{ the world melts. }
((taken on an unusually warm day the other week, after the snow had melted.))
We’re on to month two of 2009, and I am still feeling good about this year. I hope saying that doesn’t jinx me, but I really feel hopeful about what’s to come. Like we are (or maybe I am) am on the brink of something important. Besides that, I’m making good on resolutions promises I have made to myself. I feel like maybe I am doing the best that I have in a long time with my attitude about challenging things in my life. I don’t worry as much. I’m not as emotional as I usually am. We’ve started going to a new church which I love, and I am whole-heartedly seeking God for the first time in a while.
Meanwhile, in the back of my head, I am keenly aware of what people I know and care about are going through. In my small woman’s bible study alone, one woman has terminal cancer with just a few weeks to live and another’s baby has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. These two families have been weighing on my heart, and on my day-to-day moments and interactions with others. I have started thinking about the people driving in the vehicles next to me on their way to work, or the old man standing in front of me in line at the post office. I wonder what’s on their hearts, what losses they are dealing with, what life had dealt them, what is getting them through their day. I tend to forget that while life goes marching on for me, I encounter strangers everyday bearing invisible pain and invisible burdens and they are wondering why it goes marching on when they are hurting so much.
There is a lot to think about and pray about these days.
I hope you all had a lovely Valentine’s Day. We had more of a Valentine’s weekend. Thursday night we stayed over at Fort Rapids, a really fun indoor water park and I had the best time! It was 82 degrees in there.. need I say more? We got a romance package that included champagne & chocolate covered strawberries, room-service breakfast, a room with a jaccuzi tub, and two-day passes to the water park. Funnel & I had so much fun goofing off, going down all the slides, playing basketball in the pools, chilling in the hot-tub, floating in the lazy river. On actual Valentine’s Day, we got a heart-shaped pizza and watched Titanic. Sunday, I cooked a romantic dinner. We kind of drew it out, but it was nice. Valentine’s Day should come more often, maybe quarterly.
A few photos from Fort Rapids:
((champagne…yum.))
((our breakfast in bed. Mine is on the right.))
((our jacuzzi tub.))
((Funnel in a funnel. When will that ever happen again? this slide was so much fun!))
((the lazy river and the kid’s area.))
((you can’t see most of the water slides because they go outside the building.))
((me and the mister.))
Well, time to get some dinner started. Auf Weidersehn!
February 16th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Oh, love this post. That seems like such a lovely, lovely weekend.
I too wonder about other’s experiences and burdens. I suppose all we can really do is pray and be kind.
February 16th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
i have never been to fort rapids but i want to go!! 82 degrees is my kinda weather. and btw thank you for letting me be friends with kirpi!! i still need to meet him though..hopefully someday
February 17th, 2009 at 9:31 am
The first part of your post makes me think of the Brandon Heath song “Give me your eyes” especially verse 2:
“Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what’s underneath
Theres a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work
He’s buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?”
It breaks my heart because I’m so aware of how well I’ve hidden my pain, I wonder what everyone else is hiding.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I wondered how Fort Rapids was-looks like you guys had a great time! I’m sorry to hear that I won’t be seeing you at Logos, but that’s so wonderful that you’ve found a place where you feel you can grow
Hope to see you sometime soon!
February 17th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Jen! You look like a model next to the jacuzzi! what a hottie!
February 18th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Things are rough right now for many that we love. Your compassion speaks volumes to them…it helps ease their burden. That verse that Katie posted above is so applicable – we can show Christ’s love even by a simple smile or prayer for those strangers that are struggling.
Lovely pictures Jen! “Funnel in a funnel”…that is a classic. Glad you two were able to get away! Can’t wait to see you two…we miss you!
February 18th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I also believe that your ministry can be found in the kind of compassion you write about above. That is what the world needs—that kind of empathy for a random stranger. God can really use your heart. I believe that is just what we should strive for.
Also—we must have a lot in common, because my all-time favorite date took place at a water park! I love that you mixed grown-up romance with giddy kiddy fun.
February 18th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
P.S. Is your title a reference to Psalm 46:6?
February 18th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
@ kaitlyn: praying and being kind.. its so simple, but if we all just could be kind to one another.. what a better world we could have!
@ lisa: you totally should go to Fort Rapids.. it is so much fun.. it made me feel like a little kid! And Kirpi was very excited and honored to be your facebook friend.
@ katie: those lyrics are awesome! i am going to see if i can hunt that song down on myspace so i can listen to it. i think i have hidden my pain well too.. a lot of people do.
@ nafisa: thanks nafisa! i miss seing you around, and i miss everyone at logos. it was a bittersweet decision, but i really feel confident that we are exactly where we are supposed to be right now. i hope to see you soon too!
@ ann: oh stop!
you are sweet.
@ debbie: we miss you guys too! i’m glad i got to visit with you and michaela tonight, even though it was only for a little bit. hopefully sometime soon we can get together for a longer time.
@ sarah: thank you so much for encouraging me. i really feel blessed by what you wrote.. thank you. and i read it right when i was feeling discouraged. aren’t water parks the best? i would much rather do a day at the waterpark over almost anything else! i just titled the post that because when i took the picture, it seemed like the world was melting. i’m going to go look up that verese!
— jen.