Plan of Action

Lately there has been a reoccuring theme floating in my ears... God's plan.
There are times when I get frustrated that I have no idea where I am going or what my life will be like. I know that many people have great dreams and aspirations for my life, but what if those are not God's aspirations for my life?. At our church (sojournchurch.com) we are going through the Old Testament. The pastor is preaching sermons that highlight the "main events" of the Old Testament, while the body as a whole is reading through the OT by reading a little in order, a psalm and a proverb. Wow, I am amazed at God's plan... but I am also comforted a bit by the "heroes" lack of faith even when God specifically tells them the game play. For example, Abraham (Ishmaal) and the Israelites. However, there is one man who I admire greatly in Genesis and that is Joseph. We could all use a little more of Joseph's faith.
When Joseph was only 17 his brothers plot to kill him and instead sell him into slavery. For most if not all of his young adult life he is a slave in a foreign, pagan land. Though he becomes the head slave of his household he is still completely seperated from his homeland and his family (which he probably knew was where the promise was). However, when tempted to gratify himself a little with Potipher's eager wife... NO WAY he says... he could not do this thing before who? GOD! He remains faithful to the God of his Father. THEN... he is thrown into jail. I'm not sure I can even imagine what this was like. There were no lights, no bathrooms, no carpet... and it was jail so it was probably even worse than the regular situation with out those things. ick. Yet, while in prison he continues to glorify the Lord and ends up interpretting a man's dream who is supposed to remember his case before Pharoah... does he? NO! Can you imagine Joseph thinking he's finally going to get bailed out of jail... the hope and anticipation... only to be left in the hole for another 3 years before he is summoned and then only to serve. Yet, when he appears before Pharoah he again gives God all the glory. Finally, Joseph seems to be in a good spot as basically a ruler over Egypt and yet even then he is a slave of sorts to Pharoah and he lives among a people who worship many false gods and he has no connection with his family. Then he is finally reconnected with his family and needless to say the brothers are a little nervous around him and what does Joseph say twice (Gen 48 and 50)??? That all of that evil that they intended to do him (and succeeded in doing to him) that God from the very first day meant all that for good (Joseph's good and the good of all the people in the land who didn't have to starve during the famine). What perspective! So many of us have problems forgiving our spouses for minor silly offenses or our parents or friends and yet Joseph is able to look at all his pain and say that it was God's good plan for him.
I want to be like that.

Latest Rage...

You take a little of this.....homemade of course

And add a little of this....

Don't forget this.....
Wrap it all in a tortilla, zap for 30 seconds and add salt/pepper and man oh man is this healthy and delicious!
If you are looking for something a little more filling, I added sauteed zucchini to it once and woah, it was unbelievable.
This is a shout out to the pita place my roomie and I went to in Spain to keep from starving. Our Senora was not too keen on fixing us food and when she did they consisted of less than a fist full of white rice and half a piece of white fish. I am not lying. Then we got patee (sp?) sandwiches... when we asked her for peanut butter and even scoured the whole city to find some she refused to make us peanut-butter sandwiches b/c she said it looked like ca-ca.... hmmmm. So we had tea/coffee for breakfast and then nothing else until dinner unless we found something on our own... the only problem was, food was supposed to be included in the price so neither of us had budgeted for meals every day! So, we found this amazing pita place that made their own pitas and slathered it with hummus and three falafal balls and then they had a grilled veggie bar you could load up on (as much as you wanted!) for like $1.25 or something! That plus a McDonald's ice cream cone and lots and lots of nectarines (the best in the world!) and we survived! So, when I made hummus Saturday I thought I'd give it a go with the ingredients I had on hand and I've had it every day since then... but today was the last day b/c I am now out of hummus.
So, never made your own hummus? It's super easy! You can basically add anything to it to make it spicy or zesty; mexican or italian etc etc.... try it!

Hummus (one version)
1 can Chick Peas
1 clove garlic or 1T minced garlic
Lemon Juice (a few squirts or one lemon)
Cummin (1tsp to 1T depending on how much you like it)
Salt/Pepper (I like a lot)
Tahini/Sesame Seed oil (I used it this time but I didn't last time and barely noticed a difference)
Olive Oil
Chili Powder (if you like) OR Pesto (like basil and stuff like that....)

Drain the Chick Peas but save the juice. In a food processor blend up the chick peas adding a little chick pea juice and a little oil at a time until you get the desired consistency (we like it smooth but have had it chunky too)
Add in all the other stuff and stirrrrrr... remember both of the oils and the lemon juice will make it wetter so don't get it too smooth before you add those in.
I didn't mix in the Chili Powder but dashed it on the top but you can also just put oil and lemon juice on the top or any other seasonings you like!
Enjoy with crackers or pita bread!

Back to it.

Well, the snow has melted off the streets and life is getting back to normal.
We went to church Sunday and it was running on a generator but now the church and all of our friends have their power restored.
Tomorrow classes begin/resume at the seminary and schools all around town.
Tomorrow I will go back to work.
Our friends laughed at me because during the entire storm I never got stir crazy. I loved being trapped in the house with too many books to read and movies to watch. I love that our close friends were trapped in there with us. The thing is, I am all too aware that stress and busy-ness are coming. I know the demands of school will show their ugly faces all too soon and thus I was completely content to have a week where my biggest worry was whether or not we had enough of one thing to feed four people. I love wearing sweats and slippers all day and drinking hot tea and not having to check my watch as I read my Bible or pray. I love it.
Now though, it's time to get back to the daily grind. I am more prepared now to march into Hebrew II tomorrow morning and I have already finished the book for my first book review. I am sure I will have plenty to do at work.
The good news is that with restored power, doctor's offices are open and grocery stores have milk and Chick Fil A is much much easier to get to.
You may wonder, though you shouldn't, why I would care for a doctor's office... but well... I already have another sinus infection. In record time I have managed to fill this nose with an unholy amount of gunk and goo in a wide variety of colors and textures. hahahaha.... plus I think the meds they had me on gave me a rash... well I actually know they gave me a rash. It's seems there is always something.
What I'm learning right now is that there is nothing I can do. This is the path the Lord has me on and he has me on it for my good and His glory. In my timing and in my world I would be healed of this already. I would not have another medical issue to deal with and would not need my 5th round of antibiotics in 3 months... but you know what, I don't get to choose. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers when he was 17 and though he was blessed time and again, he was also thrown into prison and living in a foreign land and didn't know if he would ever....ever see his family again. Yet, he declares to his brothers that what they intended for evil God was using from the get-go for good.
I hate medicine. I wish I could be one of those savvy people who never takes anything. So maybe this is all to humble me. Maybe this is to show his power in my weakness. Maybe this is just the result of a fallen world and a fallen body. Whatever the case, I want to rejoice that the Lord is good and gives good gifts to his children.
I have the most wonderful husband who loves me and cares for me in sickness and health. Drew never gets exasperated by my nose issues or the fact that he is the one paying for them. He cares for me and looks for ways to make my life easier and healthier all the time.
We have a house that the Lord has given us the finances to work on and to minister to our neighbors and friends through. He has given us power during two huge storms that knocked out others around us. He has given us good food to eat and friends to eat it with.
The Lord has given us a wonderful church that preaches the gospel and invests in people of all types.
The Lord has given us himself, beaten on a cross and then raise in glory... our mediator and counselor, the peacegiver and vindicator.
The Lord is good and will accomplish his purpose in our lives. Amen

But speaking of the house.... here's a few pics...

The new tile

trim... trying to mimic the old-Louisville style

more trim

Drew and B. Hamric finishin' up the window... they were like kids in a candy shop with this project

Hunkered Down.

This picture has nothing to do with the following post... but I think it's funny

Well, our little snow day took quite a turn and we have ended up having a snow week.
When I say we, I don't mean Drew and myself as you would suppose. Nope, I mean B&C Hamric (our adopted children for the week) and myself.
I was with our friends the Hamrics all day on Tuesday and then we had awesome Chili with our community group that night and went home. The roads were slushy and wet and everything was starting to drip and I was so disappointed our snow storm was so short-lived. The weathermen were promising more to come but all we had was rain. It was just gross.
I barely slept a wink (again) and woke up at 5 on Wednesday and alas, all was still wet and slushy. I was so disappointed, I was on the verge of mad. I stomped back into the bedroom and got in bed muttering things about the stupid lame boring storm and how weathermen were so unreliable and Drew was laughing in his sleep at his outrageous wife and her love for dramatic storms, especially snow. I went back to sleep.
Drew met with his dudes that morning and when they were done he woke me up (about 730-8) and told me to look outside. It was snowing cottonballs outside and everything had re-frozen. HOW WEIRD! It was in the 20s all night and yet nothing froze and then at "sunrise" everything refreezes and snow and ice resume. Weird. I was ecstatic to say the least.
B. Hamric was already over b/c he's one of the dudes and so he went and retrieved his beautiful bride from their apartment b/c she is one of the dudettes and they had no power.
So the Lewis and Hamric households got to hang out again all day and this time Drew got to join us b/c the roads were so bad and the power was out all over town and ERAC had burst a pipe or something. ERAC never closes... so this was a huge blessing.
The guys finished the trim in the kitchen (forgot to upload the pictures) and it looks AMAZING... I mean really, I am SO IMPRESSED with them! Today we need to get in there and paint it but we were getting stir-crazy.
C. and I bundled up (pics to come) and trekked to the local Kroger who was running on generators to get grub for us all and it was quite the adventure. We splurged and bought a few extra treats for the storm (I mean it is a special occasion)... like double stuffed oreos! There are power lines down all up and down the street and about a foot of snow all over the place. Trees are cracking and falling as well to the char-grin of many street-parked cars. We had our neighbor over for soup at lunch, it was basically a party at our place all day!
B&C spent the night and here we all are again today. They are both teachers and the power is out and all of our schools are cancelled for the whole week. Bummer is, they have to make it up later... boo. I'm not sure what the seminary will do with the whole first week of classes missed. weird.
Louisville has really taken a beating this year between Ike and this snow storm... we missed a week of class for each. I really don't mind though b/c I feel much more prepared for classes now... I have time to clean my house, I've started all my homework, taken down the Xmas tree (I leave it up as long as possible!) and had a lot more time with friends we missed over the break! It's funny that our little house, with all its issues and draftiness has never lost power through all the drama and has become a safe place for our friends to crash. We truly are blessed and grateful for the provisions.
Well, since I am lame and forgot to upload our house and snow pics.... here are some pics to make you feel warm and happy again..... enjoy

Snow...or ice...

Hurray!

Today was supposed to be my first day of the Spring semester
Today I was supposed to have Hebrew II at 8:30 in the morning
Today I was supposed to go to work at 10

Yesterday I was not prepared for Hebrew II
Yesterday I stayed up way too late with some awesome people
Yesterday I hardly slept a wink, wondering if there would be snow today... and no school

Today I woke up early to the pitter patter of ice on the window
Today I woke up to a bright white light of snow in the window
Today I woke up and read the glorious words "classes cancelled, offices closed"

Now I am doing Hebrew
Now I will be prepared for my "first day"
Now I have time to drink Chai and enjoy the snow... or ice

Blessed snow day

Got this song from my Dad's blog....hahaha

Michael Dewalt posted a performance of the song I Think My Wife’s A Calvinist by its author Brandon Milan. Too funny!

I can’t buy my wife roses
She doesn’t care a thing for them
Instead she likes Tulips
Cause they’re approved by John Calvin

She doesn’t read that Beth Moore book I bought her
She’d rather read St. Augustine
If she wasn’t a Baptist preacher’s daughter
I think she’d be Presbyterian

I think my wife’s a Calvinist
She only owns an ESV
I’m always catching her reading Romans 8:28 through 30
And Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology

She has a tattoo that says, “I heart John Piper in Greek.”
She likes Spurgeon more than she likes me
But that’s okay
I didn’t choose her, she chose me

She put me in a dog house
For liking the Emergent Church
She won’t fix my supper now
Cause I brought home a book by Norman Geisler

If you ever met her
You know she’s not mean she’s really sweet
Except when it comes to the little bitty matters
Of doctrine and theology

I think my wife’s a Calvinist
She only reads the ESV
Always hearing her quoting Romans 8:28 through 30
And Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology

She has a tattoo that says, “I heart John Piper in Greek.”
She likes Spurgeon more than she likes me
I think my wife’s a Calvinist
She only owns an ESV

She made me burn my NIV study Bible
Always reading Romans 8:28 through 30
All the time
And Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology

She has a tattoo that says, “I heart John Piper in Greek.”
And she likes Spurgeon more than she likes me
But that’s okay
I didn’t choose her she chose me

Yeah, she chose me (repeat)
She didn’t choose you she chose me

Welp,

Well, I've written so many blog posts this past week but we don't have internet anymore and so they are all so outdated that I'm not going to post them. ugh.
I had my sinus surgery on Wednesday and all went smoothly and I even woke up with saliva, which was a huge relief. I haven't had to take any of the pain meds but have had to just stay put on the couch to prevent anything nasty leaking out. haha.
Thanks to every one who kept me company while I was a little crazy and out of it and who brought us yummy food. It was actually perfect timing to get food b/c the same day I had surgery our kitchen pipes froze over so we have limited options in the kitchen right now. Oh the joys of home-ownership.
We went to Texas for the holidays and Drew's older brother got engaged to a lovely lady while we were there. We saw lots of family and a few friends but missed out on seeing a few dear friends. There is never enough time.
I also got to experience my first round of acupuncture as a last ditch effort to rescue my sinuses.
I turned a quarter of a century old and we both had stomach viruses.
It's been a busy past few weeks.

Now I've got to buckle down and get some studying/research done and get the house clean before school starts. There is still a lot to do on the house. The list of 2009 projects includes: the stairs, new counters in the kitchen and an island, finishing the trim painting and installing, new toilet and maybe maybe redoing the walls/ceiling in the dining room. whew. I'm tired just thinking about it all. The stairs and the kitchen are the main deal for now.
I'm not sure where I left off on house renovations but the living room is pretty much done (minus wall hangings) and the kitchen and bathroom now have tile. woo hoo.

2009 is going to be an interesting year it seems already. Friends coming and going, making changes, growing. Forgiving and letting go, moving on. New jobs? School? I honestly have no idea where we will be come 2010. We could be in the exact same place (physically) or we could be anywhere! That's the joy of making no plans and trusting the Lord to lead, you usually have no idea where you are going in advance. I pray Drew will be in a place that he loves to work and serve and that we will be closer and more in love than ever. I pray we will continue to grow in true community and fellowship. I pray that we will learn and believe the gospel more and live it out in faith and truth. I pray we will see change in our hearts and in those around us.

Here's the latest (though very old) pics in case I never posted them!