counting down.....

It's officially November! Right now most people are buzzing about this historical election they will cast their votes for tomorrow, me, I'm breathing thru minutes and counting down hours until November 15th. In 12 short days a new addition to our family will be joining us. Actually, she is the first addition to our family, Addison Marie Oliver. Now that I've typed November 15th, I'm hoping she will spite me and come early....not late, early! :) Jake thinks that she will be here a week from today. I like his thinking, a week from today would be wonderful, 5 days early and on one of my greatest friends Birthdays.... Pray me in to labor friends! *wink

This last couple of weeks have been 2 of the hardest for me, and for Jake. With this struggling economy we've had some cutbacks and paycuts at work. The blessing is that we still have jobs, the hurt is the cut in pay and a baby on the way. Thankfully, we saved for my maternity leave and can focus on the Joy of our little girl.
The hard part for me is that in the midst of this "storm" I've had to face myself and my weaknesses and realize that I'm in a weak spot in my faith. It's always easy to trust God when things are "good".....I'm great at believing in His power when I don't need it so much....Right now, I'm struggling because I am having the hardest time trusting Him, understanding why we are in the midst of this struggle and believing that He will take care of us. I don't know what to pray for and how to pray for it. I know what I want to pray....I want to pray for tangible things, the gap to be restored, the security of our jobs, the business we work for to be fruitful, etc. but I know and believe that there is a bigger lesson in this....I believe that God wants Jake and I in this place of vulnerability for a reason.....He wants our attention, He wants us to grow, and He most definitely wants us to learn to lean on Him, not just say we do, to experience His power and learn that its not about us and our comfort and our "stuff".....I'm disappointed in myself that I am struggling to let go and let Him work.
I'm not writing all this so that those reading will feel sorry....writing is more therapeutic, and I guess if I can be transparent, and maybe someone else is in the same spot...they too could realize that God wants us to Grow even when it's tough, when the light at the end of the tunnel seems extremely distant. I think the message that Jesus wants us to receive is in the journey thru the tunnel as long and dark as it might be. His word should be (and I'm desperate to make it) the lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path.

Blessings.............

AnNoYeD!

Seriously now. Could the media be any more biased and liberal.....this election race is bringing out the worst in our Media as we know it......I know, I know you who are reading (if there are any reading :) ) are probably shaking your heads at me, but hear me out. Everything in the media sans Fox News makes conservative America look like a bunch of close-minded, biggots. I'm sick of it. I am all for believing in what you believe in, God gave us the choice to choose for a reason. My issue is with the TV, Web and Print making anyone who is pro-life, pro-ethics, pro-morals, pro-Jesus seem like a long lost idealist bunch of freak-o's. Why are my beliefs any less valid than someone who believes in abortion, socialized health care and is against the war? Why is it that because I feel passionate and want to stand for something that stirs me deeply so wrong in the eyes of those against me? If they can have thier "open-minded" platform than they need to embrace it, live your words and understand that open-mindedness means accepting those who believe in all the things they oppose. Just like those of "us" who are "stuck in the past" have been forced to accept a world that is spinning out of control because of a liberal agenda that has been pushed to the maximum.

I'm tired of loggin on and seeing jargon making one party look like a dated, un-educated, biased grouping while the other is glorified for.......what exactly? Partial birth abortions,a new national anthem that "won't offend" the world, a promise of middle class wealth (that never actually comes to pass) and the false hope that life as we know it can and will be so much better. Lets play fair and use the technology and outlets we have to promote the facts (haha, I guess that's hard when it comes to politics) and stay away from branding a catagory of people as "a lost cause." America is diverse for a reason, we have a past, we have a foundation, a set of ideals that we were created upon. I'm all for change and being culturally relevant, but lets take a second to remember where we are headed, and where we come from.

Okay, I'm off my soap box for now, but I feel better, got it off my chest! :)

Seasons....

"Fall has fallen" in Sandpoint, Idaho. We always fight it here, we hold on by our fingertips to the last few weeks and days of the summer sunshine.....begging for just a few more days to follow. It is often hard to come to the reality that once the morning "chrispness" is felt, our summer moments are numbered. Until a day like today.... the leaves are brilliant colors of amber, orange, yellows, greens and soft browns. A "bulldog" sweatshirt, blue jeans and Uggs sound like heaven paired with a cup of coffee from your favorite local shop. The air feels refreshing and new, filled with promise of all that a new "season" has to offer.
And isn't that what is so truly amazing about the change of seasons, they often reflect a change in our own lives. Moving on from one portion of our lives to the next. Not leaving anything behind, but pushing forward to all that lies ahead. Whether it be a goal worth meeting, a challange worth facing, or hope for what could be...we move. We change and grow, and hopefully into the people we are meant to be.

I believe that God made the seasons so apparantly different because they cause us to stop and look, or stop and listen. When we do this we reflect, we reflect on memories, nostalgic moments or events that bring back a rush of emotions and thoughts. We have the opportunity to reflect on who we are in that moment and who we want to be. How our creator has given us the choice to lead or follow. Be like clay or be dried up, and unwilling to allow the life that flows in water used to mold us and make us capable of being who we are called to be in Christ. Not who we think we are to be in ourselves.

Embrace this new season, for more than the obvious......for more than the mundane. Embrace it with vision and purpose and a sense of Renewal. God is good! We are blessed for our many, our daily Fresh Starts. This new season is just a beautiful reminder...........

Addison.....

Addison: Meaning: (daughter of Adam)....


Our first and our greatest gift from above. She will be arriving in about 6 weeks and we can't seem to be patient about it!
We completed her sweet little bedroom last weekend (well with the paint and furniture) and can't wait to bring her home.
I'm sure in the future, much of this blog will be about our new addition....

ADDISON MARIE OLIVER

just because........

Blogging ......not that I'll ever be any good at this, but its worth a shot. I've enjoyed reading other peoples blogs latley and decided that because our lives are ever-changing and so filled that this would be a great way to keep my friends, family and musical supporters up to date on what's cooking in our world.

Check back often....I'm gunna try and do this weekely!
*muah
Kristine