Money

This morning I listened to WGTS, a Christian radio station, and an interview they had with Michelle Singletary. If you read the Washington Post, you probably know her. She's got a column about money and I've read it many times. I was surprised to hear her on WGTS because I had never known she was a Christian and after hearing her interview this morning, I was pleasantly surprised. She's a bold lady, which I like and respect, and I found it really interesting how she talked about the numerous criticisms she got for writing about her trust in God in the beginning of her new book about financial freedom. In her column, she said she has to hold back her beliefs because she works in the secular world, but in this book she wanted to let people know who she believes in.  Not surprisingly and unfortunately, she mentioned that if you look on Amazon, a number of people commented things like "too bad she talks about God" and criticize her book and her for talking about her faith.  Similarly, I remember reading the Owl City blog post when Adam whats his name made his own rendition of "In Christ Alone" and professed his Christian faith on his blog.  It was first time he had done this and people criticized him. The Christians praised him, but those who listen to him regularly and love his songs, yet aren't Christians wrote things like "just don't include any more God stuff in any other of your songs", which is sad. They love his music, and liked who he was up until he said that God meant a lot to him.  Now I am no famous person but do you ever feel like persecuted or criticized for trying to follow God?  I understand why nonChristians sometimes despise Christians, sometimes I think it's just a conflict with their own beliefs, which I guess makes sense, but especially among people who grew up in the church, I often feel like it is taboo really to talk about God too much.  And if we bring up what God wants and how it conflicts with what we actually are doing in our lives, I feel like I get a big slap on the face and are treated as if I am trying to be too "holy".  This is not to say that I don't know people who really are gungho about God, but sometimes it feels like the majority of young church goers, want nice friends, but don't care about the Bible much.  Maybe that is why church can often be so boring. Because we aren't real with ourselves and we won't admit what we really believe.

I am fully convinced that half of the young adult population that goes to church isn't always completely honest about why they are at church. Sure they are searching for something, but I have a feeling that a lot of times if they have friends and people to be around, they could care less about God. Why do I say that? Well, it's taboo to talk too much about God. And I think in this area, people are much more consumed with hanging out, going out, buying new things and nice things, and just being...can I say it? A bit entitled and rich.  If you aren't educated, don't dress that well, and aren't outgoing, you probably won't fit in.  I don't feel like this area is very conducive to reflection, solitude, silence, and in turn, few people take the time to think through where they are at with God. It really takes a lot of intentionality and I agree, I have issues with this too sometimes.   I would rather shop online or at TJ Maxx then read the bible and journal or memorize verses.  It's a struggle.   I think that's why I completely respect people who in the midst of all this materialism, just live a simple life and are okay with that. While my dad is no youngin, I think he would fit in that category, as would my grandma, haha, and Kevin actually.  One thing I love about where I went to college (Houghton) is that I met many people who could eat a $5 meal and it wasn't considered crummy or bad quality.    It was more about hanging out with friends and less about the actual activity. I think those are the type of people who survived at Houghton. The mall was an hour and a half away and Subway was the closest "restaurant" and there were really only 3 to choose from in the nearby area without having to travel 40 minutes to go to Applebee's.  Good conversations and just hanging out with friends whether in the trails or in the dorms or in the dining room. You almost had to enjoy that or else you wouldn't make it there. 

This morning's broadcast really did make me think about my money and what I want to do with my life. Money really can do many things and if I want to be able to make a difference, I think my money has to get involved somehow. Sometimes I look at Kev and my condo and the stuff that we have. We have so much clothes, we have an extra room, we have such a nice place and all these nice kitchen utensils and a nice sofa and everything and I wonder, there's got to be more we can do with all this and the money that we have.  I really admired Michelle Singletary's boldness, honesty, and focus as she talked about how we should live our lives.  Okay, well time to get on with Saturday!   Just some of the million of thoughts going on in my head. More next time and maybe some pictures too.=)

My "I Wish" list

Okay let's be honest, we all at one time wish that we have things we don't have.  I'm not in the best of moods, mainly because I started getting hives yesterday and I am SO itchy!!  I have been pondering today how really fortunate I am to have a doctor, to have the ability to buy medications so easily and to have money to do so, to have a couch to sit on that is 140% comfy, to have a husband who says he'll take care of me, so really although I have an "I wish" list of pretty much complaints, I am oddly thankful at the same time.  Let's be honest though. Sometimes we just WISH things were a little different.  I thought I'd share that list today.

1. To start off, I wish I wasn't so itchy! Who thought of this condition? Being itchy is one of the worst things.
2. I wish that Kevin and I would both be healthy soon. Kevin is still coughing and recovering from his mono, strep, and ear infection and I was getting over a sinus infection that made my eyes hurt when these hives came along.
3. I wish I didn't have big bunions that hurt.
4. I wish I could run a marathon and not worry about my feet.
5. I wish I was taller so I didn't have to wear 2 inch boots or heels so that my pants don't drag.  Or so that I don't look like I'm 12 or just a midget.
6. I wish laundry and dishes just washed themselves!
7. I wish I could be married and live with Kev but also live with my grandma and the excitement of my nieces and nephews... but not have to live with Kevin in their house.=)
8. I wish I didn't get two cavities today.
9. I wish I could have my summer vacation soon.
10. I wish ice cream and desserts were full of vitamins instead of sugar.

Goodness! I feel so much better. Well, to conclude, I want to say that typically I would write that I wish my hair wasn't so darn crazy.  I still have not been able to unleash the hair stylist in me to help me have beautiful flowy hair, so I do tend to wear it up as often as possible, but I'm definitely coming to grips with my hair and starting to like it sometimes.  I give you permission to wish today.

I don't think I could ever say my life is boring.  I'm thankful for that.  Did I mention how I realized I have got to do a better job of taking care of myself? I think I tend to feel guilty often and often do things out of obligation and guilt and sometimes forget to do something to keep myself healthy. I wish I could do a better job of taking care of myself sometimes.  I want to do something yet I feel stuck sometimes and don't do it.  

 So for the past week I've been trying to do something everyday that allows me to take care of myself.  One day I spent about an hour writing. That was so nice. Another day I exercised, which was amazing, but typical.  Yesterday I decided going to my church's prayer meeting was what I wanted to do, and it was so encouraging, another day I pulled Kevin along and wanted to go visit his mom.  Fun.  And two days ago, I was brave and tried out Yoga 2 for the first time. That's right, not yoga 1, but yoga 2.  I was hesitant because I've never gone and I knew it was a busy class, but somehow things worked out and I went.  It was 75 minutes long, but I can tell you I've never been so thankful to try something new.  

This morning I attended a training on how kids deal with death. SO interesting and very enlightening. What God showed me through this training was how much he has loved me.  Preparing children for the death of a loved one, especially a parent is so important. By having the dying parent write letters to the child, talk to the child and share what is most important to them, discuss with the child what life will be after the death, leaving objects or memories for that child are important things to do to prepare children for death.  There's so much more.  But as I listened, I realized that while I'm not a child anymore, all the important things that can help a child cope with death a little better were things that happened in my life prior to Yeye's death.  In fact, God I think has been preparing me for the past ten years, and Yeye did a good job too probably not intentionally by leaving me with many pictures, many gifts/objects, and many memories that I am so thankful for.  He gave me this devotional book probably over five years ago and wrote me a letter instead starting it with "Dearest Isabel..." stating that he found that devotional book to be of good spiritual value. Didn't really read it much until he passed away and now what was seemingly a crumb on my shelf is a treasure to me now. He gave me one of his scarves maybe two years ago that he had never worn that is very nice quality and quite stylish.  And he attended my wedding, something I'm so thankful for.  What I'm even more thankful for is what he left behind for me.  For my wedding, he wrote his last piece of calligraphy and gave it to me. And of course, the day he passed, he said good bye.  And while it makes me cry, I feel so lucky because after Yeye died, I was left with no regrets, no hopes that I had spent more time with him, or loved him more.  And only God could have planned things so well.  Only he knew enough to place me in a new job where I would be even more prepared and taken care of.  Amazing!