30 Years - Here we go!

Turning 30 is kind of a big deal. It seems like everyone remembers their 20's as their "Golden Age." But somehow, I have a different take on turning 30. I'm excited! I'm ready to be in my 30's. It feels like this is the age where all the things you set out to explore in your 20's reaches the point of developing and nurturing in your 30's. 

So...

I'm ready to settle into this next decade with humor.

With good friends and family.

And a hot husband... and cute puppy. ;)

I really have much to be thankful for.

My prayer for the next decade is not that it will be filled with grandiose moments

or wild adventures. I pray for simple pleasures that are fully enjoyed to the very

last drop.

"I believe that the nicest and sweetest of days are not those in which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."

Anne of Green Gables

I said Yes.

 Four years ago today, I said "Yes" to marrying this man. Yes is a big word. "Yes" meant we made a covenant before God and before our family and friends that we would stick by each other for as long as we both draw breath. "Yes" meant "Forever, I do."

In these past four years we've dealt with ups and downs as I'm sure most couples do; financial challenges, our own health issues, and family health crises and death. It has pushed us to either stick by our agreement to continue to say "Yes", or to walk away and try to start a new life.We are still here, and it's because of Jesus' grace and a little bit of stubbornness (we're both incredibly stubborn!) that we keep holding hands and walking forward.  And... we really do like each other... a lot. ;)

Today, my sweet friend Megan shared a devotional with me that resonated in the deep places of my heart about saying "Yes" to the important things in life - primarily, saying "Yes" to God and His promises.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

If “all the promises of God find their Yes in [Jesus],” then to trust him now in the present is to believe that his promises will come true.
Those are not two separate faiths — trusting him, and believing in his promises. Believing in Jesus means believing that he keeps his word. Being satisfied in the crucified and risen Jesus now includes the belief that at every future moment, to all eternity, nothing will separate us from his love, or keep him from working all things together for good.
Putting it all together, I would say that the spiritual beauty we need to embrace is the beauty of God that will be there for us in the future, certified for us by the glorious grace of the past.
We need to taste now the spiritual beauty of God in all his past achievements — especially the death and resurrection of Christ for our sins — and in all his promises. Our confidence and trust must be in all that God himself will be for us in the next moment, and in the next month, and in the endless ages of eternity — “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
It is he and he alone who will satisfy the soul in the future. And it is the future that has to be secured and satisfied with spiritual riches of glory, if we are to live the radical Christian lives that Christ calls us to live here and now.
If our present enjoyment of Christ now — our present faith — does not have in it the Yes to all God’s promises, it will not embrace the power for radical service in the strength that God (in every future moment) will supply (1 Peter 4:11).
My prayer is that reflecting like this on the essence of faith will help us avoid superficial, oversimplified statements about believing the promises of God. It is a deep and wonderful thing.

I think one thing Joel and I have learned about saying "Yes" to God and His promises is that it doesn't mean you get everything you ask for. It's not about praying harder, better, or more fervently to get what our hearts desire. That has proved to be a fruitless and superficial way of praying and living. For us, it has meant that God keeps us going. He keeps us faithful to each other and gives us strength to

embrace each day as it is. Some days feel beautiful and full of sweetness. Some days feel crappy, poopy and altogether disappointing. Life is filled with sunshine and rain.

I love this passage from the devotional: "Our confidence and trust must be in all that God himself will be for us in the next moment, and in the next month, and in the endless ages of eternity."

 When I really stop to think about that statement, I am humbled and brought to tears. How could the King of the universe promise to fill and fulfill my every moment with His presence and goodness? 

He does make everything work for my good because HE is GOOD, and when He fills my every moment, He has filled it with goodness. 

That doesn't mean I always feel happy or awesome. There are moments and days I struggle through. And you know what, that's okay. I can struggle. I can go through the muck and come out on the other side because He is going through it with me. I am never alone. 

His goodness gives me hope. Hope. Hope that no matter what lies ahead, I am not alone. I will be given strength and grace, and I WILL see beauty unfold in my life and those around me as I say "Yes" to His love and redemption in my life. 

Mama Can Shoot!

When my parents came out to visit Joel and I for an afternoon back in November, we decided to get out our 22 and bow. Target practice is a fun activity, dOn't ch'ya knOw. 

About five  or six years ago my older brother, Chad, showed me how to shoot a gun and set up some Folgers coffee cans to practice on. I'm proud to say that they were "holier" by the time I finished.

Little did I know that my Mama had never been taught how to shoot a gun! My Mama couldn't shoot.

 My Mama couldn't shoot? It was time for her to learn how to shoot.

Joel got her set up. Shut one eye... hold your breath...

 Aim... and fire! She wasn't a bad shot, either. 

 That's my Mom! Now my Mama can shoot.

Oh, and here's a picture of my stud. smile :)

Wedding Bells

In the season where Christmas Bells are ringing and singing,

reminding us with joy of the first sweet Noel when Christ was born,

another kind of bell will be ringing soon for my friend Monica.

Not too long after Joel and I started dating in 2010, Sam Newhouse and Monica Auppl began their relationship. They met at the same bible study group where Joel and I met.

 I remember the first time Sam came to group, my brother Seth and I decided that he would be 

perfect for Monica. A few weeks later when Monica emailed us that she and Sam decided to start dating, it came as no surprise. I believe Seth's and my exact words were, "Haa! I knew it!"

 Earlier this fall, with the holiday season growing near, predictions were made as to when Sam was going to "pop" the question. I would like to say that my prediction was only one week off - haha! Friday, Dec 2nd, Sam and Monica were supposed to come over to our place for a double date. Sam sent me a facebook message a couple days before saying that he was taking Monica on a surprise date (Mmm hmm), and asked if I would continue to set up the double-date with Monica.
Sam surprised Monica with a sweet video-taped proposal and a date of their own.

This is my official congratulations to my friends, Sam and Monica, as they prepare for their wedding.

Since my predictions have been fairly accurate thus far, I venture to say that I believe you two are going to have a very blessed marriage. Love you guys!

This was taken at our place on Memorial Day, 2010.
This was just a few days before Sam and Monica started dating.

This was taken the day after Sam and Monica got engaged.
 I think Monica may have been floating a few inches off of the ground.

Boo!

 Mmmm... Trick or Treat, and in this case, Treat!

Halloween night a few friends came over for a costume party and a night of Alfred Hitchcock.

 And of course a healthy dose of... food!

 Our menu consisted of homemade chili, molasses and raisin bread and candies.

 Here is my never-fail recipe for chili:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef, browned and seasoned with chili powder to taste

2 cans of chili seasoned tomatoes

1 or 2 cans of chili beans

1/2 bag of frozen corn

After the meat is browned and seasoned, mix in the rest of the ingredients, and voila!

You have Chili!!  

 Chili was a perfect dish for our party since all the food and beverages had a brown and orange theme.

 My goblets even got a little bit of sprucing up with different kinds of ribbon.

 Now all I need are some guests!

Or maybe a Pirate!

 These two gangsters are from the early 1900's!

Correction: The Lady is Ms. Estel, a steampunk character and an adventuress/treasure seeker

Our handy dandy Menard's Associate.

Looks like someone may have just stolen a cookie from the cookie jar...

 And a Cowgirl! Yee ha!

 Here are the Ladies. I'm a fairy! Hmmm, I feel like I need some sort of weapon in this picture...

 Megan likes her dart gun ;)

 Candy Corn Vampires!

 Can you believe I chugged this whole liter of pop?!!!!

 Me either. I drank two swallows.

 The goblets looked even better with root beer and orange slices.

 (The orange slices were Joel's idea!)

Helloooo!

 

Unfortunately, the bread was executed by pirate's sword.

It was a dark and scary night...

No, it really was! After we watched our movie the power went out! Can you believe the timing??

Kristen read Dr. Suess's, The Pale Green Pants to us by candle light.

Boo!

Almost There!

Harvest is coming to close for the Hansen household. With only a couple days to go, Joel and I are both getting excited for this intense season to be over. We've had a lot of fun along the way; it was actually really good one-on-one time for us in the tractor cab, but we are definitely ready for a break.

I've learned a lot about farming this year; such as, a corn stalk only produces one ear of corn (for some reason I thought it produced two or three), the definition of GMO is now permanently recorded in my brain (refer to an earlier blog!), and Farmers work very hard. I will say that I knew that already, but not to this degree. ;) I've also decided that I could most definitely make at least a million dollars by designing a better passenger seat in the dump cart tractors for Farm Wives of America. Just sayin'! ;)

Here's a few pics from a recent tractor ride!

 I took this picture from my beloved passenger seat.

Hello, Blogger World!

Why is it amusing to make funny faces in the rear-view mirror?

I don't know.

It just is.

Joel got out of the tractor for a minute to move my car to a better spot.

Joel left me alone in the tractor cab?

Joel left me alone in the tractor cab!!!

Mwha ha ha ha! Wheeee!

Just kidding! I didn't drive it around... yet ;)

 Just another day on the farm :)

The Invitation

The colors danced and swayed in the morning light;

 laughing and playing,

and bidding me to come enjoy the wonderful sight.

 "We know there's work to do," they said to me,

 "but you can never capture this moment again.

Come run and and skip,

  Taking a little time to sip 

the sweet wine of the morning glory of the Divine."

I sat and pondered the invitation set before me

while I looked out my window again, and saw a sight to see:

 Water was still and undisturbed, like transparent mirrored glass. 

His Love, Reflection, held time frozen in her grasp;

It was impatiently waiting to pass.

Today she let it go slowly, as if to say,

 "Time can wait for another day."

Then the chorus of all creation cried,

"Time may push and Time may strive

to be the one that gives you your drive,

 But there is a better way: 

 Let peace be your guide.

 Once again, Come out, come out!

 Come out from among them;

 Come out from the clenches of Greed and Strife.

 You will only find that once you have given them your entire life,

 There is no turning back; the day is done.

Ambition is good, ambition is right,

 But don't let it be the only thing you keep in our sight.

Enjoy the now while you hold it in your hand;

Don't let it seek another Lover, leaving you with only an impression in the sand.

Open your eyes, look straight ahead.

It's time to wake from your sleepy days/daze;

 this dream is finished, now get out of bed."