Life with Gling

So this past weekend Jared and I participated in a crazy Greenville ritual…curbside pick-up. Basically it’s a day where you can throw away any random stuff that you can’t normally get rid of on trash days. I realize that most towns have days like this…but I don’t think they’re anything like Greenville. A friend reminded us of the momentous event…so we quickly planned out what things we needed to get rid of. On the top of the list was the nasty couch and recliner that the previous owners left in our basement. We somehow managed to get both of them out of the basement…and on to the curb. (The couch was a beast….even more so since it was a hideaway.) Anyway….so right as we set it down on the curb….and mini-van comes flying by with it’s side door open…and some people jump out and ask if they can take it. We quickly replied with an enthusiastic “YES”….helped them get it into the van…and watched the nasty couch drive away from our lives…forever. Someone also took the recliner in the middle of the night as well…which was fantastic. We had other stuff to get rid of…like boxes from the move and junk like that….so it’s nice to have it all gone. The best part of the whole day…were the people that slowly drove around town…all night long…scoping out the goods. I must admit, Jared and I did the same (but found no treasures). People are like obsessed with the whole event though…it’s almost like they tuck away all of their crap in their basements until spring clean up day…and then they dump it all out in front of their house. I can’t imagine having all of that stuff just stashed away for a year! Anyway…it was fabulous.

Ok…so that title makes it sound like this post is going to be creepy. I just got back from attending several senior presentations for Core 401 (our seminar course for seniors). I enjoyed the course when I was in college…so I wanted to see what the seniors came up with this year. The focus of this year’s seminar was “the fear of death.” One of the presentations I went to focused on what it would be like to loose a child…whether they were an infant, adolscent, young adult….etc. It was really touching…and I caught a few tears from eyes as I read through the research they had done. Another presentation talked about the process of grieving for those we have lost. I couldn’t stop thinking about my grandpa the entire time. Ever since he passed away (well over a year ago now)…I often find myself thinking about what his life stood for and how much his life impacted mine (sometimes without my even knowing it). I used to cry everytime I thought about how much I missed him…but now I tend to smile…because my memories of him are such happy ones. (Though I still cry everytime I hear his voice in my head…saying “Hello Miss Ginnifer”.) It’s funny how life can go on…and you don’t even realize how those around you have changed you…and are changing you. I have so many questions now…that I never thought to ask before he was gone…but even so…I’m at peace.

To end with…some words from a favorite hymn…it is well with my soul….

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Jared and I headed back to Emden/Bloomington for Easter weekend…and it was fantastic. We hadn’t been back home to visit family since the middle of January. It was so nice to get away from Greenville (even though I love it here a little more every day). We didn’t have to work on Friday….so we slept in for a bit and then got the car packed up and headed out. We took all of our kitchen cupboard doors with us too…mom wanted to start helping us get them stripped and ready for new paint. (I’m so excited to re-do our kitchen!) Dad cooked out on the grill for us that night too….while Jared worked on the doors…and mom and I took a walk around Emden. It was so refreshing to see my old town…and how absolutely nothing about it has changed. Anyway…Saturday I went to Courtney Page’s wedding shower (I’m in her wedding this June)…which was a lot of fun. It definitely made me want to get married again…to Jared of course! (I just love wedding planning….in fact, I still stop and look at bridal magazines from time to time.) That night Jared and I went over to Steven and Norma’s house for a cookout with the rest of the family…which was awesome. I hate that we live so far from family…but it’s always great when we do get to see them. Sunday we went to Easter service at Vale and then went to Grandma Cox’s for lunch…which was delicious! I ate way too much…but it was soooo worth it. So that brings us to now…we’re back in Greenville. I’m excited to start planting flowers this week…and to get started on the kitchen too. I love my house!

Happiness is……

-A night full of discovering the many joys of Tivo (and I mean MANY!)
-An hour phone conversation with my ultra-cool mom.
-A silly husband who runs around the house with a gas mask on (thanks Jake).
-Taking families on campus tours on warm spring days.
-Trying new recipes for cherry cheesecake bars.
-Poptarts
-Having my very own washer and dryer.
-Having a cat…especially one named Maxwell (even though he puked on the dining room table).
-Having our very own yard to mow (even though it’s full of twigs and dandelions).
-Nieces and Nephews
-A fluffy down comforter.
-Did I mention Tivo?!
-A new pair of contacts.
-Ripped jeans.
-Jared’s drums (even thought they’re loud…and the whole neighborhood can hear them).
-Pajama’s I’ve owned since junior high (seriously….they’re still my favorite).
-Snuggling after a long day.

….Happiness is being completely content.

So after much discussion and thought…Jared and I have decided to welcome something new into our lives. We knew it would be a big change…and we wanted to make sure the timing was right. So…we’d like to welcome our new TIVO into the world! (Ha…no babies for us…at least not yet!) We came across a fantabulous deal on TIVO’s at Best Buy yesterday…so we caved…and we bought one. I’m super excited about it though…and I can’t wait to get the darn thing hooked up. I’m pretty sure we’re going to get addicted…but who cares! Never again will I miss an Eposide of 24…or American Idol…or Househunters!

Other than that…we had a good weekend. I got a lot of cleaning around the house done…hung some curtains in the guest room…and even started staining my old desk. We bought our first lawn mower too. (Oh the joys of home ownership.) We waited in line for over an hour at Lowe’s to get our mower…so hopefully it was worth it. I can’t wait to start working on our yard…and planting flowers…and making the outside as much of a home as the inside. Our house might be little…but I love it. It’s just so nice knowing that it’s ours…and we don’t have to ask to paint the walls…or flooring…or whatever the case may be.

Anyway…I’m going to finish this up and get back to work…Adios!

As of last night….I have now completely lost faith in American Idol…