a new feat to overcome....the BIG 5K!!!

On April 26, 2008, Matt and I will be trying to overcome a huge feat in endurance, mindset, and muscle strength. We are going to run our first 5K!!

Ginghamsburg is holding a 5K run to benefit the ministry of New Path Outreach Ministry. Matt and I will be running at an early, 9 a.m. for 3.1 miles. New Path Outreach aids many families in the Miami Valley area with food, housing, furniture, transportation and much more. New Path is a United Way agency.

I'm pretty pumped about running this race. I've never ran in a race longer than one mile, so this is a huge milestone for us. We have about six weeks and counting until race day. We have a lot of ground to cover so we aren't an embarrassing site.

We've got our registration fee covered, but if anyone would like to know more about New Path, about the race, or donate to this cause and partner with us to raise funds for New Path, please message us. We'd love for you to partner in this race with us!!

The Sudan Project's running total through the Brubaker Art Barn

Running Total as of
March 13, 2008 at 12:06pm:

$ 94.45

Through my sales on juvalee13.etsy.com I have been able to sell enough custom labels to generate $94.45 in donations for the Sudan Project at Ginghamsburg Church. This is something that God laid on my heart to do through creating my custom fabric labels and also through my other pieces as well.

I've struggled with the talent of creating artwork, and also textile projects and I still struggle with it today. When you look at the artists of our time now, and also the famous ones that grace the history pages, yes they became famous, but the majority of them only became famous after they died. In my mind, I stuggle with the question of "What is the purpose if people enjoy your work after you're dead?" And at that rate you're not even guaranteed that people will like what you create after you die, they could despise it just as much when you're dead as they did when you are alive.

Artistic talent I've seen, is only appreciated by a select few of people in the world today. They aren't appreciated in my mind like bankers, lawyers, teachers, doctors. Art pieces sometimes are only seen as "pretty things". I think secretly my entire life I've desired a talent that is valued by the world. But I'm beginning to walk down the path of true appreciation.

Some verses that has helped me do this is Exodus 35:30-35:

"...Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers..."

In no way, by posting this am I trying to be boastful or arrogant. That is not the intent of my heart. I'm just excited that I've finally found a way for my pieces to be eternal. By giving to the Sudan, my artwork and the proceeds go to help save lives. For the first time in my short life, I feel like I'm making a difference, not only in the United States, not only in Sudan...but through the realm of Heaven.

big nerd...bookworm....or albert einstein?

Matt and I were talking the other day on the car ride to my parents about how others may view me. The sun was shining sooo brightly, even though the ground was blanketed with snow. The heater in the car was on full blast, despite the objections of the driver. And it was a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I brought up the topic of my characteristics, the things I enjoy doing, and how others may view me because of my personality. I started to list some things that I enjoy doing and on paper, may disguise me as:

1.an old lady trying to occupy my time
2.a child who just can't put a book down
3. or someone without a life, and tries to fill up her life with things to do.
4. or someone that's really cool that has an exciting private life, and thinks others are missing out.

Now before you start objecting, or agreeing....let me tell you the list of things that I enjoying doing. Be warned, they may sound odd. But I like them.

1. cross stitching
2. reading
3. finding new crafts to try out
4. scrapbooking
5. knitting until my shoulders get too tight and I can't feel my biceps and triceps
6. making unique cards and notes from the mounds of scrap paper I won't dare throw away.
7.looking for houses online...and not just any kind of houses...ones that have CHARACTER. Builders nowadays just don't seem to grasp that concept anymore. I think it's slipped out of their vocabulary.
8.hanging out with my dog, enjoying our many conversations, even if it is only a wag of the tail, and a tilt of the head.
9.reading and more reading
10.riding my bike with my basket on the front

Now, please let me explain!! I know that I may sound like the dullest, insecure person who doesn't have a life!! But I think my life is pretty exciting despite the fact of how it may appear. I LOVE to read. The other day a friend asked why Matt and I walked to the library. I just looked at her completely stunned. It was as if she had never heard of a library before and if she had, was completely unaware of the treasure it holds. Think about it, really think about. Look at all those books. Each telling a different story. When you read, it opens up your imagination. It allows you to go places that others aren't going. Even thought Matt and I don't have a whole lot of money to travel to distant places, I'm going to a new place everytime I sit down with my coffee on the couch, my familiar pillow behind my head, and my fleece blanket tucked under my feet. I'm going somewhere YOU aren't going. I'm traveling alot!!

Knitting and cross-stitch you say?! Love it! I love creating things that were never there before. I've already created over 3 large cross-stitch images (over 8" x 10") and I hope to create more in the near future. I'm working on one of a Sudanes girl and I hope at the auction at Ginghamsburg this Christmas it will raise alot of money for The Sudan Project. It may be considered a "lost" or "old folks" craft, but I think I'm changing lives by it. The money from the selling of the picture could save someone's life.

I may be boring, an old fuddyduddy, but I find my life exciting. Some days I get really down on myself, the frustrations and hurts that are in our lives currently. But I'm makin it one stitch at a time, one page after another. Life really is exciting!

...protesters...

Just a couple of weeks ago, on Saturday February 03, 2008, Matthew and I witness something that was so humbling and awe inspiring just outside of our apartment.

I'm sure you have all seen it on the news. Maria Lauterbach. A fallen Marine at the hands of another. Her life taken by someone who didn't value her life like it should of been valued.

That Saturday morning, we watched out of our window, in the early morning in our pjs, the procession of Maria. It was dreary, gray skies. Quite fitting for a funeral.

The previous days leading up to her funeral, we head many rumors of individuals coming from Kansas to protest. We saw police cars much more frequently, which is quite shocking because we live next to the police station. We were rerouted to our apt by several other roads to avoid congestion. There were barracades at the end of our street.

I was particularly disturbed on our way to shopping the Thursday of her viewing. St.Christophers Church is at the end of our road, and joins on the other side to Interstate 75. We were approaching 75 that night, and there at the church were many tv stations, new reporters, and sky high attenta towers capturing every moment. Matt and I took some time to talk about what we had just saw. I thought of her family, her friends, those that knew her in some form or another. I thought of what they might be thinking seeing their dear friend Maria, being broadcast all over the country, her life, her mistakes, her families grief, and the way that she died. All I could do was stare in disbelief. Why is the media so interested in the grief of others, and what is wrong with me that I actually listen? The more I thought of this, the more I looked back over the funerals that I have attented of those that were so close to me. I didn't see cameras. Nothing was broadcasted. I was able to grieve and remember in peace. Why didn't we give that to them?

But back to that Saturday morning. It was a sombering sight. A trail of motorcyclists, aptly named the Patriot Guard, followed the hearse, guarding her body with everything they had. They proudly waved the American flag, showing their support for the American Military. Following were the family and friends that loved her so dearly. It took me back to my grandfathers funeral. He served in the military, he fought for America, was wounded, and received a purple heart for his efforts. I was six when he passed away and I remember so clearly, like it was yesterday, hearing the 21 gun salute. At first it scared me, because at the time I didn't know what it meant, or why they were doing it. I saw the armed men fully dressed in uniform carrying their guns. But I didn't know what they were doing. While the shots were being set off, all I could do was cry. Every funeral after this, when I hear those shots, I cry. Even if I didn't know the person very well. ... It's a final salute, a final goodbye full of honor and respect.

But later, I read in the newpaper of the protesters across the street from the church. Matt and I hadn't went out that morning, so we didn't see them. But the things that I read and saw on the news infuriated me.

Members of a fundamentalist Kansas church, standing out in the freezing cold with horrific signs stood looking at the attenders, screaming insults and hate across the street. They believe that it is their duty to protest military funerals out of the belief that the war in Iraq is punishment for the nation’s tolerance of homosexuality. It just doesn't make sense to me.

It reminds me of a book that I read a couple of years ago. In the book Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, he talks about his church in Michigan. He started to hear from others and notice himself that in their parking lot, cars were having difficulty leaving in an orderly manner. Some in his congregation were swearing and giving each other the finger in the parking lot right after the sermon. A couple of Sundays later, Rob got up in front of his church and said (paraphrasing). "If you can't act like Jesus in your own church's parking lot, we'd rather you not attend here. If you aren't going to try to live out the call of Jesus right outside of your church, please do not come back. You're ruining it for the rest of us."

Those protesters were exercising their right to free speech, even though it was disregarding the people who made it possible for everyone to have that free speech. But I wonder what Jesus thought of their actions. We all make mistakes, we all do things that grieve Jesus. But I wonder how Jesus feels when people like those protesters feel that it is their right to tell others that Jesus hates them for who they are. How does He feel when people attach his Holy name to things like this?

I thought of all the people that drove by these protesters getting on the highway. Did they see them and know that they were from a church, and catagorize other Christians as being like this too? Do I ruin the reputation of Jesus as well by my actions?

Stop ruining it for the rest of us....live the call of Jesus, love as Jesus loves.

....fun on a saturday night....

Last Saturday night, our great friends Faye and Scarlet were in town from the great university of BG. A time like this is not something that you pass up.

You see you have to understand these girls, the relationship that we had with them their freshman year, and our junior year in college at Bowling Green State University. I remember the day that I met Faye so clearly it's like it was yesterday. It was Tuesday night, in the Student Union, 8:00pm to be exact. We were at our fusion group with H2O. I remember seeing Faye come in with her Piqua tie dyed shirt on. She had spiky blond hair and she just looked FUN! Matt and I went up after the group and introduced ourselves, and soon after that Thursday night cards were a norm. We went to her dorm in Founders to pick her up, trying so desperately to avoid her moody roommate who partied way too much and had a deep obsession with Orlando Bloom. (which Matt ruined her poster by putting a bow on his "gorgeous face", which ultimately got ripped in her fit of rage as she plucked it off his nose). We would then go the Matts(seriosuly 3 of them) and Andrew's apt to play cards. Play good ol "Hand and Foot'. Those were the days way to many people crammed in a way too small apartment with windows opened in the dead of winter, with the ring leader, Faye, teaching everyone how to play cards....

Last weekend we went up to her parents house, rocked it out on Guitar Hero!!! ate dinner, took this amazing picture, and then relived old memories of Hand and Foot, laughing continuously. I'm surprised her parents didn't kick us out! :)

I love these pictures of Matt and I. For one of her projects at BG Faye, had to do a reverse engineering project and we were her ready and willing subjects!! She had to do the cover of "A Lot Like Love" and we tried desperetly to be Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet. Let me tell you, we don't look anything like them!!! We had a lot of laughs, wide eyed grins from Matthew,
teradactle fingers from me, and pee your pants funny from Scarlet trying to steady the bright spot light of a lamp.

I love this picture so much, I'm gonna have it framed. Whenever I saw this movie and saw the cover, I really didn't relate Matt and I to this couple. We don't when it comes to the story line, but the pictures on the cover encapsulate the love that we have for one anohter. One that can laugh together, show love to one another, be silly together, and show our crazy side to anyone who's willing to do anything to have a good laugh.

Thanks for capturing that side of us on film Faye...