Winter

My soul has become languid

All passion lies dormant in my soul

Chilly winds have made me cold

Threatening to consume me whole

All growth has come to a halt

Layers of winter cover my heart

I have not kept the fire burning

I have wholly failed to do my part

Complacency has iced over me

And now I cannot leave

Comfort takes the place of sacrifice

I now do whatever I please

My fingers have become too numb

To even lift a finger to turn a page

Warmth and life are at their tips

But instead I choose the grave

But my God is a Consuming Fire

One touch and I am set ablaze

I melt in His glorious presence

My heart burns in His gaze

Now  I feel myself being swept away

Winter’s walls are being burnt down

I can see You clearly once more

My fervor for You again is found

May I not sink back again into winter

Keep the fire alive as I am on my face

Always kindle the ashes of my devotion

For I must not return to that listless place

Pirates, Blair style

I have lost my sweet tooth. I can't image where I have put it. Maybe you loose it once you reach a certain age. Dang it! I am getting so old. I was very surprised to find that I have lost my taste for candy this Halloween. The hubs bought tons for the trick-or-treaters, but I didn't even eat a single piece! And this is coming from the girl who used to LOVE candy. I still love chocolate, but it doesn't count. It has it's own category in my opinion.

Sad day for me. However, I'm sure my teeth appreciate it. Its better for me not to eat all that sugar anyhow.

Even so, I had a good Halloween despite my lack of appetite for candy. We were able to dress up for a costume party Friday night! It was a blast. Now I can finally say what we were!!!!

Drum roll please: Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swan!

I'm getting my game face ready. Elizabeth hardly ever smiled.

Here we are!

The lovely (zombie prom queen) hostess and myself

We had a blast scaring people as they came in the house.

Intense. I know.

My dear friend Wilma Flinstone was adorable. I'm not sure where her Fred was at the moment, but it was good of them to step out their show to come to the party.

Pumpkin carving!

My hippie friend didn't like my dagger. She'd rather have peace. Oh well. I kept it anyway.

They motley crew of guys...

And the fabulous ladies.

It was a fun night indeed. I just wish we could dress up in weird costumes more than once a year!

The Process: Getting Dressed

Alarm goes off.

Alarm goes off again. And again.

Get out of bed.

Shower.

Put my face on.

Coffee. Yes, I need coffee.

Sit and read for a bit.

Blow dry hair (sometimes)

Say “good morning” to my groggy hubs.

Get dressed.

Brush teeth.

Run out the door.

That is pretty much my morning routine for every week day. Sometimes I opt for coffee before I put on my face. Sometimes I don’t wash my hair (thereby skipping the blow-dry part). Sometimes the alarm goes off a few more times than three. Sometimes I tell my hubs about the weird dreams I had during the night. (My dreams are usually very bizarre.) Nonetheless, my process generally stays close to the same every day, with the exception of getting dressed. It has its own process altogether.

Most of the time I am dressed and out the door 30 minutes before my hubby, so he doesn’t witness my “getting dressed” process. However, he finds it comical when he does watch me going through “the process.” He thinks it makes no sense that you could be “feeling” one article of clothing one day and not another day. To him you either like the shirt (or whatever it may be) or you don’t. Men and women are very different in this area. Or perhaps I’m just weird. I mean, not liking the color brown on any given day doesn’t make you clinically insane does it? Of course it doesn’t! Changing outfits is not a crime. That would be silly. If it was I’d be in big trouble.

People are different, and so are their “getting dressed” routines.

Here’s how my hubs gets dressed:

“Hmm…these jeans are clean. This shirt looks good. Okay, great.” He puts gel in his hair and then he’s done.

Here’s how I get dressed:

“Hmm…what do I feel like wearing today? This shirt? No, I’m not feeling that color today. I didn’t wash my hair this morning, so that means it will need to be put up. Well, I’m not wearing that because I don’t like to wear it with my hair up. Hmm…I really want to wear these boots today. What goes with them? Darn, the pants I want to wear with them are dirty! These might work! Ok, now what top? Let’s try this one. Eww, no! This one works. Ooo, and that will look cute with these earrings and this headband. Hmm, now I need a belt with this. Where in the world is my brown belt? Oh here it is. Ok, this is coming together. Yay. This bracelet would match too. Ok, I like this. I’m ready.” I put my hair up. Then I am done.

When I lived at home, I remember my sister would start off her morning by sitting in front of the closet for what seemed like an eternity. She’d sit there until she came up with an outfit (especially on Sundays) and also to wake up a bit before getting in the shower. (That last bit is just my speculation on the matter.)

Very different approaches, eh? I’m quite sure my dear hubs did not pick what he was going to wear today based on his shoes (like I did). Sometimes a whole outfit will revolve around a pair of shoes. That’s not so with my hubs. As a matter of fact, he wears the same 3 pairs of shoes every day and they are all a variant of brown. BORING! (I love you babe and I am not in any way saying that you are boring.) Basically all his shirts match with those shoes. Is my wardrobe the same way? Far from it! I love variety.

In conclusion folks, people are funny. They are diverse. They have different tastes, styles and routines. I love to hear funny “getting ready” stories. If you have any, by all means pass them along!

Hate Mail

Yes, yes. I am sending hate mail (to Mr. Weather that is) for being so dreadful. Yesterday was so icky!

Here it goes:

Dear Mr. Weather,

I suppose you think it is very witty of you to procure such horrid weather so close to November. We should be enjoying crisp fall days, but you have us sweating. I mean really, 90 degrees? And in late October! We’re supposed to be curling up in blankets, but instead we have our fans on. I know, you just want us to pay more money to the electric companies. They bribed you didn’t they? Admit it. You sicken me. How much are you getting? Are you happy that you are ruining the joy of fall-time? Can your money ease the guilt you will carry for the rest of your life? Huh buddy? What do you have to say for yourself now? Badly done, badly done. You are a vile man and I hate you.

Yours truly,

Mrs. Jennifer Blair

Ha, hap, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I love getting dressed up. I always have. Pretending to be someone else is a ball. I am very excited that we get to do just that this Friday.

WE’RE GOING TO A HALLOWEEN PARTY! (If you can type at the top of your lungs, that’s what I just did.)

This is the first time Jonathan and I have ever dressed up together. In years past, I went home most weekends, and most of the time he had to work anyway. But that’s not the case this year! The hubs tried on his costume last night and it looks AWESOME! Mine however, need some work. The best part about dressing up (as a character) is getting to act like them. There will an accent going on for sure. Fun, fun, fun! We were definitely practicing our lines last night in front of the mirror. Don’t judge. You know you’d do it too if you were dressed up like us.

We are going to be ______. I would tell you, but if I did I’d have to kill you. I don’t want to kill you, so I will refrain for your sake. (Insert mischievous giggle here.) But don’t worry, you shall find out soon enough. If there is something special going on, rest assured that I will take pictures. Lots.

Here’s a clue about what were going to be. I love guessing games.

Where guns and swords and treasure abound, there you’ll find this lad and lass are found.

Do you know yet? Any guesses?

What's In a Name?

"What is in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."

Nay, Shakespeare. I think not my good sir. If a rose was called a “Ploofinmizer” (which is a word I just made up), I am certain it would not smell as sweet. Names are very important.

For instance, there is a town that I know of called Two Egg. I am not kidding. Can you imagine if the President of the US revealed that his home town had a name similar that? I can hear the laughter now. That name just doesn’t evoke the same prestigious air as a city such as Jamestown, Philadelphia, Jerusalem, or Rome.

Good writers will tell you that names matter as well. I am certain that Elizabeth Bennett might never have become beloved by so many if Jane Austen had given her the name Fannie Fainfeather. Or what about Sherlock Holmes? He wouldn’t seem nearly so clever if his name were John Brown. What if King Arthur, Sir Lancelot and Lady Guinevere were called King Knut, Sir Belch and Lady Bertha? Might you find them as romantic then? Ha ha! In literature names are clues to the identity of the character. You just know that Gandalf the Grey is good and that Soromon is evil by their names. How could a man named Voldermort be anything but cruel and a woman named Lilly Evans be anything short of angelic? Much is in a name.

Have you ever met someone that didn’t fit their name at all? It’s quite comical really. It would be amusing to meet a very tall model named Sally Short. (I am laughing at the mental picture in my head!)

After all that being said, you should know that I absolutely love my name.

Jennifer means “fair one” and is of Welsh origin. It is a variant of the name Guinevere, who was King Arthur’s wife in the Arthurian tales. (Which is really cool to me. I love those stories!)

Christine means “anointed” or “Christ follower” and is of Latin origin.

Blair is a famous Scottish surname, originating from the pre-9^th century Gaelic word “blar,” meaning field, plain or battlefield. There were many prominent men named “de Blair” in Scottish history.

I love that my first and last names now have Celtic origins. And in the middle I have a very “Christian” name. Call me an odd-ball, but I was really excited that Jonathan’s last name was Blair. I had always hoped that I’d marry into a good name. (Not that my maiden name is bad, just very common.) I love the way it rolls of the tongue! I feel that it fits me very well.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one that feels as such about names. Needless to say, I’m going to have an extremely hard time choosing names for our children (especially the girl’s names). Then again, Jonathan jokes that we’re going to have 4 rambunctious boys. Maybe I won’t have to worry about it after all. I like lots of Celtic boy names anyhow.

BTW, I’ll take any suggestions for elegant, somewhat uncommon girl’s names! Not that I need to worry about that for quite some time (Lord willing). I just want ideas!

Wit Wonder

I like to read when I feel like my life is boring. Sometimes I bang my head against a wall, but most of the time I read...I also might cook, clean, watch TV, go for a run, write, organize, or take pictures, but that is besides the point. Today, (which is all that matters) my life feels boring so I read. Why I felt compelled to type "witty quotes" into Google, I cannot tell you. But what I can tell you my dears is that I found some great comedic relief for my life just now. Let me share of few of them. Prepare to be amused, if you are into that kind of thing.

• If pro is opposite of con, then what is the opposite of progress?
  
  
• Every rule has an exception. Especially this one.
  
  
• Nothing is more discouraging than unappreciated sarcasm
  
  
• Hyenas laugh becasue they know what's coming next
  
  
• You win again, gravity.
  
  
• The real trouble with reality is that there's no background music.
  
  
• Sarcasm helps keep you from telling people what you really think of them.
  
  
  
  I hope you enjoyed.

Newly-wed goals (Check up)

Back in June I posted about my newly-wed goals. Well folks, it's time to weigh in and see how I'm doing.

My goals were as follows:

HOME:

1. Learn how to cook meat well (my last attempt at steak didn't turn out as well as I would have liked)

• Yay! The first goal has been successfully completed! The crock pot has come in handy for meat.

2. Try a new recipe once every 10 days

• Ok, I was good at this for a while. Life just seems so busy these days. I try a new recipe around once every 2 weeks these days.

3. Find healthy go-to meals for the Mr. and myself

• I've found some...but not nearly enough!

4. Finish sorting out all of our wedding things that are stacked in our spare room

• DONE!!!! Our spare room is finally organized and semi-decorated. I guess it is as decorated as a spare room needs to be.

5. Thank you notes.

• I've done half. Do I still get a good grade on this one? Etiquette says I've got up to a year right?

FITNESS:

1. Start my running routine again (I stopped my daily habit soon after we got engaged)

• I started running again 3 times a week. However, I've slacked off again lately. Maybe I'll run again today? No promises though.

2. Go on a bike ride every once in a while (which means getting a bike :)

• I fail this one. I still don't have a bike and I've yet to even get on a bike.

3. Drink more water

• Check. That one was easy.

FAITH:

1. Spending more time in the Word in the mornings

• I'd be lying if I said I didn't (still) struggle here. I'm up and down these days.

2. Pray for my husband and our marriage every day

• Not everyday...still working on it.

3. Pray for the ministries around me

• Better, but still not great.

4. Seek out more ministry opportunities

• God has been so good to give me opportunities to serve Him. I hope He entrusts me with more!

5. Become an encourager

• I started with my husband and I'm slowly trying to encourage the other people I'm around daily.

6. Pray for the opportunity to go overseas again soon!

• I might go to Turkey next Spring. I'm still praying about that!

FRIENDS:

1. Make some new friends in Dothan! (Lots of my good friends don't live close to me anymore. Sad day)

• YES!!! I've made more friends. I'm so thankful for them!

2. Throw a fabulous diner party complete with three courses

• Wahoo! Yes I did. I loved it. It's about time for another one as well.

3. Have a fun game night

• Jonathan and I bought Life and Clue. We played together one night if that counts. Or maybe we played at the dinner party. I don't remember.

4. Have a "girl's lunch" once every couple weeks

• Nope. I meet with 3 other girls every other Thursday though. (It's lots of fun!)

Well, I suppose it's time to make some new goals. However, I will have to think about it for a while.

Stay tuned!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

I LOVE Christmas Trees! I am so very excited to announce that our first Christmas tree came in the mail today! At first I didn't think we were going to be able to get a tree. We don't have much space and I definitely didn't want needles falling everywhere. I happened to find a gift card to Crate and Barrel left over from our wedding presents, so I went online to see what they had. To my utter delight they had this cute little tree! It is perfect for our living room!

How cute is this little guy?

I can't wait to dress it up with some homemade ornaments and such.

I'm thinking about making a cute card tree like this for the dining room.

I'm planning on make some book page ornaments like this...

And some cute sheet music boxes like this.

I was also able to get some adorable birch bark candle holders. 

I am totally loving the natural minimalist look for Christmas decorations. I want to put up a ledge near the tree to hang stockings from. To bad it's not time to decorate for Christmas yet. Oh, Christmas come soon please!

My husband has cupid's arrows

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with love for my husband. I don't know if that is normal for a newly-wed or if it will happen for the rest of my life. (I'm hoping it's the later.) Most of the time it catches me completely off guard. I'll just be driving, brushing my teeth, or working on a project. Suddenly I will think about my handsome man and then...

WHOOSH!

It hits me. I am swept up by love and transported to a perfect utopia. There's nothing like it. Everything is suddenly viewed through love colored lenses. I see nothing but the one my heart belongs to. I could be doing the most mundane task in the world, but I will feel as if I'm floating on a cloud. My heart swells like the crescendo of a symphony. My soul writes the most beautiful music, the kind that can only be heard by the one consumed by it. It is glorious rapture.

He isn't always there when it happens. But when he is, I wonder if he sees it in my eyes. I wonder if he feels the heat radiating from my bursting heart. I don't think he realizes how much he triggers it. Or maybe he stole some of cupid's arrows. Sometimes, all it takes is one small token of affection and my heart swoons. Sometimes it's only a glance.

Someone once said that the eyes are the windows of the soul. I think they were right. There are moments when my eyes meet his, I find that I see past the brown iris facade and into the the soul. There I find the essence of the man I love. There's no fear, no trying to cover up...There lies layers upon layers of the quintessence of my husband. It it is complex, intriguing and mysterious. I love to see it.

Marriage is quite a mysterious thing indeed. And I thank God for it.

Thus I end with one of my favorite sonnets about marriage and love. Props to you Shakespeare.

SONNET 16

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

That alters when in alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! It is an ever-fixed mark

It looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Who's worth's unknown, though his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved, 

 I never writ, nor no man ever loved.