Every Woman's Battle

Upon receiving this book to review, I wasn't quite sure what I had gotten myself into. I had also decided, upon reading the overview, that I wouldn't get much out of it, since I had never struggled with what this book was about. Or so I thought. The title of the book, "Every Woman's Battle", is true in that the material can apply to every woman at some point in their lives, whether they are single or married. Ethridge really opens herself up and uses personal stories, as well as stories from other women, to talk about the unhealthy desires/thoughts/actions that women face every day.

The book breaks these down into four unique categories/components of feminine sexuality as well as talks about common myths that women and the world believe. It then gives you the necessary tools to help fight the specific battle you may be fighting.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would -- it helped me understand myself more, as well as made me realize that I am not alone, and that we, as women, shouldn't be ashamed to admit things we might be keeping secret. I would recommend this book for any woman who wants to open herself up to the truth about the woman's sexual battle.

A Great Fiction Read

While I was picking a book from booksneeze.com to review, I decided to go with fiction for a change. When I saw that William Sirls had based his debut book "The Reasoning" out of Michigan, I was interested. The is based around a wooden cross that has been demolished by lightning. As the story unfolds, you are introduced to many characters who are searching for something more in their lives. All characters' stories end up connecting in a plot that kept me turning the pages.

"The Reason" is really a well-written novel that kept my interest throughout the book. Sirls connects with his readers in many ways, and also gives us a great reminder to 'only believe'. The characters' struggles are easy to identify with, and the reader is constantly reminded of God's love for us as well as His great strength.

I would recommend this book to people who like a good read, and have time to drop everything and read, because that is what they will want to do once they start this book!

I received a free copy of "The Reason" from booksneeze.com.

Mission Possible!

As we continue to listen to God and follow His lead, we have been researching different missionary organizations. There are a LOT of them out there! Here's a bit of background information:

When Josh and I first got married, we felt like we might like to do missions, but we weren't quite ready. After three and a half years of many trials, tribulations, and celebrations, we feel like God is finally telling us its time to look into the mission field once again. So, that's what we have been doing.

As we've realized in life, sometimes God leads us in a certain direction so we can see another opportunity that we wouldn't have seen on a different path. For instance, we felt God was leading us toward moving to Bay City, so we started to pursue that route -- we looked for jobs and places to live. As we moved out of the camper and into our friends' house, we continued our search in Bay City. But as we got more settled into our friends' place, God used different things in our life to get us thinking about missions again; mainly close friends and family.

And so, with much prayer and fasting and thought, we have decided to pursue the mission field. This could mean many different things -- overseas missions, missions within the country, or even within the state. Wherever God leads us is where we want to go. We know that there are needs everywhere in the world, and God calls us to go and make disciples of all men. (Matthew 6:18-20, The Great Commission). We will simply follow His lead, and go where He leads us!

I write all this to update you on our progress. We have sent emails to many different missions organizations, and tonight, we are skyping with one of them. We are excited to start looking further into the organizations to see which one fits with us and our abilities! Please keep us in your prayers, as this is a very big decision :) Also, continue to pray for missionaries here and around the world, as the Bible calls us to keep them in our prayers always.

God Bless

Life Expectancy (A poem)

Life expectancy
cannot be
long enough to change it all

We have to try
we're called t live,
not watch the world go by

Instead of watching people die
we're called to show them they can live
Live for Christ, who calls us children
and calls us to love the broken.
Love the orphans, be outspoken
about His light, about what's right
until all people hear.
Hear the truth, and know the Father.
we won't give in to fear.

Keep fighting, and don't give in
keep looking up instead of looking in
or looking down
they need to know who wears the crown.
The crown of glory, righteousness, love
Christ the King
Be disciples of Him, who is above.

A Leap of Faith (Or, Where Are We Going From Here?)

In May of 2012, Josh and I decided to take what we thought was a big leap of faith and move into a camper at Wesleyan Woods for the summer. We had no idea what was coming next, or that moving into a camper was just the step to take before jumping off the cliff.

We lived in a camper. A lot of people thought we were crazy, and didn't agree with our choice, even though they told us they did. Many people said it was an awesome adventure. Many people didn't understand that we literally meant a camper, and didn't think about it too much. We learned many things about living with each other, raising a daughter, and how to strengthen a marriage.
 We learned patience. We learned how to deal with disagreements and arguments (After all, things HAD to be worked out -- there was nowhere to go in the camper to get away from one another!) We learned how to do with less (but never not enough). God moved, because we obeyed.

We came to October and we didn't feel settled about moving into the house at the front of the camp. That was the most logical, safe idea. We prayed, and we talked. In the end, God said GO.

How could we not listen? God was telling us to jump off the cliff. This was the jump that we had been preparing for. We still didn't have much, but we knew that God would provide for our family. And so we jumped. It was a bit of free-falling for a while; We were obeying God and 'going', but we didn't know what that meant. We were out of a job, which meant no income, and we were out of a home on October 28th. (We had a month.)

And then I remembered that I had a parachute.

You see, God is moving, all the time, all around us. And He wants us to move with Him. All we have to say is "Here I am, send me." We said that, and it has been awesome to sit back and completely trust that God will provide. On October 25th, three days before we had to be out from the camper, we moved in with a family who was also listening to God. They welcomed us into their home, knowing that there would be change, but trusting that God would provide. (Awesome!!!)

I will admit it has been hard. I have had days when I stop trusting, and I try to control what is going on. And it never works. I get stressed, depressed, and cranky (just ask Josh!!) When I try to control things, my desires trump God's. When I let go and let God have control, cool things happen. And He provides.

So here we are today, with people asking us what's next, and our answer is, "We don't know". We are waiting on God, and that is hard to understand. Not only for others, but for us as well. As Christians, or non-christians, we want answers. We want a clear outline of where our life is going or where we will end up. God doesn't work like that. Because then, we wouldn't have to trust Him. And thats what life is about.

When we trust God, God works through us.
When God works through us, people get curious.
When people get curious, they ask questions.
When people ask questions, they hear the TRUTH.
When people hear the truth, they FIND the LIGHT.

When we first got married, both Josh and I thought missions might be something we would be interested in. We said that before we went overseas, we wanted to be debt free, and we wanted to have a strong, rock solid foundation in Christ. While our foundation is always being worked on and made stronger, we are now debt free. We have minimal possessions on earth, and we have nothing holding us here. I think God is finally telling us we are ready.

As we have prayerfully considered this decision, as well as talked with trusted friends/family in our lives, we feel like this might possibly be what God has been preparing us for.

We appreciate your continued prayer as we are seeking Christ in this time of transition, and will keep you updated on where He calls us next :)

Let's Not Make This Political...

But if you aren't planning on voting, you should think about reconsidering, and look into the candidates. I'm not very political, but as a Christian, I don't want the government to continue to ordain abortion and other issues. I ask that you vote prayerfully, and in a way that doesn't only benefit yourself. I have been doing research on the candidates to learn as much as I can about them, and though neither of them really appeal to me, I have made a prayerful decision based on what God would want for this country.

Okay, thats enough about politics.

Have I told you yet that our life is crazy? The name of this blog fits perfectly for how I feel. We have no idea what God's plans are for our life, so we are just trying to take it one step at a time. While it can be a very SCARY sensation not knowing what comes next in life, it is also very freeing to know that God is the one completely in control.

Have you ever tried giving God complete control of every single aspect in your life?

You should try it sometime. I will admit that I worry sometimes: I think about earthly things... How will we eat without an income? Where will we live when our friends get sick of us and kick us out? Where will our income come from? Why can't I have what they have???

But, even when satan tries to bully me into ignoring God, I remember that He is always faithful, and He has NEVER forsaken me, and then I'm like, "Be GONE, satan, in the name of JESUS!" (And he HAS to listen... because the Bible says that even satan HAS to bow down to the Almighty!!!!!!!! It's pretty awesome).

All I know that God has provided me with an awesome family, and some amazing, Godly friends who are a constant reminder that God is never far from me.

Oh, and guess what? We have a new member of the family. She is gray and fuzzy and has green eyes. We have named her Poslea, which means "following" in Russian. She showed up at our friends' house and was just too cute for us to send away. Can't wait for her to meet her brother, Marvin :)

Thank you all for your love and support. Prayer is very much appreciated as we continue to seek God's counsel and wisdom as we wait for His instruction for the phase of life. God Bless!

One Big Thing?

If you have been searching without success to find your one purpose in life, then this book is for you. Phil Cooke has written all about finding your One Big Thing, or OBT. He takes the reader through the process of finding their main purpose in life -- the thing that they are good at, or succeed at. Why be average at a bunch of different things when you can be good at one big thing?

This book gave me a new outlook on embracing the fact that we all might actually have this "One Big Thing". I have come to be very good at being good at multiple things, without really finding that one thing that I feel passionate about or that I am extremely good at. Cooke does a good job at explaining the reasons why we should strive to find that one thing, and has a good layout and guide to finding it. The book is easy to understand, and a comfortable read (not too wordy, and not too difficult).

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to figure out what their OBT is, all while keeping Christ at the center of it.

Downright

I want to know You, and I don't just want to say it.
I want to feel you close, to trust in You even when I don't.
I want to believe everything You say, and know it will all be okay
But doubt gets in the way, and takes over.

I know the truth and know what's right,
but somehow I keep believing Satan's lies.
You are the way, the truth, the life
Make me remember, give me another sign.

I ask this of you without demand.
I know you're there, but I feel so far away.
Angry and mad, wanting what the earth has
Instead of what You have to give.

Create in me a clean heart,
full of truth and light and faith.
I give my life to you tonight,
Fully, completely, downright.

You are the only way, O God
I know this and believe it.
I pray in Your name, "satan be vanquished"
I believe in Truth, and shall pursue it.

------------------

I need you Lord. I can't do this alone.
Thank you for never letting go, and loving me although.
Amen.

Grandma Betty

I'm sitting here in the computer lab after my class, and reflecting on the last week+, so I figured I might as well blog about it.
I'd never lost anyone really close to me before this weekend. I can say that if you have experienced it, it is a really hard time full of confusion, sadness, and emotion. As we drove to the hospital on Tuesday night to see me grandma, I think I knew that it would be the last time I would get to see her on earth, but I was still holding on to hope that it wouldn't be. I don't want to say my hope faded as the early morning came, but rather changed; When I arrived, I was hoping that Grandma was going to live and I would be able to see her in her garden or in her sewing room again. As the night went on, I hoped that she would just let go so that she could meet Jesus sooner rather than suffering here on this temporary home.

Grandma was an exceptional lady. I don't just say that because she was my grandma. She loved many things, but most of all, she loved her family. When we moved to Clare in 2000 to be closer to her and grandpa (1 mile away!!), I didn't quite understand why we were moving. Now I know. My grandma was always the one cheering the loudest at my 7th and 8th grade basketball games, or clapping loudly with a huge grin on her face at my band concerts. Grandma was always there for me, and she got to experience my life rather than just be a part of it a few weekends out of the year. I am so thankful for that time I got to spend with my Grandma.

Grandma had pulminary fibrosis, a disease that basically binds up your lungs over time, and keeps you from taking in enough oxygen. Grandma knew she had it, but continued on experiencing life and didn't let it stop her. She had always been a fighter, even to the end. She loved shooting skeet at the Rod and Gun Club, and especially loved beating the guys (which happened more often than not!!). She loved sewing and gardening, and mowing the lawn. She reminded me that it was the simple things in life that matter most.

One of the biggest lessons my cousins and I learned from Grandma and Grandpa was what true love really is. They were married for 53 years, and every year, the love  just seemed to grow. Watching grandma and grandpa dance was one of my favorite things to do. They could move around a dancefloor so gracefully, and you could see the passion and love they had for each other while they danced (and afterward, too). They stood by each other through everything -- hardships and good times. They loved unconditionally.

My grandma isn't hurting anymore, and she is now dancing and singing with Jesus, her Beloved. While I miss her, I am thankful for this. I can't wait to see her again in Heaven, where I can dance and sing with her.

I love you, Grandma. Thank you for being the best Gram a girl could ask for. See you later :)

College Life (2 Days A Week)

Today is a Tuesday, which means I am at college. The difference of today from the last few Tuesdays is that:

1.) I started carpooling today with a girl named Jessica. She's pretty cool, and our schedules are pretty much the same, which makes carpooling work well.

2.) I had some surprise visitors meet me outside of my first class (they were both super cute ;P) and then eat lunch with Jessica and I.

3.) Lunch actually ended up being Josh, Aurelia, myself, Jessica, Kyle, and Brady, at McDonald's. It was a lot of fun.

4) I don't have any homework to be working on right now, so I am just enjoying my time between classes.

Also, I am writing you a blog just to write you a blog. It was interesting today, having my 'college life' meet my 'real life'. It can be easy to get into the flow of things here, at college. It was a lot of fun having Aurelia and Josh here -- it made me appreciate them even more than I already did. I absolutely love being with them, and I am glad that my life has worked out the way it has. It might not be traditional to go to college and get married before you finish, but God definitely knew it was what was right for me. Without Aurelia (or Josh), I don't think I would be as motivated at college the second time around. Also, I forgot how much fun it was to just hang out with people and be crazy. If anything, Aurelia just adds to it, because she is crazy!

Anyway, today has been a good day. Oh, and the weather is pretty nice, as well. A nice fall day.

As Summer Comes to An End

There never seems to be a dull moment here. I think I've started many blogs like that lately. But before I start, I want to tell you all that there is an older couple here (at McDonald's (in their 70's)) drinking coffee, and laughing like they just started dating. They have rings on, so I am guessing they have been married for a while. They have talked of many things, and made lots of jokes. They have also talked of the size of my car compared to the huge truck parked next to it. And which way the clouds are going. The point is, they look at each other like they are truly in love. They have a sparkle in their eye. That's what I want for Josh and I when we are old and have nothing better to do but go to McD's!! (The man just asked his wife, "so now what?", like they are on an adventure and are deciding what they should do!!!)

So, This past week/weekend has been exciting, in a good way and a bad way. We have fought sickness, tiredness (brought on by sickness...), and doctors who don't seem to want to be anywhere but helping patients...* I think we are now coming out on the healthy side of that battle, and we are enjoying being able to stay awake when we are together and Aurelia is asleep :P

Josh has also worked a pretty long weekend -- 14 hours on Saturday and a few more on Sunday -- so he was pretty wiped out. He was pretty excited, however, to sell some of his musical equipment :) He sold his 5 string bass guitar as well as his Marshall half-stack :)

It has been different getting used to going back to classes.... Its nice to get learning things again, and its been good for Josh and Aurelia to have some daddy-daughter time together on Tuesdays and Thursdays! When its time for the weekend, though, I am usually glad to stay home and get some time with my little bugaboo!

Today, Aurelia wanted to watch her video** about the orchestra, and they talked about the saxophone, which made me want to get mine out. So we took a ride over there*** and got my sax, and I remembered just how much I love it. So I asked Josh if I could play for service this Sunday. I'm going to play a few songs!!! I can't wait, but I have a lot of practicing to do!

I really want to try and not make these so update-ish, but it always seems to happen that way. Maybe I'll try to do something different next time :)

This explains why there are so many little blurbs****

*If you haven't heard, Josh has been fighting what we think is an ear/throat infection, and Aurelia has been fighting a cold, and I have just been fighting to stay healthy ( I had some type of stomach bug, but nothing major... just some nausea!). And the doc we saw for Josh seemed to be not fully there, and didn't really even listen to what Josh was telling him... but we thankfully got the meds he needed to get healthy.

**We still don't have a TV, but Josh has a brilliant idea to hook up the projector to the DVD player, and use our wall as a screen. It's been working great!!

*** The Smith's, who live here at the campground, have migrated to Florida for the winter, and have been gracious enough to let us use their golf cart until it gets cold!!

****Doing these little blurbs are kind of annoying, especially when there are so many. But for some reason, I had the urge to do them in this blog. Probably because I just got done reading Kelsey's blog. She does them, but not so many of them. So its not so bad. But this is just out of control.

First Day of School

Today is my first day of school. Again. I am writing between classes, during my three hour break. I mainly wanted to talk about how great our God is, because He is guiding all of this school thing. Josh is able to have tuesdays and Thursdays off all semester, which means we don't have to pay for a sitter.
And for the two classes I am taking, both four credits, the only thing we will end up paying is about $230, thanks to financial aid. I was amazed at the way God is working to make this happen!

We have definitely met some hiccups along the way, things Satan was using to try and stop it from happening. But we have made it through everything and I think that it is going to be a good winter.

The biggest setback was when I learned that the math class I had signed up for was not located on the main campus of Delta, but in Bay City. I had to get into a different section of the class, which was full. Thankfully, the Professor gave me permission to join her class when I explained my situation to her, so praise God for that! I never thought I'd be happy to get into a math class... :D (We'll see how I feel after I go to the class and have to do the work...)

I have about 20 minutes before class, so I am going to go find the room I need to be in, and use the bathroom (This building is a maze; it's a big square with hallways going in all directions and three floors. With my directional skill, I am bound to get lost at least once... more :p)

Well, thats it for now. I will keep you posted on things.

Oh! The Following: has a concert in Elkton on October 4th. You should come check it out. More details to come!

School, Gigs, and Being a Mom

As the summer is coming to an end soon (WHAT?!?!), things seem to be just getting started at the Hill household. Life has been keeping us busy and on our toes constantly. Here's an insight to a few things that have been happening...

The Following: has been blessed to play at some great places this summer, and we still have a few more gigs to play at before the summer winds down. After that, we will be looking at getting into the studio this winter to record some of our songs so you can have them wherever you go!!! We wouldn't be able to be a band without the help and support from so many people, and I am thankful for them in our lives! From the people who watch Aurelia while we practice twice a week to the church for letting us practice there, and all the people who have come out to listen to us, to give us an audience, and who have supported us through prayer and through buying our merchandise. THANK YOU!!!

With that being said, it has been a challenge to get practice time in when Aurelia doesn't have someone to watch her. She enjoys being with us when we practice but a) she would rather be playing the instruments and b) it's just too loud for her to be there all the time! This hasn't been too much of a problem because we have been practicing in Kingston at the church. But since I got the new drumset, we have been practicing at Wesleyan Woods, and it has been a bit more difficult to find a sitter out here! While I know that God is leading us and calling us to share Him through music, He has blessed me with a beautiful daughter, and she is my #1 priority, especially over drumming. :P But, I know that God will work it out if it is His will to take the band further!!!!!

Also, volleyball season is starting! I am again helping out with the 7th and 8th grade teams at Kingston Schools, and while it is already a bit stressful, I am super excited to meet the 7th graders and work again with the 8th graders! It is cool to watch them learn and grow, and also to be an influence to them during the season :)

Hopefully, if all works out, I will also be taking a class or two at Delta, working toward finishing an Associates Degree. I am really excited about this!

Through all of this craziness, we will be moving to the house at the camp. I am excited to see what God has in store for me this winter -- I think some awesome things are going to happen! I have enjoyed being able to spend this summer away from the media (for the most part); it has been a great time to be a family, and to grow stronger in Christ. I will admit I have missed being able to sit Aurelia in front of a show so I can get a job done, or when she's teething in the middle of the night. But because we haven't been able to do that, I feel like I have gotten creative in parenting and have been outside more!

This was kind of a whirlwind blog, but I just thought you should know we are still alive and breathing :) Lots of things are going on and I am enjoying the moments!

I will leave you with this verse, because God has been proving it to me over and over lately, and I have been thinking about it a lot lately:

Ephesians 3:20 -- Look it up, its a good one!!

God Bless

Running For My Life

If you are interested in running, track and field, the Olympics, or hearing a true story of one of the many 'Lost Boys', Running For My Life  keep you intrigued. It is the story of Lopepe "Lopez" Lomong, a boy who was taken from his home in Sudan when he was only six. In his book, he tells of the challenges he faced while running for his life to safety, and how he ended up fulfilling the dream of running for the United States of America.

Lopez Lomong keeps your attention as he tells his story. While his story is one full of loss, hardships and tragedy, Lopez always seems to be full of hope and faith. Through out the entire book, Lopez gives credit to God for getting him through the hardest times in his life, and for giving him the gift of running. Not only did his personal story interest me, but it was an encouragement to read about how someone could go through such hardship and come out on the other side still praising God and also wanting to give everything back to people who need it.

If you are looking for a page-turner that is full of laughs, tears, and encouragement, I would recommend this book to you. I loved learning about Lopez, and am excited to watch him run and cheer him on during the 2012 Olympics! This book gives you and inside look at a Lost Boy who found worth and acceptance in the United States.

A Small Update

As many of you know, we don't have a computer or internet access at the campground, so we can only use the computer during library hours, and then when Josh isn't working and someone can stay with Aurelia. To be honest, it has been nice not being on Facebook all the time, but I have missed the resources internet provides. I feel less connected, but have enjoyed myself more and have been less stressed lately.

This week, our church district is holding family camp at Wesleyan Woods, and there are people everywhere. It is quite a nice change to the quiet campground we usually find ourselves in. It has been nice seeing people from our church here at camp, and making new friends with people from the other Wesleyan churches in our district. (It's funny - people assume we know who they are talking about when they are talking about someone, especially a pastor from a church in the district, and we usually have no idea. At least I don't. We are on the outside of the circle when it comes to Wesleyans right now ;P Guess we have to meet everyone and work our way in!!)

This week, with Chef Mike catering family camp, we get to eat every meal for free. This was a horrible week to start a cleanse/diet... :) I have chosen to do a four week cleanse where the first week is just fruits and veggies. I was on day 3 when family camp started, and it has been SUPER hard, because the food looks pretty delicious! But I'd like to think it is making my will power stronger by not eating it! Week 1 ended yesterday, and I think I lost about 5 pounds from it. This week, I am adding lowfat/fat free dairy, eggs, and nuts to the diet. Next week is whole grains, and the last week is lean meats. I decided to go drastic to cut out the junk food of my life. I was sick of making excuses. The great thing ( I think!) is that is seems like EVERYONE at camp knows I'm 'cleansing', which means lots of accountability!!

Another good and exciting step forward in our lives: Aurelia got a cold last Thursday, and of course along with a cold comes her brittle asthma. The great news is that we didn't have to go to the ER at all, or the doctor! We saw the signs, and got her on her breathing treatments right away, and she is doing really well [Other than those tantrums she is learning to throw when she doesn't get what she wants :P]. She loves to be outside at the campground, and one of her favorite things is riding around in her stroller.

So, things are going really well. We want to post pictures of our camper and life since we've been at The Woods, but right now, we don't have a way to upload them, so hopefully we will find one soon. Also, the band is playing at the Meritime Festival in Harbor Beach on July 15th, so you should come out and see The Following: if you get a chance!

In this all, God has done some amazing things, and we give all the glory to Him. One other exciting thing is I am looking at going back to college to finish. I have applied to a couple schools and from the looks of it, should be able to get started in the Fall! As of right now, I am kind of taking an interest in Nutrition stuff, so who knows? Maybe I'll end up getting a degree in that! The important part is just that I am finally going to finish at least some sort of degree :)

A Family Vacation

With Josh having this week off from work, we finally got to take a vacation. I like to think it has been our first real vacation... ever. While we have gone places in the past together, this time Josh didn't feel like he should be doing something for work, and was able to relax and be with us physically and mentally.

We kind of did the opposite of what most families tend to do; we went to the city because we live in a camper. While most families try to get away from the hustle and bustle and craziness of the city, we went to it. It was nice to indulge a bit, eating out, watching TV, and getting on the Internet whenever we wanted to. We also had a good time visiting with my family for a while on our way to Grand Rapids, and walking around on the rail trail with Aurelia and her Aunt Ashley and Uncle Bryan.

We were going to come home Wednesday sometime, but decided to keep Joseph company that night and into Thursday, so we stayed in the area an extra night. We got to play some disc golf with him before he went to work, and then headed home from there.

Rereading this, its kind of pell-mell and all over the place, but I wanted to write something, so this is it :)

The Following: has a concert tonight, at Rotary Park in Cass City, MI at 8pm. We would love to see you there. We are pretty excited about it. It will be our first outdoor concert! Come check us out :D I am hoping to get a band blog started, and maybe even a vlog (isn't that what they call video blogs?) soon, but it is slow in happening, since we don't have regular internet access and we can't upload stuff from the library computers.

This is a bad ending. Sorry.

[Overwhelming] Joy

As many of you know, we now officially live at Wesleyan Woods Campground, in a camper, while Josh works full time at the campground. I have often wondered in the past week what God has in store for us, but I then I realize that sometimes its more fun not to know. There have been many challenges presented to us in the short time we have been living there: hot water, rain, laundry, learning about the camp, working with new people, a baby adjusting to camp life, etc. As you can see, nothing serious, just small hurdles that come with the moving experience. Aurelia absolutely loves living at the Woods, as Daddy calls it. She enjoys being outside, especially on the playground. She loves having all that play equipment right in our front yard [basically].

Today I think it finally hit me as we walked around and visited the kids [and the workers] at the zipline and the high ropes course: This is a lot of change. But as Josh got home and I vented to him and told him what I was thinking, I realized that none of it is bad, just a lot to take in in a few short weeks. There are still questions to ask and things to figure out, but life is going really well. The hardest part is not really having a "job", or a goal to accomplish throughout the day. I spend every waking moment with Aurelia, and while I am not complaining, I am finding that the smaller indoor space has made some days seem a lot longer! It is also nice to get some breaks here and there, to think like an adult instead of a one year old, for a while. Its amazing what those small 1 or 2 hours away from Aurelia can do for my brain!

Overall, We have really been enjoying life at camp. I am excited to see what the future holds and excited to meet all the new people and become an expert veteran camper at the Woods!!

Also, as the title states, while it has been overwhelming, this adventure has also been filled with much joy!

Constantly Craving by Marilym Meberg

Constantly Craving, by Marilyn Meberg, is a book abour desire. We all seem to desire more of everything, and our society tells us to long for more than what we have. More peace, more romance, more excitement, more stuff... In this book, Meberg helps us to understand our cravings and dersires as well as how to manage and control them. She talks about the need for more in marriage, needing more romance, the yearning for meaning in life, and many other topics that tend to always leave us wanting more.

I found this book to be full of great insight and truth from the author, but also found myself getting bored and wandering off in thought about other things. I enjoyed Meberg's encouragement throughout the book about how in heaven, there will be no more craving and desire: We will have the One who created us and who loves us more than life.

I would probably recommend this book for people who find themselves not happy or who feel lacking with what they have. The book can help to put into perspective our cravings in life, and also make them manageable.

Children's Book

God Gave us You is a children's book that focuses on telling children they are a special gift to parents from God. The message is sent through a mama polar bear, who constantly reminds her cub that God gave her the wonderful gift of her baby. As the baby cub is curious about where it came from, this story helps children understand a small amount about how they were made with some emphasis on just how much they are cherished, both before they were born as well as now.

While the book had a good message, and it was written in such a way that a small child could understand, there was one main thing I didn't like about the book: The words "God gave us you" seemed to be thrown into many if not all of the pages. It seemed forced and awkward many of the times, as if it did not fit but had to put there anyway.

While the book is cute and helps to explain a tough topic, I would not choose this as my first resource. Because I wouldn't use it as my first choice, I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone else, either.

A Little Bit of Crazy

Sometimes I'll say to myself, "Wow, I feel like I haven't stopped running around for weeks!" And then I'll realize that I have been pretty busy, but most of it has been rewarding and fulfilling.

Like our move to Wesleyan Woods, for instance. We have been slowly moving (I think we started the packing process about two weeks ago), and with the end in sight, I am excited to see how things will work out. As most of you know, Josh has accepted a position working for Wesleyan Woods Campground in Vassar. We will be living in a fifth wheel for the summer, and during the winter months, there is a house right on the campground that we will be able to live in. My favorite thing so far about this whole adventure has been the reactions from people; some think that we are nuts for moving into a fifth wheel with a one year old but try not to show it. Others don't mind that we see their true feelings :P But we have mostly had encouragement from all people. (The people who think we are nuts tell us that they admire our courage. They have the whole "Glad its you and not me" kind of look about them :P). 

I will admit that this is completely crazy, or at least somewhat abnormal. Maybe the best word to describe it is uncomfortable. Living in such a small space would be considered uncomfortable by many, and out of their comfort zone, and I think that's why we get some interesting looks for doing this. But when God calls us to something, can we really tell Him no? While it can be difficult to discern sometimes the will of God, I feel right about this move. Last Saturday, our big moving day, I remember sitting down when we had some of our stuff in the camper in boxes and could hardly move. I thought, "God, what am I thinking!?! I must be crazy to do this." Instead of getting overwhelmed with worry, I felt a peace wash over me. Getting rid of stuff to live in a smaller space is nothing compared to getting to serve Christ and teach people about Him. I am excited to see what God has in store, because I feel like the more stuff I get rid of, the more I must rely on Him, and the more I grow in my faith, and the closer I get to Him. The stuff just got in the way, I'm realizing. 

Also, on another note, our band has been having a good time and enjoying making music for God. I will admit that upon joining/forming the band, I was skeptical to say, "I'm in a band!" It seemed so cliche and meaningless. But Sunday, God opened my eyes to see just how He can use our band. Sunday, at the Florida trip reunion we had, The Following: played some songs. It was so awesome to see how people could connect with Christ through the music we were playing and the talent He has given us. It was a pretty powerful moment, and one that helped me to believe and truly see that God has big plans for us. They may not be to make us famous, but He is using our talents and our music to give Him glory. Its all for His glory!

Aurelia, and the rest of Friday.

If you saw my Facebook status at all yesterday, you learned that Aurelia was going to the doctor. This is the story of how that came to be and what happened after (and during).

The day started by Aurelia waking up wheezing somewhat, but not too badly. I decided to give her a breathing treatment and call the doctor. (The last two times this had happened, we took her to the ER, and she was admitted to the hospital. I wanted to hear what her regular pediatrician had to say.) So at 10AM, we got to the doctor's office, and after an hour, finally got called back to see the doctor. They weighed Aurelia and took her temperature, and then told us that the doctor still had another patient to see before us. Aurelia seemed to be doing alright, and there were toys to preoccupy her, so I wasn't too worried.

She was pretty tired, and wanted me to hold her, but my back decided that it would be a great time to not work at that moment. So, I didn't drop her, but took her to the ground with me, and sat on the floor in serious pain while Aurelia, already tired and irritable, became confused and scared because Mommy was crying on the floor. Her screaming fit flared up her inability to breathe and she started wheezing even more, which made her cry more. Finally, I made it to a chair, but she wanted me to pick her up and hold her. My back was started to relax a bit to where I could move in small movements, so I managed to pick her up. I opened the door to the room and found a nurse. She saw Aurelia struggling to get enough oxygen and pulled the doc out of her consultation to get Aurelia started on a breathing treatment.

Meanwhile, I had given Josh a call telling him that he needed to come because I couldn't drive home. The nurse giving Aurelia the treatment gave me the number to her chiropractor, and I gave them a call. The chiropractor was leaving at noon, but said I could come in (It was about 11:40, and Josh wasn't there yet). Finally, Josh arrived, and to my relief, brought along Brady to help me get to the chiropractor. So while Josh stayed with Aurelia at the doctor's office, Brady and I went to the chiropractor.

That was just the morning...

After that, we took Aurelia's prescriptions to the pharmacy, ate some lunch, and while I headed home with Aurelia, the guys did some shopping for the 30 Hour Famine, that was starting that night. I got home, and Aurelia was exhausted, so I laid her down for a nap, and went to lay down myself. Not long after this, however, Aurelia woke up crying like she was scared, so I went in there, and she was having difficulty breathing yet again. I gave her another breathing treatment, and called the doctor, who told us that she should be taken to the ER.

So, having been experienced in ER trips by now, I packed us some overnight stuff and found myself traveling to Cass City again to the ER. I think we caught sooner than last time this stuff happened because after the first treatment, Aurelia's oxygen levels were much much better and she was wheezing slightly less. About 20 minutes after we arrived at the hospital, Josh's parents showed up. Aurelia was really happy to see them and it was a nice relief for me: my back was still really sore from pulling muscles, and I was taking some strong pain meds to help it ( I still had to play the drums that night at our Debut Concert!)

Aurelia was taken to get chest xrays, and while we were waiting for the dr. to tell us if she would be admitted or not, I had to leave to get ready for my concert. I was pretty reluctant to leave my little girl, but I knew that she was in good hands with Grandma and Grandpa, so I headed home to try and focus on the concert.

Through lots of prayer and God watching over her, Aurelia was not admitted to the hospital.

While this was not how I had planned my day, I know that God must have a reason for the craziness and for the things that happened. I was once again humbled and put in my place by a God who loves me more than I can fully understand. I got to witness Him at work, taking care of both myself and my daughter, all the while reminding me that everything else we had going on (benefit concert, 30 Hour Famine) would still go well because He had control. I also got to witness once again the wonderful friendship and love from the people that God has placed in our lives here in Kingston (and also everyone everywhere else that called or prayed). The love and prayer from people really made me realize what we have been blessed with, and I am glad that God is still allowing us to have these wonderful people as a part of our everyday lives.

Aurelia's diagnosis: Brittle Asthma. This means that the smallest virus or the smallest allergy can set off her asthma, causing her to go into these fits of wheezing. The doctor told us that we did everything right, and didn't cause it to happen from waiting too long. She said that at the smallest sign of sickness or allergy, like a runny nose, we have to start Aurelia on her breathing treatments. We have learned a lot about asthma and how to deal with it in small children, but I am continually praying that this is just a phase and she will grow out of it instead of dealing with it throughout her life.

Going through all of this with a limited range of motion has humbled me further, and I am thankful for all that God does for us. He is truly in control, and I have been reminded yet again that when I give Him the control, everything works out in the end :D

A Bit of My Week

I am supposed to be cleaning and organizing, but I decided that it is time to take a break. We've been going at it since before 9am this morning. But we have been making progress, which is a good feeling. This is probably the first time we have been this proactive for a move... every other time it was just throwing things in boxes and organizing when we got to our new home! In a way, though, we have to do the organizing now: We wont have room in our trailer to put all of our stuff, so we have to know what we are taking.

Not only is our week full of cleaning and getting rid of stuff, but is also involves getting ready for the 30 Hour Famine, which our youth is hosting this weekend. We are pretty excited about it, and have been raising money for Burundi, Africa. Plus, we have a benefit concert on Friday at 6PM, featuring our band, The Following:. It is our debut concert, and will also feature 2 other bands (Friends Of Jesus & The Sellouts). Its free to get in and there will be offering taken during the concert, with all money going to Burundi. We will also have some raffles for some cool items and a merch table for The Following:!

Along with all that, we have a candidate for the youth leader position coming from out of state today. He and his family will be here until Thursday doing some interviews and checking out what the job is really like. Wednesday night at youth he will be speaking to the kids, so we are pretty excited to have them visiting!

I should probably get some lunch going and finish organizing... I think its time for a Goodwill trip :) I love getting rid of stuff!

Summer And Such

If you read Josh's post, you have probably gathered some idea of how our life has been keeping us busy lately. With moving to a new location, a new job, and a walking toddler, we are always going.

Some other things that are keeping us busy:

We have been working on raising money for the 30 Hour Famine, and we are holding the event on April 27 -28. We are pretty excited for it, but it is taking a lot of planning and organizing. We are also keeping busy with our band, The Following:. Our first concert is a benefit concert to raise money for the Famine, and we are pumped to get to play with two other bands (also debuting), Friends of Jesus and The Sellouts. While preparing for that has been exhausting, it has also been a LOT of fun getting to know the guys in our band and also learning more about the talent I never knew I had (playing drums). While it is hard work, it is also something that brings joy to our life!

Another new and exciting part of life is me rejoining Weight Watchers. I had my first meeting today, and I am excited to have some help with eating healthier. As many of you know, I have blogged in the past about wanting to lose weight, and while I have done pretty well about staying active, I just can't seem to lose the weight. So Josh and I decided that it was time to go a step further. When I participated in Weight Watchers last time in 2009, I lost 16 pounds. Since we knew it worked last time, I was excited to choose to try it again. I am hoping that keeping track of what I eat as well as exercising/running will finally help me to lose the weight that I have gained from having a baby (plus the extra that was there before I got pregnant ;p)

Even in all the craziness, we have been enjoying life and learning a lot... From God, from the people He has placed in our lives, and especially from Aurelia!

Let's Talk Romance

Every married couple can use some romance in their relationship, and mine is
no different. It's easy to get caught up in the everyday things that must be
done and come home exhausted, just wanting to relax. Everything Romance
is a book that gives the reader ideas on how to romance their significant other.
It is a compilation of short stories, recipes, gift ideas, quotes, and even a
list of pet names for your sweetie pie.
This book was entertaining and full of helpful ideas for dates, recipes, and
gifts. While some of the stories were not to my liking, the book as a whole was
put together well. This book would be a great gift idea for a newly married
couple, or a good buy for if you were looking for some ideas to add some romance
to your own marriage!

Hospital Fun or An Update on Aurelia

As many of you know by now, Aurelia was admitted to the hospital for the second time this year on Thursday. She has been sick with some colds on and off since she had pneumonia the first time in November, so when she started to get those symptoms again, we just thought we were in for another cold. To our surprise [not necessarily the kind that makes you all giddy inside], she woke up Thursday struggling to breathe easily. Noticing that this is how she was acting when we took her in the first time, I told Josh we should probably head to the hospital.

So our adventure starts at the Marlette Hospital at about 9am, if I remember correctly. Aurelia gets some xrays done and gets a breathing treatment, but is still wheezing pretty heavily. The doctor first told us it was croupe, and while I wasn't convinced, I thought he could be right. But they kept us for observation, and when the wheezing wasn't going away, the doctor gave us a choice: We can give her a steroid to help and send her home keeping a close eye on her, or transfer her to Saginaw, where they have a Pediatric Unit. He left after that, made some calls, and must have gotten conformation that she needed to be transferred, so sleepy little Aurelia was taken to Saginaw**.

When we made it to Saginaw, they put in an IV (Dad stayed strong while Mom left the room... I can only take that so much in a year!) and some blood samples, and the doctor came back (almost three hours later) to let us know that it was pneumonia and that she would be admitted (We already knew she would be admitted).

And that is pretty much the whole story. Now, the update... We saw the pediatrician today, and he said that she might be able to go home today because she was doing well. Then he remembered that she was still on oxygen, and said that she had to be weened off of that and must be off of it for 24 hours before she could leave. She hasn't had to use oxygen since 4:30 this afternoon, and her oxygen levels are really good. (They want it higher than 92% at the least, and hers is up at about 96-98%) She is also off of her IV, and is taking oral steroids, which means that we don't have to worry about pesky cords getting all tangled up all over her!

We have overall had a really great experience, and have met some of the NICEST nurses, doctors, and EMT's. And this time, we were ready for the long stay: I made sure to pack all of us an overnight bag, just in case this happened! Also, the food here is really good!!! Also, they have a play area that Aurelia has been able to enjoy some since she was taken off the oxygen machine, and that helps with the restless state she has been in.

A really fun side note: Our RA tonight is a wonderful nurse named... Aurelia! She is the first person I have met with the same name as our little girl, and everyone was excited for Nurse Aurelia to be taking care of baby Aurelia tonight :) It's the little things I am thankful for, and the little things that help get us through the frustrating times that seem to never end. So, even though I find myself writing to you from a hospital room where my daughter lay full of medicine and covered in band-aids, I can thank God for bringing us here, and only hope that He can use us in some way :) Praise God!!!

PS: Also, Pastor Len brought us some really fun toys to play with while we passed the time... I will put pictures up when we get home. He may have just started a new collectible item for the Hill household :P

**We even got to ride in the ambulance -- They strapped her car seat to the gurney, and loaded her up! It was pretty cool, and made for a nice easy ride. Aurelia slept the whole way and I met some nice EMT's!

Kony 2012

I've seen the name Joseph Kony popping up all over the internet lately, and I haven't really thought much of it. I just thought it was another thing/video that people were bringing attention just to be forgotten the next week. That isn't what has happened, so I finally watched the video. I wasn't ready for what I saw.

I didn't know who Kony was, and the whole point of the video was to make him known to people like me -- people who had never heard of him and the things he has done. Kony is the leader of the LRA -- the lord's resistance army, and he is the one responsible for all the African children being abducted and forced into soldiering. He also abducts children to put into the sex trade.

My favorite part of the video that I embedded into this blog is when it talks about this being the first time in history that America sent soldiers somewhere not for self defense, but just to do what was right.

These people are dedicated, and it is amazing how the world is coming together to finally put a stop to what Kony is doing. Its been 26 years and almost 30,000 children who have been abducted. Its time to step in and do what's right. Do you want to be a part of history? Watch this video, and see what you can do to help. Prayer is always the first place to start; let God do the rest.

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

When You Feel Useless, Remember This

Aurelia seems to have yet another cold, but that won't keep her down. I think I second guess myself more than ever when she is sick: She is so outgoing and happy during the day, and then when nighttime comes, she is screaming and fussing and not sleeping. Thankfully, we are only fighting the virus now, since the tooth that has been trying to surface finally has. Praise God!

I feel like there is a lot I would like to write about, because God has really been working in my life (at least it feels that way. That's probably good, however, and normal when I put my trust in Him like I have been lately). First of all, Josh and I are just trying to trust that God has the whole plan for our lives worked out (which he does) and we just need to enjoy the life he has given us day by day.

The biggest thing God has been showing me/reminding me is that He made me, in His image, which means that He will use me just the way I am. I was reading Acts 4 (which is my favorite passage in the Bible, I think!) and it talks about God using Peter and John just the way they were, because they were "filled with the Holy Spirit". Verse 13, however, really gets me excited: " Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus." (NASB) This verse gets my heart pumping and adrenaline racing every time I read it. First of all, I picture all these important people of society standing around, watching how Peter and John are captivating their audience, and then they realize that these guys are just some middle class, minimum wage-type guys preaching their hearts out. With confidence!!

I want that to be me. I want to have the kind of confidence to stand in front of people, or amongst people and share the living Word with them. That kind of confidence, as this passage tells me, can only come from Christ. The kind of confidence that really makes you stand out as having been with Jesus can only come from being filled with the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that everyday I can have that confidence, and walk in His will.

We have to remember that if Christ used people like Peter (Peter!), then He will use us, if we only trust in Him and let our hearts and souls be filled with the Holy Spirit. It makes me think of the song that says to do 'everything we do to the Glory of the One who made you, 'cause He made you to do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face' (Chris Tomlin, maybe?).

Sometimes I feel like I am not being useful in the Kingdom because all I do is pick up after Aurelia all day and clean the house. But if I do it for the glory of God, He uses it, and opens doors I never knew were there in the first place!

Celebrating 90 Posts.

This is my 90th post on my blog, which is pretty exciting! I think I will do something even more special for the 100th one. (although this isn't really that special.)

I am currently sitting in McDonald's, using the internet. It was nice and quiet, and I guess a game just got over because the place is now crawling with really hyper, noisy teenagers. I will admit I am a bit annoyed. I was also trying to work on t the blog for The Following:, but that isn't happening because I couldn't figure out how to use Blogger's new setup. That is kind of frustrating as well. I came here to get a little peace and quiet, but that isn't going to happen, so I will probably just go home. Not really a fan of the cussing and rudeness. I hope I wasn't like that when I was a teen.

Anyway, I am sure there was something I was going to blog about. Oh yes! Our band submitted our promo kit for Big Ticket Festival, and it was even a day before the deadline! I was pretty glad of that. It was more work than we expected, putting it together, but for two weeks notice, we did okay. Now we are just waiting to see if we will actually get in. In the meantime, we will just have to practice.

I really can't focus too much anymore. The teens are getting louder. Guess I'm signing off. Maybe I will finish later.

Monday, Monday, Monday

I realize that today is Tuesday, but this is about something that happened yesterday. (I might talk about things that happened today, but mostly it will be about yesterday)

Yesterday was a rough day. On my way to drop Marvin off at the vet to get neutered and de-clawed, I noticed that is was pretty slick out in spots. The strong winds were causing the snow to blow onto the roads, and it was melting, creating slush and slick spots. Well, on my way home, I didn't notice just how long the slick spot was, and wasn't able to slow down enough to keep control of the car, which led to me ending up in the ditch facing the opposite direction I was going. Thankfully, the ditch wasn't much of a ditch, just mainly a field. I was thankful that I didn't flip and that I didn't hit the sign that was about 50 ft away from me. The car and I were okay, and I was glad that Aurelia stayed home with Daddy. I called a friend to help get me unstuck, and I was on my way.

That was the most exciting even of the day, other than the ants that were continuing to take over our kitchen and us going to the junior high basketball games. That was the first time I had ever been driving when I got into an accident, and even though everything was okay and it wasn't really that scary, it still shook me up a bit. It made me realize (or at least rethink) just how much God loves us and just how much I really could lose by getting hurt or killed. I mean, God uses everything for good, but things would definitely changed if something happened to Josh or myself.

Yesterday was a day of rest for me, but Josh was excited to get the drumset up in the office room, which was a bigger job than I thought it would be... it involved removing the couch from the office and bringing it out to the living room, which meant we had to rearrange the living room. Then the office had to be rearranged to get the drums to fit. At the end of the day, the house ended up cleaner and rearranged, the drum set is up, and Josh was happy. [For the record, I am okay with it too :P]

Today, I finally got around to caulking the big gaps in our wall, which is where we think that ants were coming from. I guess we will find out if we were right in the next couple of days. Also, I am excited to be headed over to some friends' house tonight for dinner and fellowship :) We are also going to make sure we get our promo kit sent to the Big Ticket Festival today.

Oh, and something else exciting that happened yesterday: Aurelia got brave enough to walk behind her walker toy thing all on her own! She is getting closer and closer to walking every day, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is going to happen in the next couple weeks :)




Just a picture of our band... which has been the main thing we have been working on lately. (Not this picture, but our band and our music.)

A Non-Book Review Blog :)

I have decided that I really like blogging. Maybe its just because lately I feel like there is stuff happening to blog about. Life seems to be going really well right now, and I think its just because Josh and I finally have TRULY given God complete control. We have no idea what is ahead of us, where we will be going or when, but we are trusting in Him to let us know. Until then, we are just living life, and that has proven to be quite fun!

As you know, we have put together a band to try called The Following, and our goal is to be accepted to play on the Indie stage at Big Ticket Festival this year. I actually think we have a shot too, because we have some really talented musicians and a super talented (and might I add very attractive ;P) lead singer (That's Josh, if you didn't catch on!). I think I am the least experienced out of the group, but am reassured by Josh that I am learning the drums quickly, and doing well. Of course, I have a pretty decent teacher... Josh is teaching me what he knows, and between that and listening to different beats, I think that with practice, I might be halfway decent someday.

Anyway, we also think that we might be able to play at the Deford Rock Festival this year as well. It is just a SUPER tiny thing, but it would be fun to perform no matter what :) This Saturday, we are headed to Harbor Beach to try and record a few of our songs to send to Big Ticket Festival. I am excited to see what they have to say.

The band thing had a few different motives behind it: the main one was we both enjoy music, and we both thought it would be cool to be in a band. the second reason is that we wanted a [cheaper or free] way to get into the Big Ticket Festival since we can't afford / dont want to pay the full price for all three days. So, with that being said, there is always a chance we won't get chosen to play on the Indie stage, which is why we have a back up plan :P

I dont know if you have ever heard of NRT Radio (New Release Tuesday), but it is an online radio station that plays the newest Christian music. It is a really great station, and it is usually what is playing if there is music on in our home. Anyway, we emailed them asking if they were interested or able to have a table set up at the Festival, and we told them we would be willing to run the table, or advertise for them or something. They emailed Josh back and said that while they couldn't really afford to have a table or anything extreme, they might be able to have us 'report' for them. Basically what we would be doing is creating a write up on each day: Who we saw play, what we did, what we liked, things like that. Although it is our number one goal to play at BTF, it would be a pretty cool way to go if we were there representing NRT Radio :) It would be a really neat experience either way.

I am very excited about where God is taking us and what we will get to do along the way.

Also, on a different note, Aurelia is looking pretty ready to walk soon. She is getting more brave every day, and letting go of things to stand on her own. Also, she loves giving kisses (mostly to Marvin, our cat, and her stuffed animals. Or to her reflection) and hugs. She is also talking a lot (baby talk, that is), and she knows the signs for milk and all done. While she knows what the signs are for eat and please, she doesn't really seem to like to do them. Instead, when she is hungry, she usually goes 'MMmmmmmm'. Its pretty cute :) I love being a Mommy!!!!!

For Women Only: In the Workplace

For Women Only in the Workplace is a book that looks at the differences between men and women in a work environment. Feldhahn is know for her 'Only' book series, and this is a great addition to those books! She highlights many ways men and women differ in styles of work and thinking. For instance, Feldhahn explains that women tend to think from many different 'boxes' in their minds, while men have the ability think from one box at a time, closing all the others while they work from a specific box. She explains how to use these differences to our advantage in the workplace, instead of letting it hinder us.

I found this book to be full of helpful tips not only for women in the workplace, but also women who work from home or are stay at home mothers/wives. Knowing how men in the workplace think and respond is always helpful, whether you are their coworker, or you are their customer.

I would suggest this book to women in the workplace looking to understand their male coworkers more.

I received this book free from the Blogging for Books program.

Surprised By Laughter: the Comic World of C.S.Lewis

C.S. Lewis was a man who sought Christ and wanted to share Him with others all over the world. He did this by writing about Christ, and has been known for some great works such as Mere Christianity, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Screwtape Letters. I am myself a Lewis fan, so when I saw that I had an opportunity to read Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis, by Terry Lindvall, I was quite excited. I will be honest in saying my hopes were dashed upon the books arrival: it was a whopping 454 pages long! The introduction explains how the author wouldn't want to read a book explaining what makes humor humorous, but that is what the book is about. It is repetitive and not an easy read.

While the author of the book seems to know a lot about Lewis and his life, the book read more like a textbook than a biography. It was very repetitive, and I feel like it could have been written in 200 or even 150 pages. The whole book consists of many (too many, in my opinion) long quotes from Lewis' books as well as other people who have studied his life. It was almost as if the author wrote this book using others' words.

I enjoyed some of this book, but this book is more of a textbook read, and I wouldn't suggest it if you are looking to learn more about the life of Lewis. It seems to focus more on different styles of humor.

I received this book free from the Booksneeze book blog program.

The Following...

Well, its official: Josh and I are in a band called The Following (at least, we think thats what we are going to be called). Here's the back story.

So, Josh and I (but especially Josh) has always wanted to be in a band. In Painesville, he got that opportunity when he joined Broken Buildings, as their bass player and got to do some acoustic gigs with them as well as their debut concert. When we moved back to Michigan, we realized that that was one of the main things we missed (I loved to go to the concerts and hang out with the band and their groupies!). Now, we both have the opportunity to be in a band with some talented teens, and we are also going to try to make the cut to play at the Big Ticket Festival this year!

We usually play on Wednesday nights for youth group, and I have been learning drumset. At first, I just played for Josh because the teen who usually played is in basketball, and cant make it right now. But I have been actually starting to enjoy it, and am getting better every time I play! One of the teens said it would be awesome to play on the Indie stage at Big Ticket Festival, so Josh looked up what we needed to do to make it happen. This is all we have to do: Get together a promo kit and send it in. By MARCH 1st!!! (Promo kit includes: song samples, band photo and info, and possibly some reviews). At first we thought that this would never happen because we would have to not only come up with songs, but also record them and send them in somehow! But, God is good, and Josh wrote a sweet song that we put to music today. With that, and another original plus one sweet cover, I think we will actually have it all ready to send in by March 1.

So, you should pray for us, and if we do get chosen to play, come see us!!!! It will be so crazy and awesome if we get in, and really, all God.

PS: We were thinking that if we sent the music to one Matt Moore, he could give it a listen, and if he liked it, he could give us some sweet praise :) (But only if you like it!)

We realize that this was a crazy idea that came on really fast, especially since none of us have ever really performed for an audience ( I think all of us have been on stage, for worship, but thats a lot different then performing!). We just figured that we only live once, and the worst thing that will happen is they reject us. We will never know if we dont try!!

I will let you know if we make it when we find out, so stay tuned!!

Joy Revisited

While times have been pretty rough in the Hill household lately (sickness, stress, long days, big decisions...), this is a blog to show us that God is always there, helping us find the joy in the little things.

I'm pretty sure our house should be quarantined... there has been at least one person sick, if not all of us, since about Thanksgiving! It makes it easier, though, when I get to wake up to a smiling baby despite the fact that her face is covered in dried snot with her hair matted in it :P She has her moments, but she is one of the happiest sick people I know! We have had some pretty fun times, despite the sicknesses we have all been facing... for instance:

Aurelia and her Daddy have had fun making music. Here's a fun video of her 'beat boxing' with Josh!


They also had some fun playing guitar today :)




I also found a blanket I had been crocheting for Aurelia before she was born... Not anything fancy, just something to do to keep me busy. It was almost done, but I think that because she came 3 weeks early, I didn't get it finished. Well, I decided to finish it, and found that I was really making it for Marvin...



Aurelia had a really nice party last weekend, and we had a good time mingling with friends and family. It was a pretty long day for her, but I think she had fun getting so much attention :P She is definitely not shy, and loves to be with people! She also loves to dance... Any time she hears any type of beat, she starts moving. It's really cute, especially when she is standing up and starts shaking her tush!

I am enjoying being a mother, and new things about Aurelia everyday, as well as new things about myself. We are also enjoying having Marv as a part of our family, even thought he is a pretty rambunctious! Soon, he will have an appointment to get neutered (Bob Barker would be happy :P), and I think we are going to have his front claws taken out... he's gotten Aurelia too many times while they have been playing together. (Don't worry -- Marvin is a fully indoor pet... I wouldn't take his claws from him and then send him out into the wild!! He will still fully be able to defend his territory from Aurelia with his back claws and his teeth :P)

Also, another exciting this is that I am on my way to receiving an elliptical machine. Here's the story: Josh has given me a challenge. I must work out every day for two weeks, and he said if I do, he will know that I am serious about doing it and that he will buy me an elliptical. Pretty sweet, huh?! I have worked out for 4 days in a row now, and I am glad that he has given me the motivation to do it. I am hoping this two weeks will be a jump start into a lifestyle change. It has been difficult for me to get motivated and keep up with my working out, especially this winter. I am not big on running outside when it is cold, which is mainly why I can talk myself out of working out. But, with this new motivation, I have done Jillian Michael's 3o day shred for 4 days, and my goal (besides an elliptical :P) is to finish that video. I am excited for the warm weather too, when I won't have an excuse to get out and run again!

Today, Josh decided to do a little of the video with me, and found out that it is a lot harder than it looks!! Also, he didn't have any hand weights, so he decided to use Aurelia. I am thinking that that made the workout harder as well :P It was nice having him doing it with me, even though it was only in the beginning (he didn't quit... he had to take care of the baby), because it really helped to motivate me and to keep going even though I wanted to stop and rest.

On Being Intentional

Being a mom has definitely taught me a lot. One of these things is how easy it is for material things to distract me from spending time with Aurelia. An example would be using the computer while trying to make myself believe that I am giving her my full attention.

God has really been trying to get through to me the necessity of being intentional. I've thought about it in the past, but never really realized what it meant. I think a lot of us go through life wondering what is next, or where we will be next year. I guess, to an extent, that is good... God doesn't reveal His plan to us, and He shouldn't have to. He did, after all, create the entire earth and everything on it. He is omnipresent, all knowing, and all powerful. But, while we are waiting for what's next, how do we go about our everyday tasks?

Its easy to get sucked in to society's way... doing everything all at one time. (Just take a look at today's 'smart phones') Most people today believe that texting while talking to someone isn't rude (pardon me for being upfront... that is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves :P) But what if we chose to be different -- to be weIrd -- and do things more intentionally? What if, when talking to someone, we give them our full attention? Or for me, what if I closed the computer and got down and played with Aurelia? (I actually do this, I promise :P I am just using it as an example, and I have a goal of doing it all the time, and not just some of the time!) See, being intentional about everything we do could lead to many things: great conversations, a chance to share the Gospel, a chance to grow, or learn something, or fix something, or help someone. Being intentional is one step toward being a better person, at least for me.

The next time you are walking to class, or are shopping, or maybe you are perusing the movies at the video store, be intentional about smiling at someone, or maybe be intentional about praying for that complete stranger. Being intentional could really make an impact -- in your life and the world.

**End inspirational speech. Or at least my attempt at one :)

On Being a Mom. And, Josh Groban's new video ;)

It's amazing to think that our little Aurelia is almost a year old. It feels like yesterday that I was sitting on the couch when I went into labor for her. Its also amazing how much I've grown right along with her....

I absolutely love being a mom. I know it has its challenges: delivery, lack of sleep, screaming babies, teething, diaper explosions... the list could go on and on. But all of that is worth it when she reaches out for me after being away for a day, or lays her head on my shoulder, or looks at me with her big blue eyes....

Being a mom has taught me so many things, but the main one is patience. Aurelia is getting to the age where she is starting to whine when she doesn't get her way.. That is probably my biggest pet peeve (even with the teens... its like nails on a chalkboard for me!!) I admit that I can be quick to lose patience, especially when I am tired. But I am learning that first of all, she doesn't know how to communicate with me yet, so I have to teach her how. And I have to show her lovingly, the right way to do it.

Which makes me remember this: God has entrusted me to raise her up in the way that she should go... but He also knows that I can't do it on my own strength. Remembering this helps me to gain the patience I need at 3 in the morning when Aurelia is just fussing because she wants something she doesn't need, or when she is tired but wants to be with people so she wont go to sleep. I remember that God is in control, and God is in me, which means when I just let go, He will take over.

And then of course, I love being a mom because it is SO MUCH FUN! I could watch Aurelia play all day -- the little faces she makes, the way she learns things so quickly, and the way she laughs :) I am so thankful for her in my life.

I think of what life would be like if I had never had a baby. It would have been a lot different, maybe easier at times. I would have more free time to do whatever I wanted to do without having to get a babysitter. But I don't care. The person I am now is a much better than the person I was then... I have grown so much, and I would never want to go back. I have the most beautiful daughter, and the most wonderful husband, and great friends. I would trade my free time for that any time :)

Oh, and here's the Josh Groban video I promised! Also, FYI, Groban is also working on a new album.

Official Business... We're Moving!

I guess it's official... Our family will be moving sometime this year back to the good ol' Pleasant Mount (Mount Pleasant).

Here's some background info: When Aurelia was there in the hospital with pneumonia, it was a big eye opener for Josh and I. We realized how much we love it there and how much we thrive. We both really enjoy the college atmosphere as well as ministering to college aged people (technically that is our age group still!). So, we started praying, because we didn't want to this idea to be our own -- we wanted to make sure it was of God.

I will admit that at first, while the idea sounded good to me, I got back to Kingston and realized just how much we have here and what we would be leaving. We have not only grown as a couple, but we have learned how to be a family, with Aurelia being born here. Also, this church family has been so good to us, loving us through our struggles and helping us through them. They have also taken Aurelia in as their own, and that was one of the hardest things for me in leaving: Taking Aurelia away from a wonderful, loving church family.

But for some reason, God just kept telling me to trust Him that this whole Mt. Pleasant idea WAS of Him, and not of me. We decided to seek some Godly counsel from people we love and respect as Christians, and felt like we were doing this for God, and not ourselves, so we decided to finally bring it up to Josh's bosses. After talking to the Pastor and his wife about it, we felt like this was really where God was leading us, even though it would be very difficult.

Tuesday night, Josh talked to the church board about it, and last night, we had to break the news to the teens. It was probably one of the hardest things I've done in a while. I realized just how much God has been using not only us in their lives, but mostly them in my life. I realized just how much they mean to me, and how much I am going to miss them.

But with that said, we still know that God is going to use this move for good... I am excited for the possibility of having some teens up in Mt. Pleasant for a weekend and for keeping in touch with them to hear about their lives. While this will be very difficult to leave, God has shown me that He has been using us here to plant seeds in hearts, and to help seeds grow. I will be leaving here knowing that God is in control of Kingston, and that He is going to provide these awesome teens with someone who loves them a lot!

I am also sure that God is moving us to use our experiences/talents to help college students grow closer to Him. I am excited to start that part of our journey as a family, in Mount Pleasant! Thanks so much to everyone who has been a blessing, and who has been praying for us -- your prayers mean a lot to us!!

We love you all :D