Top 10 and 5 New laws

Right now Frankie and I are still taking tabs on our front gate at the apartment. Since I last wrote the gate has been smashed in three more times.....twice to the "in" gate and once to the "out" gate...so much for "gated community". And security for that matter, although Southgate is not a bad city to live in. But yeah, I always see people fly through the open gates and a lot of times going "out" through the "in" gate because the "in" is ripped off the hinges and it's too slow to stop at the "out" gate to let it open for you....I just love living in Michigan; not only are the colors on the trees amazing in the fall but all the cars blend in with the blur of colors because they're all driving so fast.

So here are my top 10 thoughts on marriage thus far:

1. Sharing a bed with someone is harder to adjust to than I thought. I accidentally hit him in the face sometimes.
2. Sharing the remote isn't always as annoying as people let on....it's all about give and take people.
3. I like cooking at home better than at work because the menu changes every night.
4. I love living with my best friend.....we laugh all the time.
5. Being in the ministry as a married couple is one of the best experiences of my life so far.
6. Having kids is a scary thought after doing laundry for two people, let alone three or four.
7. It's interesting to see how our strengths help the others' weaknesses (like me forgetting everything, not being able to find anything, and not being really emotional, whereas Frankie remembers everything, can find anything, and isn't afraid to show emotion.....I'm more like a guy in some of my habits....worse than Frankie, actually.....sad.....he is even tidier than me!!! He's amazing. :))
8. It's easier to play pranks on someone you know so well
9. I can hide homies in his car without suspicion because it doesn't look like I'm going out of my way to do something unordinary.
10. We can "game" together on our DS systems.

Now totally different subject, now that Obama is in office I think I will go back to school and become a politician so I can be the first Mexican president. And first woman president. Then I will make laws such as the following:

1. There must be homie dispensers at every store.
2. Authentic tortillas, beans, and rice are to be served at every restaurant no matter what kind of restaurant it is.
3. The white house will be painted red, white and green and will be called the Latina Caliente House.
4. Fiestas are to occur every Friday night followed by a long siesta and then we will all eat a cannoli.
5. And finally, we will not drive cars anymore but ride donkeys to prevent pollution.

I mean, if we can elect B. Hussein Osama into office then why not me? You have to admit, it would be fun....

Cuando the Kitty and Scary Things

I'm staring out the window this dreary fall morning and I'm noticing that the pavement is all wet. I love the fall, and believe it or not, I even love the rainy fall mornings too. This is my favorite time of year....all the stores have the bright, autumn colors like red, orange, yellow, brown, burgandy, purple....and even though we don't celebrate holloween I still love all the funny decorations. I was at the store the other day and as I passed on of those holloween skeletons (you know, the ones everyone knows makes noises when you pass it), it started making it's evil laugh and I screamed bloody murder in the middle of the store.....that was cute. It scared me....a lot. And I like scary movies too, so I can handle freaky movies without nightmares but I can't handle fake skeletons at a craft store.

If I had a cat I think I could totally be a full time house wife. I love keeping up my place and making dinner....making sure the dishes are done and the laundry folded. Maybe I'm still in the dillusional state of newlywed-ness, but I've never had huge ambitions to be a world reknown chef.....being a support to my husband and homemaker, and someday a mom, has always kind of been what I look forward to. And I've always known God would use me mightily in that way and that I would truly find joy in it. But there comes a certain lonliness with being home alone all day when you don't work full weeks. So if I had a cat, it would be great. If I had a cat I would name it Cuando, and I would say, "Cuando! Commere, kitty! Mommy's gonna feed you!" And then we'd play with flashlight beams and strings, then we'd cuddle on the couch together while watching What Not to Wear on TLC. I'm just messing around, I think life would get depressing like that after a while, even with a cat...haha. I really do love being a homemaker though. :)

Gated Community

So the apartments we live in is a "gated community", which means that there's a gate which you can only get through if you have the code or a key. But let me ask you this, what is the point if people whip through it all the time, tearing the gate off it's hinges? This has happend twice since we moved in, and even though they replace it, it still happens over again. We're going to keep a tab on how many times it happens while we live here. I mean now that we're married and we live together, our time isn't spent thinking about each other non stop so we have other things to think about....like gates being ripped off, leaving us unprotected and vulnerable to the misfits of ghetto community, known as Detroit. But as long as I have a glass bottle to break against the wall we're ok, cuz then my Mexican will come out and defend my keep. Not really. We actually live in Southgate and it's not scary here, although I did go to a gas station the other day and was worried I would get attacked since I'm not in Sylvania anymore. I feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz....."I don't think we're in Sylvania anymore, Toto...." No, Toto, we're in the Ghet-To.

Married Life

Well I am the world's biggest blog loser....it's not like I've had anything interesting happening in my life lately that I couldn't blog! I mean geesh!

The wedding is over, the honeymoon is over, but the chaos is not over! But somehow within that blur of activity I've found my piece of heaven in every day. Life is constantly changing, just like the leaves are beginning to burst with a few spashes of color, and I'm beginning to adjust to the change married life brings. The thing that gets me through is asking Jesus to be my everything, everyday. Only then have I been able to truly find joy in having my own home to make, a husband to care for, and a job to work, a ministry to build.

Last night was our first night as Step-Up (our young adults group at church) leaders together. It was such a great time and I just love this group of young adults! We played mafia (a game about killing people and accusing people....perfect for church), and spent some real time in the Word. Afterwards we went to Applebees for half off appetizers with a couple Step Up-ers.....which is what I love so much, ministering on a small and personal basis. Another amazing thing about married life, that Frankie and I can minister together as a team. :)

All in all, life throws a lot of changes no matter how ready you feel or how not ready you feel. But God is that saving grace; He is always reminding you that the change is for the good, for if we never saw change then our lives would never touch another's.

Love to you all,
Libby Julian :)

Bloggity Blog Blog

Wow it has been a while, hasn't it? At least I can say life hasn't been boring, it's just been busy! In fact there's been a lot I could blog about....for instance, when someone at work says, "Oh crap...." when a certain regular customer is coming to tea, that's not the ideal response, right? So I've had a lot of attitude blogs come and go through my mind. We also decided to only speak Wookie in the kitchen at work, so if someone comes in and asks, "Can I have another plate of scones? I need five..." while there's only four sitting on the tray, instead of being obviously annoyed with words, just yell out, "grujdghrggrrr!" they'll never know what you said so you won't be in trouble for saying anything bad. So I've had some humorous blogs come and go through my mind as well.

I think the biggest thing I'm experiencing right now though is stress; yes, in fact, if you just look at my face you'll notice. Just typical signs, like baggy eyes, glazed eye balls, hair everywhere, a constant large zit (or multiple ones.....dang....) lingering on my face, it just changes spots on a weekly basis, a quiet aura (or is that gas? I don't know..)..... Thankfully, amongst the craziness of life God still keeps Himself real to me. I relate to the apostles in Acts 4:23-31. They were in trouble and were frightened but instead of panicking in fear they prayed. And what gets me is that they didn't pray for deliverance, they prayed for boldness to continue preaching the good news! It is astonishing. A lot of times we pray for God to take our trials away, like if this one thing would be gone life would be just ducky. But I realized when I read this that praying away our problems doesn't benefit us one bit....we HAVE to go through things to let God be glorified. And you know what happened when they prayed? God shook that place, literally, and they did indeed speak with much boldness! Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." This is the reward of calling on God in faith because he DOES reveal Himself, and more! He will shake you, and give you boldness. Not only does He reveal Himself, but the unsearchable things we don't know, which of course only God Himself knows what those things are, but that's why it's so cool because if it's a secret of God it's got to be good!!

I've also come to accept the fact that the birds at my house insist on using my car as a port-a-potty and there's nothing I can do about it. I should probably take my car in and get it washed but the combination of not feeling like spending the extra cash and being lazy really cuts into that plan. So if you see me driving by with tiny rusty spots all over my car in a year, it's because the bird poop ate away at the paint and left me with a "new" car.

Dry Bones

This week my family and I are in Alabama on vacation. We're right on the beach in a gorgeous penthouse condo overlooking the ocean. I've had some precious time with God on this trip, appreciating the beautiful creation around me. We've watched a few movies while we've been here, "Bordertown" and "The Last Sin Eater". Both movies are very different from each other but similar in point. There is a truth out there that people are starving for, in a world full of evil a deceit people are walking with the veil over their eyes. After watching these movies I felt so sad but comforted. Sad because our world is so evil, but comforted because of the truth that sets us free.....it's just a matter of spreading that truth for all to know and receive. I conveniently came upon Ezekiel 37 in my reading, the valley of dry bones. God blew life into those bones, bringing them to life through Ezekiel. Ezekiel is us, and God is waiting to use us if we will just listen and obey. I'm leaving for Haiti in 4 days, and the anticipation is growing. I want to be God's tool, to bring truth into the wanting hearts and breath life into dead souls. Even if it's just touching one or two lives, I know God will be using me to do His will. I can't wait!

Billy Blanks and Tamilee Webb are cooler than Hillary Clinton

I went and voted today. It was thrilling. I think there were about 5 other people in there at the same time as me, I'm hoping more went to the poles to vote after work! I hate presidential elections...I mean I'm grateful we get to choose our leader, but I hate it because none of the candidates are ever going to be perfectly aligned with what we want. All I know is that I never want to see Hillary Clinton in office, she is a crazy woman and is evil....just look at her pictures, she has this creepy little smirk on her face all the time!!

And I'm certainly ready for some warmer weather and sunnier days; this grayness is starting to take its toll on me. I woke up this morning and laid in bed for about 30 minutes doing nothing....and then progressed into my day with some excercise (You would think Tamilee Webb would be old by now...in the 80's she was thriving in her spandex underwear and beige hose with those white, scrunched socks.....I was surprised to see a recent workout video she did a couple years back....she is still a stick and looks like she's 20.....what is that all about?), then some laundry and cleaning in the house, and then did some shopping for work and voted. I got home and my mom gently reminded me that we have a tea house meeting tonight where I snapped, "I know....." with that punky little attitude I get sometimes. It was at this point that I realized I'm not just ready for a change of weather but a change of life in general.

I'm sick of just living the mundane, plugging away through every day just to get to the next. I'm worried that on the missions trip I'll be working every day just to get closer to getting back home, where I feel the same way only I don't know where I'm working towards. Does this make any sense? I start wishing I had some certain calling, like how people feel when they're called to the ministry or to be a singer or an interpretive dancer...hahaha....okay maybe not the dancer, but you get the idea. I know, I know.....I'm called to be a chef. I know it's my calling. But I sometimes feel like it's not enough.....like I'm missing out on something. Will I do it forever? I don't know. Which makes me wonder, should I go back to school for something else, just in case? Ugh. It disgusts me sometimes. It disgusts me that I'm so unable to focus on where God has me now and live every day FOR that day, and enjoy it, and not just to get to the next day.

On a lighter note, today during my workout (Tae Bo rocks...haha) Billy Blanks said, "Now, you're stinky, hairy leg should always be bent!" I started laughing and was like, "what?" Silly me, he said, "Your stationary leg should always be bent." I think he's cool. And Tamilee. I like them better than Hillary.

Feed Me!!

We can all relate to being hungry. The other day I was so hungry I felt like I could eat a cow....I was working all day and even though I'm around food non-stop I never really feel like eating it. So I hadn't eaten anything. Frankie and I went to Red Robin that night and I seriously downed my entire burger....I'm not sure I've ever done that at Red Robin, I mean those burgers are big! It was funny, Frankie ordered a salad and the waiter who brought us our food naturally thought I ordered the salad, and Frankie the burger....that's a good way to make a girl feel like a heifer, haha!......

Anyway, I was really happy to get food. Eating is so much better when you're famished. But not everyone can just eat when they're hungry.....when I go to Haiti in March I believe I'll be seeing a lot of that kind of poverty. Worse than physical poverty is spiritual poverty. Lamentations 4:4 says, "Because of thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the rood of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them." New believers are at such a risk of this, not being fed spiritually and even if they beg for that spiritual food the mature believers are so consumed in their own growth that they go unnoticed. One of my great fears is that I will overlook the needs of another believer because of my own. Doesn't the Bible say to put others before ourselves? It's even a common thing for grown believers who once believed crave something more, and because of their own intellect find themselves in dire need of some sort of spiritual fulfillment, but are looking into their own minds rather than the truth of God's love. Their tongues stick to the roof of their mouths and they crave bread, something to fill their empty stomachs, but nothing can really satisfy that emptiness except the real deal......it's like drinking pop instead of water, you can take in all you want but it only makes your thirst worse. Those tricky pop companies!!

Nothing-ness

In honor of my super annoying brother-in-law, I've decided to post a blog about nothing in particular. He yells at me for posting about things which end on a positive note and are encouraging/teaches some sort of lesson....I think he suggested writing with rage....rage....RAGE!!!

It's hard for me to write in rage because I'm never really mad, but I can tell you about the last time I was mad. I was playing euchre with my sister, Jon, Amy, and I have just learned the basics of the game so naturally I'm not very good. SO, after being totally lost and being told what cards to play the entire game by Andy I was getting tired of the game but couldn't stop till the entire round was over. In a moment of irrational irritation I lashed out at my beloved Frankie when he was trying to call me to say hi....So what did I learn through this? That when I am learning something new and don't understand it right away and don't catch on really super fast, I get really mad. I think it's probably a pride/insecurity issue so that's interesting...

I was also thinking about marriage the other day and what it'll be like. Frankie told me he expects me to cut his toenails, do thorough cleanings of the house every day using a toothbrush for detailed cleaning, cook at least 3 meals a day (with a minimum of 4 courses each), pluck his eyebrows, do all his laundry, birth at least 5 kids in the first 3 years of marriage, and paint self-portraits of him every year to hang in the hallways of our house. I also expect a lot from him though, I mean I expect at least one vacation a month to places like Hawaii, France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland, lots of expensive jewelry, a box of chocolates every Monday morning by my pillow, serenade me every night before bed, rub my feet at the end of every day, a back rub every other night, and a monthly allowance of $2,000 for clothing. I think we're off to a good start....;)

My dad makes the volume on the TV so loud I think I'll go deaf before this blog is over.

I think it's funny that they put instructions on a pill package telling you what to do with the pill. What else would you do with it? Do you pick up your pills and crush them up and use them for seasoning in your food? Here's a recipe for success: crush up some prozac and use it like a sandwich sprinkle or like you would salt. Salt is actually a food enhancer, it opens up your tastebuds to let in more flavor....it's the same concept, it's like salt, it just enhances your happy-factor. What else would you do with your pill besides swallow it? Let's see....you could use it to play finger football, you know where you make the triangle with paper? Or you could use colace pills in a muffin recipe...that's a tasty treat for someone you don't like very much! You could make a pretty collage out of vitamin supplements. The possibilities are endless.

Oh wow, it's over and I'm not deaf...

My Home Church

Bedford Christian Community has been my home church for 7 amazing years. I've gone through so many good and bad times, both challenging and sometimes grueling, but BCC has always been my place of refuge and encouragement through all of those times. I never had it stuck in my mind that I'd stay at the same church my whole life, simply because I never knew, or thought that I knew, what the future would hold or where God would take me. Well this past Sunday I spent the morning at Faith Christian Assembly, the church I will be going to after Frankie and I tie the knot in September! My heart feels so torn sometimes, when you're faced with a situation where you lose something you love but gain something you love in return, it's such a bittersweet thing. I can't express my joy about going to FCA; it's going to be an amazing time of growth and new challenges, which Frankie and I will face as a married couple and as a team as we lead the young adults ministry there. I look back and can't believe how all the things I've been involved in and been a part of at BCC have prepared me for this point, where I'll be helping in the same areas at Faith. Isn't it cool to look back and see how God has prepared us and we don't even realize it until the crossroad comes?

Just like we discussed in youth group last night that we're all a piece of the puzzle of God's plan, so is every talent and ability we possess, every issue we face, and every mountain and valley we experience throughout life. Whether it's a lifestyle change or a change of mindset, it's all a part of God's master puzzle for our life, and our one life is a little piece in the master puzzle of His plan. So I'm changing churches.....I'm blessed to say I've been a part of Bedford, and I thank Pastors Nate and Rick, Wendy and Beth, Vanessa, Lauren, and Mike and Pam Hardy, for the leadership they've shown and impact they've had on my life while I've been at BCC.

I know these next 7 months are going to fly by so I felt this on my heart tonight....I just wanted to share with all of you BCC-ers how much I love you and appreciate you! Ephesians 1:16 "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."

Provision

In the past month I've thought more about politics than I ever have, even more than the last presidential election. Last time I went to vote on November 2 (my birthday), and I was turning 21. I had asked my dad who he was going to vote for so I write it all down and voted like my dad! Haha, lame I know, but I trust my dad's opinion. But this time I've thought about the candidates and I won't say my stance because politics can get very emotional for some people.....all I know is it's got me thinking about our world today. We all know we're in the last days. It's obvious and all around us, someone was even talking about the economy and how our nation is well on its way to the next Great Depression. The more I thought about all these things the worse I felt, and was starting to feel really depressed. But as I read my Bible the other the day the Lord comforted me with these words:

"You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness." ~Psalm 17:14b-15

All I can say is that I am so grateful to have my faith in Christ to fall back on! No matter what happens, whether the U.S. falls into another depression or not God will always provide for His children. And either way, we can wake up every day and be satisfied with looking around and seeing God's likeness in the world around us and the provision He brings.

Joys of the Past

It is a new year! It's only the second week in January and time has flown by. Getting engaged over Christmas was definitely the highlight of the past few weeks, and already the planning has begun. We booked Nazareth Hall for the ceremony and reception, we've also booked the photographer, the florist, we've bought my dress and chosen the bridesmaid dresses. I feel like time is going so fast. I realized today that this Christmas was my last Christmas at home.....and even that is not really fair to say since I've been living in an apartment since September. As I was taking Christmas ornaments down, putting away the nativity, rolling up the lights, I felt really sentimental about my family's tree. It's totally hodge podge, with huge colored lights and a gaudy star which lights up and changes colors. But that's what I grew up with, and I wouldn't want it any other way!

Four of us kids have grown up in this house, switched rooms numerous times, been homeschooled, learned how to play baseball in the front yard and basketball in the driveway, practiced serves for volleyball against the garage door, learned how to swim in the pool which sadly died a few years back, and I will never forget when we bought the swingset, which still stands strong in the back yard. Four family pets have come and gone, grandkids have found their footing in these rooms, and old pictures reflect the change of styles this home has had over the years. I've been thinking about how times change and how different we were all ten years ago. I used to ask my mom, "Mom, how do I know when God speaks to me?" I would agonize over this issue, even cry at times, longing for God to speak to me, that an audible voice would come and fill my yearning. Though I understand now what it's like when God speaks to me, thinking about how I used to agonize over it when I was young reminded me that no matter how old we get, those questions from long ago are evidence of the thirst only God can fill. Though I don't ask those questions anymore, no person or thing can ever fill what God is only suited for. No matter how much in love you are or how dedicated to your job, or how excited you are about the future, God is ultimately the only one thing you will find true and pure life in. You will find that even in your most joyful times, if your life isn't centered on Christ, you won't feel it like God wants you to. Let's keep Him in the center, and in doing so experience true joy!!

Isaiah 55:12 "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."