Girls Weekend

The mom and I went on a "Girls Trip" with two of our very dear friends, Ki and Sue. We headed to the great state of Missouri, in the great city of Shell Knob, sometime in the afternoon of Wednesday, August 18, and arrived by evening, after stopping at one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas- Chicken Annie's- good fried chicken yo! 'Cept of course i couldn't have any of the fried stuff. Darn Gluten.

Icy Mae's, one of the Knob's hottest eateries:)

This was a monumental trip in more ways than one. First, it was my first night being away from my hubby since well...our first night together. I missed him SOOO much. But the sacrifice was worth it, because these dear ladies that tripped with us were leaving our presence for quite some time soon after. Why can't any of my friends stay in one place?? Ack! Ki and Sue were off to Colorado Springs, home of the Grichelle's. Can't blame them, really, the Springs are heavenly. Colorado itself is one big adventure waiting to happen. So at least they headed towards a viable location that i would be happy to visit them in. :)

At the famous hotel, umm..i forget the name. It's famous, though. Mom's looking at the huge stone Jesus statue looming in the distance.

The highlight of the trip, minus the lounging lakeside, was an always welcome trip to the Gay Capital of the Midwest, Eureka Springs! My eyes get tired after looking around at that artsy little town. It's so intriguing. I should think i would be going crazy with creativity and inspiration if i lived in that little place.  But boy, do they need Jesus. Anybody wanna go be a witness to this place? I highly recommend it. 

dozens of these local artsies.

rather picturesque.

It was wonderful to have a break with two very influential ladies in my life, and two who were a huge part in my wedding prep and wedding day. Of course, i didn't get to fully enjoy their presence in detail during that time, so it was a blessing to catch up for a couple of days "away", in the oasis and childhood vacation spot i call the Knob of the Shell.

a wicker motorcycle, yet i find my mother's expression even more hilarious.

Just a small update on what's been going on. Hopefully, i will get some recipes up soon, since i have been baking/cooking like MAD!

Iowa- More than Just Corn- A LOT MORE!

I always dreamed of marrying a man from a year-round warm state. Maybe the southwest, maybe Hawaii? Little did I know that God had a much better place in mind...Iowa. Well, technically my fiance is from Illinois, but his mom grew up in Iowa, and he went to Iowa for college. I think it's safe to say that without Iowa, Iowouldn't have Daniel:) catch that pun? gee whiz I'm funny. So this past weekend, I traveled with my man up to Des Moines, Ames, and ultimately Kanawha, Iowa. A land where snow drifts cover up fences and every meal is an all-you-can-eat buffet. Dan's grandparents and many of his aunts, uncles and cousins live in Iowa. We stayed at his grandparents-Don and Dee-who were just some really wonderful, godly people. I never thought I would marry a man who had an almost entire extended family of believers in the Lord. What a blessing. One of the highlights of the trip was the FOOD! Man, can they eat! I had to put my L.G.N. Plan on hold for the weekend. You would too if the salad you received for lunch was a "Snickers Salad". I'm not kidding. a Snickers SALAD. to give the salad credit, it had apples in it:) There was yummy meat and veggies and desserts galore. And my amazing soon-to-be-mother-in-law had bought me gluten-free rolls (of which i cannot find in Wichita), baked me gluten-free cookies, and cooked me a gluten-free pizza!! How great is that? 

Another highlight was going to church. They go to a morning service AND an afternoon service up there. I've never done that. Their pastor was an amazing messenger of God's Word, and he did not sugar coat it like so many do today. The church had about 15-20 people, not counting our family, which tripled the size of the congregation for the day. Or at least doubled:). Also, this little country church was where Dan's parents got married, and his grandparents, too! I think that is so romantic. We took a picture in there (well duh, my cousin Taylor was along, the Queen of Picture Taking!). 

One of my favorite moments was on Sunday evening, when Dan drove me out to where his mom's farm used to be. Where she grew up. Talk about the middle of nowhere! Seriously, I would have loved to be in her shoes as a kid for like a week or so. Farm life back in the day has always intrigued me, I think because of my love for Christian fiction book about prairie girls that I read when I was 8 or so. The barn raisin's and such. The sharpshooting contests:). Anyways, when we arrived at the old farm, the sun had just started to set. And boy, was it beautiful. Glistening snow, stretching for miles, and  meeting up with the horizon full of pinks, oranges, and yellows. Small dots of barns and silos and windmills across the landscape. A beautiful picture of what i've dreamed early America to be like. And this is why Iowa is MUCH MORE than just corn and soybeans. Because God displays His majesty and glory in that state, and I am drawn back to the simple observance of the unfathomable complexity of a Creator God. The pictures are a snapshot of the beauty, but imagine being there! I never thought i would be saying this, but God, thank you for sending me a Northern Dutch boy! :) 

Don't Trust Me With a Razor or Rehearsal Dinner.

Let's begin by telling a tale of a wedding. (Of course, what else is on my mind?). My brother and sister-in-law's wedding to be precise. Those of you who know me may not be as surprised to hear this. But I performed a 6 minute long "Interpretive Dance" at my brother's wedding. Ok, not the wedding itself, but the rehearsal dinner. And this was not a 20 people rehearsal dinner. there were at least 200 people in the audience that night. My brother played the guitar and sang some song i can't even think of right now. And i danced. Made it up as i went along. No former practice or thought. What i didn't know was that the song was 6 minutes, and i ran out of moves by minute 3. It was excruciating yet fun. I was on my period, and i could tell i needed a tampon change. That, and i forgot to bring a bra (didn't need one for the dress i was wearing) for my actual dancing outfit. Yes, i was super skinny at that time and maybe a large A cup, but still...so many things could've gone wrong on that. I don't know how to get the actual footage on my computer yet, but once i do, maybe you will get a much-deserved treat. I don't know why it's much deserved. But it is:) In the meantime, allow me to share another experience with you. It goes along the lines of my craziness. Like i said, nothing new to those who have been around me more than once. maybe twice. It all started with my fiance wanting me to give him a "trim". He's had the shortest darn haircut all his life until i became the authority of the hair:) Actually, he just knew i loved shaggy hair, so he was willing to give it a try. but it had become a bit too shaggy, i admit. So last saturday night he brings his little kit over and hands me the electric razor. Let's just say there was an emergency haircut at church the next morning by a hairdresser who received a frantic call the night before.I had botched it. Yes, my wonderfully seasoned artistic hands completely botched my man's head. Don't think it could be as bad as i make it out to be? WEll, see for yourself:



And get this, my fiance's reaction was that he loved how we made a funny memory together and that we bonded because of it. He could care less about his hair. He just thought i was so cute for freaking out like i did. I was cry-laughing and convulsing. That is not on tape. Good thing. But check out my man in a backwards ballcap! Isn't he fine? He never wears them:( But he should.

I'm EnGaGed!!!

Pretty Amazing, Folks, but so true...I have fallen in love with and am going to marry the most amazing man in the world!! God is so good and He blesses those who wait patiently for His best for them. I definitely couldn't do any better than this guy...NOBODY COULD! i love you, Daniel Robert deJong!!

Wanna see pics and hear the engagement story?? Check out my facebook album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2238210&id=20600552&l=86652281b9

On Infant Baptism

Before i begin, i want to point out that i wasn't meaning to get into the question of infant baptism. This is a sticky subject amongst professing believers, and i have many a good friend who would completely oppose the belief in infant baptism. But, through God's work in my life as a part of one amazing book club, I stumbled upon this book-- Children of the Promise: The Biblical Case for Infant Baptism--written by Robert R. Booth, a former baptist preacher who professed to have ignored this subject for many years. He really got me in one of his opening lines when he said, "I think we often avoid studying a matter because we fear that our views will not be confirmed...Those who sincerely and diligently seek the truth will find it; they have no reason to fear being challenged by any contrary view."
And so, while i had my doubts about the legitimacy of baptizing infants, I forged ahead and diligently sought the truth. Well, i still have a lot to learn, and i don't think if you put me in front of a baptist believer to prove my point, that i would at all prove it. That is, unless, i read straight from this book and pointed them to the suggested scriptures. But through this book, as a tool for God's work, God has shown me that not only is it right to believe in infant baptism, it is being disobedient to him not to believe. Here are a few quotes from the book. There are many more, so i might go for a part two:

I suspect our difficulty in answering the question [of who should be baptized] stems less from a lack of biblical evidence and more from an inability to recognize that evidence when we see it, chiefly because our ways of thinking have changed so drastically from the ways of thinking natural to the authors of the New Testament, something which applies especially to tthe way we think about the family. OUr difficulty in understanding the New Testament's answer to this question is not one of theology, but history, and only if we can get this mental blockage out of our way, then the answer to to question, "who are the proper subjects of baptism?" will, in large measure, take care of itself...

Consequently, if God continues to deal with us as families in his covenant, then we need to give some very serious consideration to what we are doing if we leave our children unbaptized. We are not leaving them free to exercise their own free choice in a democratic universe. Instead, we are forcing them to break God's covenant; we are depriving them of what they have a legitimate right to; and we are making them to be covenant-breakers in the eyes of God.
-Allen Guelzo Who Should Be Baptized? A Case for the Baptism of Infants

If it enters anyone's mind to jest at infant baptism..., he is mocking the command of circumcision given by the Lord [in the Old Testament]. For what will they bring forward to impugn infant baptism that may not be turned back against circumcision?
-John Calvin Institutes

Gregg Bahnsen comments,
"Abraham's circumcision was God's testimony in Abraham's flesh that righteousness cannot be merited by man's natural efforts-- that it must me graciously imputed to the helpless sinner. Abraham was reckoned righteous, therefore, only by trusting in God's promise and provision--faith... we must not well that the signs of the covenant, whether circumcision or baptism,--being God's signs and ordained by Him--are God's testimony to God's gracious work of salvation. They declare the objective truth that justification comes only by faith in God's promise. Circumcision and baptism are not an individual's personal, subjective testimony to having saving faith for himself. God Himself commanded that circumcision be applied to those who He perfectly well knew would not have saving faith in Him (e.g., Ishmael in Gen. 17:18-27)
-"Baptism: Its Meaning and Purpose"

Likewise, in plenty of instances hypocrites who are not true believers have been baptized (cf. Heb. 6:2-6; e.g., Simon Magus in Acts 8:13, 20-23). Some might object that, while God knowingly applied a sign of the Old Covenant to unbelievers (like Ishmael or Esau), this would be inappropriate in the New Covenant. They say New Covenant signs are only for those we have reason to think are believers (by their profession of faith). Such reasoning is well meaning, but nonetheless unbiblical. God the Son knowingly applied the sign of even the New Covenant to the unbelieving 'son of perdition', Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:20-21; Matt. 26:23-29)
-Greg Bahnsen, "Baptism: Its Meaning and Purpose"

Oh Nine, goodbye, Twenty Ten, Hello there

My new year's resolution is off to a good start! I desire to blog more often and aspire to be a significant part of the blogging community. besides learning tons of interesting things about people, i am also inspired through other entries on blogs. i also would like to get my name out. my business name, that is, as my very first resolution this year is to put 100 percent effort into getting Petie Mae Jewelry off the ground, into the web, and into homes all over the world! i desire to make delightful wearable creations with a personal quirky twist while at the same time raising funds for causes i support, such as Compassion International's Unsponsored Children's Fund! I have a little girl through the Compassion Program and her name is Purity Gakii Mati. She is from Kenya and i chose her because her birthday is only days away from mine (plus, i have been to kenya and feel i have a connection with that hurting country. plus, i love to pray for this girl, because as i pray for Purity, i am also reminded to pray for my own personal purity, which is something i struggle with, being a passionate right-brained person and all!). so twenty-ten begins the first year as a non-student for me, as well as the first year i will spend the whole of with somebody i am utterly and completely in love with (see photo on side right). God is so good. While i always spend Christmas in my hometown of Wichita, we did something a little different this year. on december 27th, we headed out to beautiful Colorado, where we visited aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters and in-laws. we spent two nights in denver, a day in boulder on pearl street (where i totally need to sell my wares), a morning at Snooze, the most wonderful breakfast place on the planet, nights doing yoga and playing Wii, a second Christmas in COlorado Springs, a New Year's full of games and sledding and puzzle making in Lake George, a day of ice-skating and shopping in Breckenridge Colorado. man, we were everywhere! While ice skating was awesome and i realized my boy has some amazing icing skills, i did get pushed down by the little bro (who is a "fire" guy, rather than a "ready, aim, fire". aka he doesn't "think it through") and have some substantial war bruises. i also did one ride on the sled, which was exhilarating, but i had more fun taking action shots, such as this one! one of my favorites! it's my dad, my two brothers and my boyfriend. they are a hoot! i'll be posting more pics on facebook in the days to come. man, my list of "to do"s is so crazy long right now, but i am super excited to see how the Lord works in and thru me during this next decade. it seems so substantial to us, but to God, it is only less than "a blink of an eye". i'm going to enjoy this blink while it lasts:)

Notes on Ridiculous Attention and Family

12/7/08

I don't get who in their right mind would want to be like me. I guess i don't have to worry about it since nobody does. However, i believe there are a few who would want to be the me i portray around them. Ridiculous. I waste time on facebook, desperately looking for the attention it provides. waiting to be tagged, poked, messaged, invited, commented on, noticed. Seriously, it's ridiculous. i need to shed facebook. even if for a week. OK. I can do a week. I just rely on other ppl so much for my self-worth. Ridiculous. i rely on boys by trying to impress them and gain their attention. It makes me proud when i am the girl getting all the attention. and pursued, while others look on in envy. I am so shallow. wretched soul that i am. I cling to false hope. My mind is consumed with times of anxiety, worry, and pharasaic deeds and thoughts.
Lord, thank You for teaching me how to love, respect, and serve my family. My small efforts bring positive change in our family dynamics. You have promised this. and it is TRUE! I never realized the amount of responsibility I have as a part of these family dynamics. Relationships. i have never really worked at these. But God, You are guiding me step by baby step as my heart examines my inner longings and brings to Light what i have been so desperately, yet fruitlessly, trying to cover up. I cannot undo the past. Lord, as I come to a weak point in my life, I pray i will remain sure in the face of doubt, strong in the face of stress, encouraged in the face of despair. For You know the plans you have for me. My worry is only a detrimental roadblock to Your Will.