This is nutty.

I'm blogging from my new iPhone. Sa-weet. I'm in love!

A book review.

Yesterday I spent my work day reading a book.  Some of you may wonder why I'm able to read an entire book in the 8 hours I spent at work, but let me assure you that I still did my job and helped customers and smiled and the whole 9 yards.  It was a cold rainy day in Kansas so NO ONE came to the bank.  I had 10 customers the entire day.  Anyways - I was thankful that earlier in the week one of my tellers recommended a book for me to read.  He brought it for me to borrow and I started it yesterday morning around 7:15 and was finished with it by 2 pm. 

The book is called "The Shack" by William P. Young.  Even if you never read - take the time to read this book.  You will NOT be able to put it down.  You will laugh, cry, and if you're anything like me, you will take many many deep sighs throughout the book.  I can't say much about it without giving the entire book away, but among the hundreds of amazing quotes and incredible pages and pages of deep thoughts, I can honestly say I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be challenged and truly encouraged in your faith.

Here are just a few of my favorite passages throughout the book...

Papa continued, "Lets use the example of friendship and how removing the element of life from a noun can drastically alter a relationship.  If you and I are friends, there is an expectancy that exists within our relationship.  When we see each other or are apart, there is an expectancy of being together, of laughing and talking.  That expectancy has no concrete definition; it is a live and dynamic and everything that emerges from our being together is a unique gift shared by no one else.  But what happens if I change that 'expectancy' to an 'expectation' - spoken or unspoken?  Suddenly, law has entered into our relationship.  You are now expected to perform in such a way that meets my expectations.  Our living friendship rapidly deteiorates into a dead thing with rules and requirements.  It is no longer about you and me, but about what friends are supposed to do, or the responsibilities of a good friend.
"Or," noted Mack, "the responsibilties of a husband or father, or employee, or whatever.  I get the picture.  I would much rather live in expectancy."

-----

"What he did was wrong, and anger is the right response to something that is so wrong.  But don't let the anger and pain and loss you feel prevent you from forgiving him and removing your hands from around his neck."

-----

"Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."

-----

"Jesus?" Mack whispered as his voice choked. "I feel so  lost."

A hand reached out and squeezed his, and didn't let go.  "I know, Mack.  But it's not true.  I am with you and I'm not lost.  I'm sorry it feels that way, but hear me clearly.  You are not lost."

-----

"I am what some would say 'holy, and wholly other than you'.  The problem is that so many people try to grasp some sense of who I am by taking the best version of themselves, projecting that to the 9th degree, factoring in all the goodness they can perceive, which often isn't much, and then call that God.  And while it may seem like a noble effort, the truth is that it falls pitifully short of who I really am.  I'm not merely the best version of you that you can think of.  I am far more above that, above and beyond all that you can ask or think."

-----

Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship.

-----

So there you have it.  Check it out and buy the book.
http://www.theshackbook.com/

Megan's baby.

I have a friend who is not just a friend.  She has been the most incredible friend I could ask for.  She is talented, beautiful, funny, witty, and smart.  She loves Jesus and loves to tell others about Him through her actions.  She is caring.  She loves people and would do anything for anyone.  Her name is Laura Cameron and I met her in college.  The first few months of my college life were hard... I missed home, missed my best friend, missed my life.  I was now in Colorado Springs by myself... I knew no one.  Laura befriended me.  We were at a retreat and we were getting ready to close out our first module (aka: semester) and I was ready to quit.  I couldn't handle being that far from home and not having any friends.  I was sitting on a bench when Laura came up, sat by me, and said... So, Megan Carmichael, what's your story.  We've been friends ever since.  No, we don't talk daily, or sometimes even weekly, but there is no doubt in my mind that she cares for me and loves me and would do anything for me.  I love people like her.  Authentic - and so genuine. 

Laura is not only all those things listed above, but she is an amazing singer & songwriter.  She traveled to Iowa for my wedding and sang.  She hardly sang the song because she cried through most of it, but the parts she did sing were gorgeous.  :)  She lives in Denver now and has been putting together a CD of songs she has written and sent me one a couple days ago to listen to.  She originally told me it was about me, but that could have meant a series of things so once I received it I couldn't wait to listen to it.

As soon as I heard the first line the tears started flowing.  I cried and cried through the entire thing.  Part of it has to do with her writing a song about me & our baby, part of it has to do with the fact that I haven't heard her voice for so long, but most of it had to do with the lyrics and the words behind the music.  Tyler also listened to it and just smiled from ear to ear through the entire thing.  It is absolutely perfect.

So here it is... entitled "Megan's baby."

[audio <embed src="http://static.boomp3.com/player.swf?song=bzffkhyza_3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="200" height="20" allowScriptAccess="always" align="middle"></embed><a style="font-size: 9px; color: #ccc; letter-spacing: -1px; text-decoration: none" target="_blank" href="http://boomp3.com/listen/bzffkhyza_3/megans-baby">boomp3.com</a>]

PS:  Please let me know if the link to play the song doesn't work.  It works for me but you just never know.

I'm curious...

Do you think God likes it when we question Him?  Like, in particular... a one-worded question, like "why"?

The cold, hard truth.

Has anyone seen my energy?  It's missing from my body.  What about my motivation?  Gone.  Long gone.  Down the drain along with my energy. 

Because a lot of you think I have a clean house 24/7, here's proof that I don't. 


The last time this vaccuum was used was when my husband was cleaning his computer.  This thing hasn't touched carpet in weeks.


We still haven't unpacked from our trip to Columbia last weekend.


Let's not even talk about making the bed.  It's pointless when I spend so much of my time in it.


I also haven't done laundry in 3 weeks.  Fear not ... this is on my to-do list for this weekend.


This BB&B coupon has been on the floor in the kitchen for over a week.  Pick it up?  Pshhh...


Dead flowers? Check.  Tupperware? Check.  Birthday gift bag? Check.  Cereal? Check check.  All on the counter where they don't belong?  Check check check.


Dirty dishes right above the dishwasher?  Of course!


MORE dirty dishes on the other side of the sink, but not IN the sink, because that would just make sense.


Random dish towels everywhere, oh - and this even one has a spoon to go with it!


I have a big huge pantry in my kitchen, but why use it when I can just throw everything on the counters?  Duhhh..


Ah yes, and lets not forget about the iron that has been sitting on our kitchen table for a few days now.  Why on the kitchen table?  Well, because it's so much easier to iron on the table than get the ironing board out... *big sigh*

I think that's enough embarassment for one day, don't you?

WARNING:  do NOT show up at our house without calling, uninvited, or without a 24-hour notice.  Not until my energy returns.