My Review *cough*

Yesterday I mentioned that the Twilight series has got me thinking a lot about Heaven.



The books are not meant to do that. There's no hidden meanings or symbolism that I'm trying to draw out...I can barely pick out the symbolism in the Narnia series even though my husband has explained it to me countless times! I just want to share some of the things that have caused me to think about Heaven as I was reading these books. And if you've been reading this blog very long, you already know that pretty much any random thing can trigger another random thought for me ;)



Which reminds me, I need a disclaimer first. Here it is: The following post will in fact give away some of the plot of the Twilight series, if you are or will be reading this and do not want it given away you should leave now...right now. :)



So why on earth does reading about fictional vampires make me think of Heaven?!? Good question. Who knows the answer, I certainly have no idea. But my thoughts on Heaven come from Scripture...not just things I like to make up...which I should clarify, because somethings I do like to make up...like words...I digress.



Here's a few reasons.



There are certain qualities of the vampire characters that make me think about the new perfect bodies we'll be getting in Heaven. Those bodies will in fact be EVEN better than a vampires ;)

• beautiful, perfect, no sickness, no weakness.
• I imagine our senses will all be so much clearer. What we see, touch, taste, feel, hear etc will likely be 10,000x's greater.
• When Bella is changed, she looks different but her dad and Jacob still recognize her. Much like what will likely happen in Heaven.
• Bella, as a human, does her best to try to understand what being in a vampires body will be like...but nothing compares to her actually experiencing it for herself. I think we will be completely blown away at the perfectness of them, things we can't even begin to imagine or understand with our puny little minds.
• The devotion that Edward feels towards Bella, not being able to be away from her makes me think of how relationships will be in Heaven. So closely bonded. And with Jesus...I imagine the desire to be in His presence will be overwhelming.
• Understanding one anothers thoughts clearly.
• The eternal aspect of it. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around eternity. Priorities change when there's no time crunch.
• I think we'll be able to move here and there really quickly ;)
• The vampires have an amazing sense of style...deep, I know.
• And the Cullen's baseball game...I think that's what baseball will be like in Heaven.
• No need to sleep! No feeling tired and worn out.

Ok, I'll stop BUT I do have to say...I'm not big into vampires or vampire stories (although I did go to that one movie with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt back when I was in High school because seriously those were Brad Pitt's glory days) but this series really does just pull ya in and it's really quite fun to read.

I've heard different critiques of the authors writing style, but I for one, am so not a writer that I can't tell ya anything about what she does or does not do well. All I know is that I just read four big books because...I liked the story and loved the characters. Book #2 got a little long for me...and the 4th one is my favorite. That's all I know :)

PS...

• I do not think we will drink blood...for the record.
• And I hope we're not all pale. This pasty-white-Iowan would like some color...I'm hoping Jesus agrees. *smiles*

This just exceeded my own personal limit on blog post length...I had to skim my own writing. So sad.

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Not Logical...

When I was shopping the other day I ran across a bunch of different notepads. My heart skipped a beat...they were adorable...and for a list lover, they were nearly perfect. I flipped through to find just the right one, which took about half a second.

PRO/CON List it read at the top. Which in my head means, "How to make a logical/rational/responsible decision." Man I love a pro/con list, and the idea of being able to buy a little notepad that already had those two words so cutely typed on it made me giddy! (seriously, that's how easy it is)

There is a pro/con list running through my head pretty much all the time. The advantages/disadvantages of everything I encounter. From the itty bitty decisions to the life altering.

As I reached to pick of one two of those little tablets that I was SURE were created JUST for me I heard a faint whisper in my head.



It went something like this: Seriously?!? You have me, The God of the Universe, who knows every second of your life, from before you were born until the day you take your last breath...and then some, and yet you resort to the pro/con list?!? That's really the best you can do?



Oh the Holy Spirit...He gets me every time...speaking truth, straight to my heart, in a language I understand. Reminding me that my humanness...it slays me. Big time.



I put that cute little notepad down...and walked away.



Just last night I had a situation come up that caught me off guard. I immediately began the list...and then stopped. It didn't matter what the list said. It didn't matter that logically the cons outnumbered the pros, I knew in my heart what my decision should be. It should be yes even though the list says no.



God's power and plans shatter my lists...always. My humanness craves logic and reason...tangible evidence. But my heart...it longs for faith. The kind of faith that steps out of the boat, and onto the crashing waves simply because Jesus said to. It doesn't have to make sense to me. In fact, most of the time it makes NO sense to me...because my mind limits Him time and time again.



Today I'm praying for a bigger vision. Bigger expectations for what God is doing...because He's doing them whether I see it or not...and I don't wanna miss it by being an idiot ;)



...also praying He helps me to miraculously stop making those dumb lists in my head...seriously, A MIRACLE!





*on a completely unrelated note: The Twilight series I've been reading has really got me thinking about Heaven...so more on that tomorrow. I know, I know you're wondering how a book about vampires has me thinking about Heaven and so I must remind you that I am in fact a pastor's wife, which gives me the ability to make ANYTHING into a spiritual lesson...it's a gift, what can I say? ;)

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Dare to Wear is Here

Two little words...skinny jeans.

*gasp* I wasn't quite sure that girls with my curves should wear skinny jeans...but after looking at a few magazines I realized it was totally do-able as long as the proportions were right.

Apparently the key is either long cardigans or something bulkier on top to help balance the butt/thigh region.

Also, and this is key, skinny jeans are NOT (and I repeat NOT) the same as tapered leg jeans. Skinny are skinny all the way down...tapered are just evil and unflattering...all baggy at the thighs and knees and then BAM tight at the ankles. *shudder*

So, here goes.

Skinny jeans with flats:

Skinny jeans with my favorite favorite boots:

*I need to get a full length mirror in an area of the house that

1. has better lighting
2. is void of the gold shag carpeting

To play along (and you know you want to) go to Mama Belle's and link up!!

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Oh I Dare...

Tomorrow is the day.



Dare to Wear Day, hosted by Mama Belle.



So tomorrow I wear something that I've been too scared/nervous/horrified/chicken to wear...or just haven't tried.



I still have no idea what I'm going to do.



I have a procrastinating problem.



It's not too late to join in on the fun (yes, I said fun because I LOVE to see what people are wearing:) Just go over to Mama Belle's and link up tomorrow!!



If you decide to play, let me know...because people who choose to do something crazy really like other people to join along...makes them feel less crazy.



AND, you just may try something you end up loving! Like leggings...or white jeans...or patent leather...who knows?!?

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I Can Concentrate Now...

I'm back! YAY!


Most of you hadn't even realize I was gone...well, except for my mom. It was sort of one of those unintentional bloggy breaks. I blame it on Thanksgiving...with all the pumpkin pie involved, I could barely concentrate on anything else.


The pie is now gone. Back to work ;)


Thanksgiving was fantastic. I have some pics that basically sum it up.


Gorge.





Sleep.


God Bless Thanksgiving.


Yesterday (black Friday) Ben actually had the day off so I did a little shopping with my mom. Not the super-early-crazy-shopping, but the wake-up-at-8-don't-brush-your-hair-stop-at-Starbucks-first kind.


On the way: The best part...pretty much everyone was sporting the "just rolled out of bed" look. In the essence of keeping it real I should tell you that I didn't even brush my teeth, just popped in some gum. Gross huh ?!? :)

It may be the longest I've ever spent in the Starbucks drive-through. Was it worth it? Ab-so-lute-ly. Afterall, I was just doing my part as an American citizen...supportin' the economy.

All right, let me have it. What's new, what did I miss while I was gone, and did ya get any good deals yesterday?!?

It's important I know these things... :)

Happy weekend friends!

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Do Over

So...I did a post today already, and after I got some comments and re-read what I wrote I realized that how I said what I was saying was not really sounding like what I meant...it sounded self-righteous and icky and I don't know how to put it into the right words...so I deleted it.

What a lovely sentence ;)

SO, in other news...I am off to Wal-Mart. Exciting stuff. And maybe Starbucks...because I'll be right by it...sort of.

I am SUPER excited about pumpkin pie.

This is officially my worst blog day. Ever.

Please tell me yours is better.

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My Crush is Over...So That's Good...

*My apologies before you even read this...it is allllll over the place*

Remember that inner 15 year old I've mentioned?

Well... she is reading the Twilight series. There's four books (I finished the 2nd yesterday) and a movie that opened this weekend. For those of you who may not know what on earth I'm talking about, the Twilight series is about teenage love...one of them is a vampire...it's young love without smutty stuff or gore, and frankly...I'm quite enjoying it!

Friday night my parents watched the boys so Ben and I could go to a movie. Twilight was sold out by the time we got there. Apparently, girls who are ACTUALLY 15 really wanna see the movie too. Go Figure. ;)

We ended up seeing the "old married people's movie" Fireproof *wink wink*

As I sat in the theatre, I wondered if I was the only 30 year old Pastor's wife in there (or anywhere) wishing she was watching Twilight instead...likely.

How weird am I?!?

Fireproof was a fine movie...with a lot of real life drama...which may have been the problem for me Friday night.

Lately, it seems that the opportunities to minister to people with real life dramas are endless...some of their life stories seem more fictional than a teenage vampire series could ever be. Friday night I was looking for an escape from that...a tiny two-hour distraction.

Fireproof was not that for me. BUT three things:

1. ...I did realize that my teenage crush I had on young Kirk Cameron from Growing Pains...has ended even though he looks much the same. I know you're relieved.
2. I thoroughly agree with the message of the movie. All married couples should see it. Bring Kleenex...and Jr. Mints.
3. I didn't tell Ben about my crush until AFTER the movie...he acted surprised that I had had a crush on Kirk Cameron...I assured him that I wasn't the only woman in the theatre that had crushed on him a little back in the day ;)

*shaking my head and rolling my eyes* THAT is how I feel about this post :)

Happy Monday Bloggy Friends, and my sincerest thanks for putting up with this post ;)

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