Odd Confessions

So, I realize that I haven't finished my blog about getting out of the pit. If you can recall, I gave a brief summary of the information in Beth Moore's book Get Out of that Pit, but I didn't finish explaining the entire process. I left you hanging when I described the types of pits and the ways you can get into a pit but didn't explain how to get out of the pit. Well, here's my first odd confession. I couldn't explain how to get out of the pit because I hadn't finished the book yet, and I hadn't finished the book yet because I was scared! Now, you may be wondering why I was scared, and here's the explanation for that. It had been a big step for me to admit that I was in a pit and suddenly I found myself afraid of being held responsible for knowing how to get out of the pit. You see, I knew that once I had read through how to partner with God on climbing out of the pit I had no excuses for starting that process. And my friends, I knew that it was going to be a difficult, dirty, commitment. I just wasn't sure that I was ready to step forward and do the thing. Of course the book sat and stared at me reminding me each day that God had provided the way out and I was forgoing it. So, of course I put the book away feeling that if it was at least out of sight, it would be a little more out of mind. A month passed and with a few more counseling sessions behind me, and the CA trip finally over with, I was ready to embrace the process. It still wasn't something I could rush into, so I simply got the book out and set it on the coffee table. There was no avoiding it there. And finally, after a few days, I picked it up and started on the last five chapters. At this point I only have two chapters left and I anticipate that I will finish them today or tomorrow. So, check back soon and I will summarize what I now know about getting out of the pit.

I have one more odd confession. At some point during my medical leave when I was at home, feeling pretty awful, and needing a distraction, I got hooked on Amish books. I know...odd! It wasn't something that I had planned or ever pegged myself for, but I found that a trip to the Amish country via a book was a brief escape from my seemingly complicated life situation. The only Amish books that I've ever read have been by Beverly Lewis, so I can only speak for those. I became completely engrossed with the characters and their complicated, simple life. Lewis has written a couple of really great Amish series, so if you ever find yourself longing for a really good Amish book I would recommend checking her out. I still think about some of the characters from her Abram's Daughters series. Fair warning, if you read a lot of Amish books right in a row you will suddenly find yourself saying "for sure and for certain", "jah", and "wonderful-gut"and feeling the urge to learn how to quilt! So, now, whenever I want to escape, I start reading an Amish book. I have to confess that although a year had passed since I felt the Amish calling, I picked up a new Amish book right before I went to CA. I haven't finished it yet, but as soon as I do, I plan to face life once more, figure out how to climb out of the pit and feed my intellectual side with Little Women.

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe that I have let this much time pass by since my last post. It's been a busy few weeks. Here's a list of events that have taken place since then:

1. I helped host a lingerie party for my friend Leticia on 6/26. I love a good Christ-centered lingerie party. I think it's a beautiful thing to celebrate when a man and woman wait for marriage. I also think it allows the ladies who are already married to minister to the soon-to-be bride. Today's Christian Woman had an article on this subject a few years ago, and I loved what they had to say http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2006/janfeb/12.34.html Although I haven't had the chance to throw the exact type of gathering that they outline in the article, it definitely inspired me to think about lingerie parties differently.

Our beautiful tablescape complete with chocolate fountain!

We played a really fun "guess who brought the panties" game.

Lissette (the bride's sister), me, Leticia (the bride), and Kelli

2. Leticia and Luca, a couple from our old bible study, were married on 6/28.

3. Neil and I traveled to California on 7/2 to attend my cousin's wedding. I was a bridesmaid. The wedding was on 7/5, but we stayed for a few days afterward to relax and visit San Diego. We returned home on 7/9.

The beautiful bride, Audra, and me before the wedding.

Neil surprised me and rented a red convertible for the week! I have never been in a convertible before (proof that not everyone who lives in CA drives a convertible!), so it was really fun. Here we are with my brothers, Ryan and David in the back.

On the last night in CA Neil and I snuck away to a wine bar at the Hotel Del on Coronado Island. We sat outside by a fire pit and enjoyed chocolate truffles and a flight of wine. It was a fabulous way to end the trip.

4. Neil and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary on 7/15. I don't have pictures for that yet. We are actually celebrating tonight. We're going to our favorite celebration spot, the Melting Pot! I'll post a picture of that later.

5. In addition to all of these exciting events, God has been doing some pretty amazing things in my life. I struggled with a great deal of anxiety about the trip to CA right before we left and He was faithful to meet me in the struggles in so many ways. I will make a point to post something about all of that later this week.