worked at the same summer camp and had a lot of the same friends though they had never met. She and I took a class together and we all really hit it off. We were given a starbucks giftcard from a friend at the wedding and told to spend it making new friends....we spent it on them. They were our first our-age-friends to hang out with in Kentucky. We left and I said, "That was fun, I like them" and every time we would hang out with new people I always said this and now it's a staple. Any time we leave friends or they leave us we say "That was fun, we like them!" We obviously haven't met any people we didn't liked...seriously. We also shared a hotel with these two on New Years before they were married. We used to discuss who we would be friends with if they broke up, so we were very relieved when they decided instead to get married! We even biked with them on the day he proposed!!! They introduced us to our favorite restaurant, Cafe LuLu and to many friends at our church. She encouraged me to audition for the praise team and we worked two jobs together. We miss these guys a lot lately because of work, but we are hanging out THIS WEEKEND!!! YAY! We love you guys and we love seeing Christ in you and seeing your marriage grow!

New Friends

One of our newest friends from church are Brian and Christina. We actually met these two peeps in the welcome/share the peace part of our church. They were on the third row and we were on the fourth. They seemed super nice and soon after we met them for coffee at Heine Brothers. We did the typical guy/girl thing and ended up having two seperate conversations. I didn't really get to know Christina well b/c she had a friend with her who was much more talkative... but since then we have shared chicken and dumplings, bbq, tacos, chilis, college retreat and log cabin! I have especially enjoyed getting to know Christina more and more and to see some one like Brian (I have no idea how he spells it!) really seek Drew out on occassion to hang out! They came along for my birthday surprise and they both did an excellent job keeping the secret when we had dinner the very night before! "are you doing anything fun for your birthday?" haha very funny! Anyways, we love you guys and we hope to see you soon and have you back to our place... it's been a while! We have enjoyed seeing God grow your marriage and each of your lives as you become more and more transformed by the gospel in life and ministry!

Friends continued....

Today I want to highlight some of our first friends. I don't even have a picture of the lovely wife or their new baby girl! But I can show you dad and Reid! This was Reid's first apple I'm pretty sure... I gave it to him at a church festival and he thought it tasted really good! Joy and Daniel were some of the very first real friends we had in Louisville. They came and ate tortilla soup at our house as our first guests our own age. They hosted us as well. Joy was so great to have me in her home on a daily basis when I was home alone while Drew worked the first few months of our life here. She has always been such a great friend to hang out with and especially to eat Chick Fil A with! I can always count on her to support my cravings! Her son was my first fake nephew and she honored me with the title "Aunt Lindsey", which I am pretty proud of. I am now Aunt to both of her children along with many other people from our church! Daniel has also been a great friend to Drew. We used to be in community group together but now we try to catch them inbetween baby naps and bed times. This couple is such a great example of God's love and of what a godly family should look like. I honestly never thought I'd be ready to have kids until Joy let me tag along with her and get some baby practice in. She makes motherhood look easy, and young and skinny! haha. We love you guys and nothing we could say on this blog (though I am pretty sure you don't even know we have one) would really speak our appreciation for your friendship! We are glad you are staying another year!

Friends

"And they devoted themselves to the apostes' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all , as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-27

A Pastor told Drew and I early in our marriage that one of the hardest transitions in marriage and adulthood is friends. Making friends is hard. It is especially hard when each of those friends has a different job with different house, a wife/husband who needs love and time and possibly even children who have certain bed times and needs. Each person might be involved in different church and extra-curricular activities. And we all need sleep.
In college we didn't seem to need as much sleep and our schedules were so much more flexible. There were hours through out the day for fellowship and most nights were as good as any Saturday night to hang out and fellowship, if even over coffee and books. Most college students are involved in the same or similar ministries where they see each other frequently. Most college students are also only responsible for themselves and not another person's schedule to consider, like a spouse.
We love marriage. We would not trade it for such a flexible schedule. We love Louisville and God has blessed us with some amazing friends. We have truly experienced the heart behind giving to any as they had need. We live among mostly lower income newly weds and yet when one or another is in trouble we have seen the most generous and sacrificial giving of time and money to help. It is awe-some. We have broken bread with many couples and have even come to a place with many that a clean house is not necessary nor a fancy meal to enjoy time together.
However, as school picks up and jobs are lost or gained, it becomes hard to meet with people. We truly desire our home to be a place where its doors are open to all to come and eat and fellowship with us. I want to be able to cook a meal for guests at the last minute and not have to plan weeks in advance to get together. We have come close to this with some and yet it seems so distant and impossible. We cannot reach this task alone. Others have to be willing to embark on this journey of vulnerability and sharing. We also realize that this open door policy cannot simply be for those like us or that we like... but for all people in need and who love the Lord or need to know about him. We truly desire this. I dont think friendships can replace the longing in our hearts for God and for restoration but I think that God did put a place in our hearts for friendships and community. The purpose of all this sharing and community is to praise and glorify God and thank him for all things.
So... in honor of all the great friends that God has given us and who we long to live in/continue to live in godly fellowship with...I want to introduce and honor our friends. (I will try to be exhaustive over the next weeks and months but if I don't include you, it's probably only b/c I don't have your picture... and we will stick to Louisville friends for now... but other people will be added.) This should keep this blog hoppin for a few weeks at least.
Our first couple to introduce is Brandon and Bethan


Bethan and I went to school and church together and yet only knew each other briefly over a row of class seats or in borrowing a cup of sugar on Carnation St. or in passing and mutual friends. Briefly after we moved in we discovered they were also moving to Louisville and I sent them information about our cheap apartments. They ended up moving in and living right behind us... a 1 minute walk away. I have never had close neighbor friends!! From the first time they came over and enjoyed Lewis Lattes we were friends. Brandon and Drew got along great from the start and have a very similar sense of humor and yet a deep love for God. We have shared many cups of coffee, meals and laundry facilities!! We drove to work together and attend the same church. We are sad to say they are moving across town now due to their debacle of an apartment (sorry!) and we are just as sad as if they were moving states away. We love these two and appreciate their unique personalities, their depth and character and sense of humor. I appreciate that Bethan is always pursuing godliness as a wife and woman. She is quick to submit to Brandon and is a diligent worker in her home and outside her home. She is always a joy and a friend you can rely on to talk about deep things, with out getting weirded out. She is hilarious and I am so thankful for her friendship! This is not a eulogy or whatever like a funeral, but you are fresh on our minds since you are moving today, so you get to be first. We are thankful for you guys!

Pink

Boys and girls are different. This is something I have learned in my year+ in marriage. I do happen to have the most amazing, caring and wonderful husband on the planet but sometimes he doesn't understand me. It's not bad, it's usually funny.
It is a steadfast rule in our house that if Drew is cold I am sweating hot and if he is hot I am fine or cold. Seriously. When we get into bed at night I am usually freeeeeezing and my body has a wind chill. Drew is usually radiating heat at this point, which is great for my cold legs and toes but not so great for his warm self! Then the night begins, we sleep, I sweat, I wake up, I am soooooo hot!! I can't take a hot shower, I hate blow drying my hair and take frequent trips to stand by the fan to cool off. Drew wakes up freeeeezing... the first place he likes to go is to the thermastat (sp?) and I cry...noooooo I am sweating! He wears an undershirt, shirt, coat jacket, robe and blanket when he's reading in the mornings and is cold. I am wearing...less... and I am sweating. It's seriously weird!
I love tradition and having rituals about my life. For instance, I love tea. Cold or hot. I love it. So every night and some mornings in the winter I like to have my constant comment green tea with 1/4th of a packet of splenda. I like to have a Dr. Pepper or cherry coke (light on the cherry but please put real cherries in, thanks!) in the summer. I have limited myself to one coke a week, which is huge, but this little beverage lights up my face with out fail. I like to go together. I like to drink (non alcoholic) together. Drew doesn't mind this about me but he is not like this. He could do something different every day and never care or feel bothered.
I love Chick Fil A. I am not a picky eater. I love most if not all vegetables and I even like to cook a lot. However, sometimes I just get these cravings... and they are always for Chick Fil A. Luckily, this is actually a cheap date so Drew doesn't mind obliging me my non-fast-food-good-for-you-fried-chicken!
The final example I will give you is what really inspired me to write this. I love pink. If I can buy it in pink I will. Right now I am wearing pink underarmer and have on pink running shorts with pink adidas and pink socks. I have pink bike jerseys. I have a pink scarf. I have a pink Bible. I like to wear pink all the time. I never liked pink until part way through college and it was like I caught a disease. Don't get me wrong I also love green. Purple is growing on me and blue is great in certain shades. But if I know I am going to have a hard day, I will wear pink. I know the Lord is my first sustainer and I do rely on him more than pink in a major way... but just give me some space here.... I love Jesus most of all.... I am talking about one zillions levels lower than that kind of love and reliance! So... I wear pink and it makes me feel good. I feel happy and cheerful, even if it is just a plain pink tshirt. Wow, get to the story already. Well when I started at the Seminary I was carrying a pink bag, had a pink bible, pink water bottle and pink spiral. Since I had all guys in my greek class they noticed my color and started to tease me about. I really hadn't noticed that I wore pink so often or had so much of it... until one day they started clapping when I walked in with no pink. Still if I see certain of these boys they will comment on the pink or lack of. Every semester I have had a different pink or colorful binder or spiral. This semester the stores are lacking. I have held out. Where was the binder that I was going to be willing to take to every class for a semester, through thick and thin. I have to like it if it's going to be around me more than my husband. So I found it in Texas... it's a notebinder or something like that by five star. It's like a collapsable binder, no thicker than a spiral... and it comes in pink. But I figured I would just get it in Kentucky. Kroger, Target and WalMart didn't have it or anything pink that would work! Finally today, on my fourth trip I found it... the pink notebinder. And I bought it. And I am very happy. I think that since I know my happiness is not bound up in this spiral but just appreciate the little things in life, that it is okay for me to get this. It wasn't any more expensive and I can reuse it over and over by just refilling the paper or small notebook. YAY. Thank you five star.
My husband is still shaking his head that I didn't buy the black one at Target... or any one.... that I really walked out empty handed....at more than one place. HAHA!
So maybe boys and girls aren't so different and I am just extremely weird... but I thought every one (or the literal one person who reads this) should get to laugh with me or at me, your choice, and be happy that I found it!!
pointless blogging...yes...but that's how I have to do it to get back in the swing of frequent blogging...

Holinetermbirty

That's Christmas Holiday, New Year, JTerm, birthday and party abbreviated!


(this is the whole Lewis gang... sadly I don't have one on my computer of the Thompson clan... cough cough mom you should send me those pics we took!!)

We had such a Merry Christmas with all our family and a few of our friends back in Texas. We love Texas a lot and really enjoy the chance to see our families and are so thankful they live close to each other! However, each time we go back we realize anew that Kentucky really has become our home. This is weird, but it's also a huge blessing because it is only by the Lord's blessing that we have found such an excellent apartment, church, friends and school!! He has blessed us more than we ever imagined coming out here a year ago!
We spent Christmas going back and forth between Fort Worth and Dallas and no amount of time in either place ever seemed like enough. We were overwhelmed by the sweet and thoughtful gifts we received and so excited to give our gifts... especially the ones we've had for months! I think one of the most rewarding gifts we gave was to one of my sisters. I was so unsure what to get and doubted every single thing I picked out for her. I wanted my gift to show love and thoughtfulness but to also be from me and my personality (and Drew's) too. So one of the things she (and actually both sisters) got was a CD from a couple at our church. They are the most awesome musicians in every way that I have ever seen. They are so talented and their music is very thoughtful... and it's very ROCK! So I thought my sister would appreciate the talent and the lyrics both but was so unsure. We gave this CD to all the "kids" in our family b/c we just love it that much and wanted to be giving our money to a good cause if we were going to be spending money on gifts. I wasn't sure if any of them would listen to it or even give it a try since they hadn't heard of it but then I got a call from this sister the other day and she mentioned in passing that she loved the CD a lot. This made my whole Christmas (even thought it's over).
We didn't do anything for the New Year but it did give us time to reflect on all that God has done for us and to us this last year. We are overwhelmed with blessings in the form of an amazing church, community with other believers, a place to live and money to be able to go to school... this is very similar to the list above! haha. It also challenged us to seek growth and change in our lives this upcoming year and not to coast. We want to be ever growing and learning. I want to be a better wife and helper to Drew. I want to lift him up and help build up our home and not tear it down through criticism or neglect. I want to keep in better touch with my close friends and with my family so they can know how much I care.. because I do care even when I neglect calling and emails... but actions speak louder.
The Monday after we got home was my birthday but was spent in an intense JTerm. This Jterm almost consumed my life for the complete week. I didn't even get to check all my phone messages (much less call people back) or my email on my own birthday. It was pretty sad. But the Lord got me through the whole week without over stressing or worrying but just diligently working every minute I was awake (which I did). The class taught me so much about how (even in the Old Testament) Got is primarily concerned about our heart. The law is there because we do sin and need guidelines but the truth of the matter is the heart. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, constantly points to this fact by pointing to the law and then intensifying it by revealing the heart that has to be behind the work to make it matter. It was truly challenging but also encouraging. So often I worry over the details and I have always been such a rule follower... but this truth frees me to instead focus on purifying my heart and mind and focusing on God and then making a decision in that mindset instead of looking for the written way. Not that I will be breaking all the rules any time soon, but this helps in those decisions that you have to make for yourself with the Word in your heart. The great news is, if I mess up and if my heart leads me astray b/c it isn't perfect, there is more grace and more learning up ahead! It was great and exhausting!
After my final on Friday morning I went to hang out with my mentor... while I was there my husband called (way too early for him to be off work) saying he was at home and my bag was packed and I needed to get home right now. So I headed home and we took off east for a birthday adventure. He had wrangled some of our friends into the adventure and so we caravanned east. I had no clue where we were going and didn't try to figure it out and he ended up taking me to a cabin in the woods at the Red River Gorge! It was so beautiful and amazing, I couldn't have thought of a better way to end the week or celebrate my birthday. We relaxed with friends, slept, hiked and ate ate ate and watched movies!! It was so beautiful on the trails and so relaxing in the beautiful log cabin!!


(this is the loft in the cabin where we slept!)

WAY TO GO DREW! He is truly the most caring man! Then when we got home on Sunday he had arranged for all of my friends to come over off and on between 2-5 and had some amazing bakers make me chocolate birthday cakes (thanks Bethan and Chris!). Then we ended by going to church and had a wonderful worship service and sermon on Romans, which we will be in for the next year. It's so great!!! This weekend will be a memory I cherish forever!


(perfect nap spot on the trail...haha)

Now I am cleaning house, catching up with friends and getting ready for a new semester to start. I am taking a counseling class, anothey systematic theology w/ Dr. Moore, a greek exegesis of Colossians and Philemon and possibly church history II.
Errands are calling my name........

Well, it's about time!

Since the last time we chatted our church had a huge fall festival!! I baked three cakes for the cake walk!! The one pictured (if I can ever get it to upload) is a double decker white chocolate cake, the same recipe as our wedding cake!! I also made a cheesecake with a warm fudge filling and a chocolate sheath cake... I really don't know and have wondered my whole life whether it was sheath cake or sheet cake... people say it so fast I can never tell. I have no clue what a sheath is and since it's a long flat cake maybe sheet would work... but I still lean towards sheath... any light on this is appreciated!





This semester of school was probably the hardest semester of my entire life. I am not just saying that. I have evaluated the statement and found it to be truthful. I didn't think this second sinus surgery would be such a big deal but it really did throw a kink in my system. It took me so long to recover that I started thinking life with an intense sharp pain in my brain was normal and wondered if I would ever remember headache-less living. However, I am headache free now and so thankful! By the time I was better there were massive research papers to be written, Greek to be tested and translated and papers to be written for that too and then finals. I felt like I was in a whirlwind for three weeks straight. However, I felt certain that the correct response to all of this would not be to worry my head off and stress out myself and my husband. So I really tried to rely on the Lord every step of the way and I can testify that He is Faithful! When I would think there was no way to get something done I would just pray for the right attitude and priorities. I would pray that I would have the humility to ask for an extension if that was the answer or that I would work quickly but most of all that I would maintain a godly attitude. Drew can tell you a better perspective than I can but I can say that I made a huge improvement and that in each of those moments something spectacular happened. My boss gave me a day off unexpectedly, a class was cancelled, my back got pulled giving me plenty of couch study time etc etc. I just began to laugh at how awesome God is and was to me each time!
The best breath of fresh air we had during this time was Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it's all the good stuff of Christmas (besides Christ of course) but no pressure or stress about presents. I am starting to hate presents. I hate trying so hard to get people things they like and then being disappointed, I hate disappointing people by not appreciating their gifts as well (I know I am sinful!). I hate seeing the materialism that has soaked through Christianity and the lameness that is Christmas in so many churches. So, to keep off my soap box it will suffice to say I love thanksgiving. However, since living in Kentucky we have not been able to go home for Thanksgiving. This year we were so blessed to be able to have around 13 wonderful friends over to our house and feast and enjoy the wonderful community God has provided for us in only one year! One year in Kentucky and we have a church family unlike any other. We get to serve in an awesome and CHRIST centered church and have challenging godly friends!! Bethan Rogers and I attempted our first turkey with raving success (we were so shocked we could not stop unintentionally bragging about the awesome turkey!) I also made homemade bread and dressing and we were not short of anything with all the goodies every one brought! We spent most of the day together laughing and catching up and didn't think a moment about school! We ended the day with our dear dear dear friends the Rogers by watching the first Christmas movie of the season, Elf. I firmly believe stupid comedy is much much funnier with Drew Lewis and Brandon Rogers in the room. Bethan and I are easily amused! We love these neighbors.



With school being out I had a few very high priorities. 1. Make a Christmas wreath for our door 2. Make Willy Wonka Peanut Butter Balls 3. Sleep. I can happily say that as of yesterday I had accomplished all three of my very lofty goals. I made a fun wreath for less that $10 and made two batches of Willy Wonka balls and slept in every morning! I think I could get used to being out of school if it was always like this!





In recent news we slept in a tent a couple of nights ago right in the middle of our living room! We have been talking about going camping for a year now and the right weekend just never seems to present itself... and now it's cold. So we decided to have a practice run at it and sleep in the living room. The next morning Drew lovingly asked me how I liked sleeping in a tent... I said... uncomfortable. I don't think either of us slept half of the night with all the tossing and turning... but it's still a fun memory! We even read in our sleeping bags with head lamps before we went to sleep!

I can't wait for Christmas and going home to Texas! Our church is preaching on gender roles and singing Christmas songs through out Advent and it is awesome! I am really praying through the "already/ no yet" (as our church phrases it) of Christ's coming and coming... if you get my drift... (he already came and is coming!). We really want this season to be all about Him and focusing on what his birth means for us today. I pray this would be a Christmas like no other for us where we adore Christ more and learn more about Him and draw closer to Him. I pray He will teach us and challenge us and grow us in this season.