TAG!!! I'm it.

I was tagged in this super fun game by Kately at Inner Vision. Go check out her blog and give her some love. She's awesome!

11 random facts about MOI
1. I can't whistle. 
2. I have to dunk all my cereal pieces underneath the milk before taking a bite. I take this very seriously.
3. I'm obsessive about my handwriting. Sometimes I practice when I'm bored =)
4. Nail files make me crazy. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard bad. I'm getting shivers just thinking about them.
5. I got to be baptized and married by my daddy.
6. I was homeschooled until 8th grade. I still have very little social skills and cannot match my clothes because of this experience =)
7. I've never worn lipstick in my life until Christmas Day of this year. 
8. I can't even do a cartwheel.
9. My favorite food is vanilla pudding.
10. Nicknames I've had throughout my life: Nutmeg, Little M, Speedy, Ritz, Penny, Flava.
11. Nate and I never dated before we found each other =) Once I found someone as weird as I am, I knew I couldn't let him go!!

1. What is your favorite piece of clothing?
Definitely a black, basketball hoodie that I've had since my freshman year of highschool. I will seriously wear it probably upwards of 3x per week. I'm even committed to it in the summer, that's how attached we are. Paired with skinny jeans and chucks...Mhhhhmmm.

2. What was the last thing that made you laugh so hard you cried and/or couldn't breathe?
My husband and I were playing a really stupid game and he practically read my mind and guessed exactly the random thought in my head. I was so shocked I screamed "OH MY GOSH!!". Nate was driving at the time and both his hands flew to the wheel and he yelled back "What? What's wrong?", while waving his head to see the imminent danger. It was so incredibly funny I couldn't breathe for a good minute and had to fight not to pee my pants. 3. If I came to your house and looked in your fridge, what would I find?
Hmm...lots of milk and cheese =) I love cereal, so a stock up on milk is a necessity, and my husband got 3lbs of  Muenster cheese for Christmas from Grandpa's Cheese Barn in Ashland, OH. Seriously, check it out! 4. What is the one accomplishment you are most proud of?
Good question. Probably winning the Most Improved Player on my college basketball team. While at first I thought this may mean that I simply sucked more than everyone else at the beginning of the year (Which is still probably true), I've come to cherish what that award says about my work ethic versus my athletic ability, my dedication versus my jump shot. It's one of the only plaques I still have. 5. Who has been the biggest influence in your life thus far?
WOW. This is a hard one. It's so hard to narrow down the many super influences God had placed in my life, but I'm going to go with my momma. She's laid an example for me of selfless service and just plain ridiculous love that I could only hope to emulate. 6. If you were given one million dollars to donate to any charity, which one would you donate to?
It sounds cocky to say CRU because that's who I work for, but I would want an organization who provides physical needs for people, but equally emphasizes spreading the gospel.
7. What is the last book you read?
Prodigal God by Tim Keller. READ THIS. That's an order...well, not really an order, just a forceful suggestion =)  8. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
Well, if Tyler Perry is booked, then I'm gonna go with Tina Fey. She can be super funny while also being extremely awkward which is basically my life. 9. What is your favorite personal quality?
I love my ability to encourage people. Making people smile is probably the best thing ever. Also, my awesome mustache.

 10. How do you spend your free time?
I blog stalk, play games, take pictures, and eat. I'm pretty well-rounded. 11. If money was not an object, where would you take a one month vacation?
Denmark, hands down. My sister, Lene, lives there and I would really really really love to see her face.

Sometimes....

It's hard for me to motivate myself to do the dishes. I seriously can look at them for days (Don't tell my mom).


I'm reminded of how much I love the game of basketball. Every time I step on the court it just feels right, you know? It's a love affair that began when I was 4 years old. 


I feel self-conscious when I wear dresses. I got a badonkadonk that I would much rather hide in sweatpants (TMI, mmmkay). It takes courage to dress up...my confidence is getting there =)


I am mildly dishonest when I try to get in as a student, aka fo free, to Mount basketball games. They probably look at me and think I look to young to be a college student.


I can't imagine a world without  My sexy husband, Nate.

Source

I'm surprised that I still am so competitive with my husband. The other night we argued about who could come up with the worst pet name for the other - - Mine, cuddly salamander, was OBVIOUSLY a clear winner. We're ridiculous.

I get a little too easily wrapped up in The Office marathons. I could watch it all.day.long. 

Source

I indulge in guilty pleasures like Vanilla Chai Lattes from Starbucks. It's like heaven in a cardboard cozy.


I wish all things in life were as wonderful as seeing someone come to know Jesus. Surreal bliss.

I found this at Christa Jae's blog and thought I would follow along. Just copy the bolded prompts and fill in your answers. Leave your blog name in the comments...I would love to read your thoughts!!

WORST. NIGHT. EVER.

They say, "Nothing good every happens after midnight."

Well, I'm writing this post at 4:00 am, so you know it's not going to be good. Also, disclaimer. There will be no butterflies, cotton candy, unicorns or any other good, happy things in this post. Feel free to run away now.

Well, you can follow me and then run away if you like =)

So here goes...

I just woke up from the worst dream I've ever had. One of those 'Inception' type dreams where you wake up and you're not completely sure what reality actually is at the moment. Where you wake up exhausted, feeling like your body just exerted every emotion you have in some alternate reality.

I had a dream that my husband died. But the madness didn't stop there. In my dream I came back to my empty house, alone. I hated God with every inch of my being. I was furious and told myself that I would never love him again. I got into my bed and lamented that no one lay beside me. I wept. I shouted. I grieved.

It was so real, so very very real. I find myself still emotional, almost an hour later.

When I woke up, I just held on to Nate for dear life, trying to remember that he was there. Present. Lying next to me.

Then God started talking to me.

I'm not here to sit in judgment and say that if this tragedy occurred that I wouldn't be devastated.

But here's what God brought to light for me:

Am I really loving God first and Nate second? Who am I going to when my identity needs reaffirmed, my Savior or my husband? When doubts arise, who's truth am I leaning on?  Who is my portion? My strength?

It is sooo easy for me to slip into a lifestyle of making Nate my idol - the thing I place the most value in, above my Jesus. When this happens, things begin to fall apart. I can't love God OR love Nate like I was meant to love and serve him.

C.S. Lewis once said, 

When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.

So this is what I'm taking out of this horrible night. At 4:00am on January 19, 2012, I am putting Christ back on the throne of my life. I am putting my faith, my trust, my hopes and fears, and my identity in HIM alone. I will treasure the gift that He has given me in my husband, but will not expect Nate to be my Savior, and will not cheapen our marriage by making him and our relationship an idol in my life.

I am fully aware that I may have to make this decision again even tonight before I fall back asleep. I may have to make it 100 times even tomorrow.

But the joy, I believe, is in making it.

JOY.

Joy has never been something that I've had to work hard at. My personality is one that delights in the little and searches for ways to make others smile.

I'm annoyingly bubbly. Like, seriously.

But lately it hasn't come naturally. At all. I've found this critical spirit creeping around my heart. Stealing my joy.

When people come to my mind I'm no longer soaked with empathy and compassion, but judgment.

This has got to stop. It's exhausting. And I'm tired.

I'm tired of being critical, of the negativity; the sharpness of it all. I want my words to uplift, my mind to focus on the positive.

I want to be joyous. I want to inspire joy in others.

Maybe I won't be blessed with a nature that effortlessly is joyous, that's fine. I can always choose to put on joy. Each day. Just like deodorant - essential yet easily overlooked. =)

Source

Reckless Grace

Right now I'm beginning a book called Prodigal God by Tim Keller.

This quote grabbed my heart. It has been in the front of my mind all afternoon:

So many times I forget about this RECKLESS grace. It becomes this nice cliche that is easy to wrap my mind around. God has paid an expense so great for ME. For my ugly and broken heart to have an avenue to enter relationship with Him. He paid a debt so great, opening Himself up to rejection, abandonment, scorn for my love....something that He does not need to make Him whole, but chooses.

Let us never forget the GREAT and RECKLESS aspects of grace. Let us never try to fit this into our small boxes of easily understandable concepts, but continue to allow this to just freakin' blow our minds. 

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Every Day I'm Shufflin'

Shuffleboarding that is.

Seriously. I heard that this game is mainly for old people. Well, I'm here to tell you that this game is for AWESOME people. It's so fun.

I played this with Nate's two brothers and Nana, our 92 year old, Jalapeno eating, crocheting wizard of a great-grandma, as our scorekeeper.

She's so funny and super spumky. I've been told that she had some former glory days shuffleboarding. Does not surprise me at all. I think Mennonites have an extra edge genetically. Just a theory.

I'm currently looking for some courts in Northeast Ohio. Gotta get my fix.

Linking up with Little Miss Nerd Girl as well.

Through the Fog // Project 52

I'm so excited to be joining this community of kind of real photographers at My 3 Boybarians. I'm wayy out of my league with these ladies but I'm pumped to have this challenge keeping me clicking my little camera on a more regular basis.

This week's challenge was to photograph something that represented the word "Resolution'. 

I was toying with a couple of ideas and then my brother-in-law, Josh told me about this super pretty hill to take pictures from. I sacrificed some extra sleep and traipsed over in my flannel pajama pants (never leave home without them), and flip-flops (thank you Florida temperatures!!) this morning.

SO worth it.

I got up to the hill about 15 minutes before sun up. It was so foggy that you could hardly see anything down below. I sat down on this bench and began to talk to the Lord.

I thought about how, although I came to capture the sunrise- the newness and refreshing nature of a new year- what I needed to photograph was the very thing I could see at that moment. I needed to photograph what preceded the sun. 

I was there to capture the fog.

I really have no idea what is going to happen this year. What highs or lows will come into my life. My resolutions, words I want to describe my year, are going to play out in so many different ways that honestly, I couldn't even fathom a guess at right now. I can't imagine what God is going to bring me to and through in the course of the next 365 days.

As I sat there, I prayed through the fog. I asked God to use me in great ways this year, even if I can't see them now. I asked him to increase my faith - in the fog.

Are you 'useable' in the foggy times in life? The times where you can't see a hand in front of your face, much less your destination. The times that feel like all clarity is lost. Are you relying on God to bring clarity, goodness, to bring sunshine out of your fog?

New resolution: 

Embrace the fog.

Enjoy the sunshine.

I'm Sexy & I Know It.

First of all, confession- I love this song. Seriously, I don't know why. I first heard it in the car when I was driving by myself. I came home to tell Nate that I heard this sick song and when he asked how it went my reply went something along the lines of

"Rap, rap, rap, I'm sexy and I know it. I work ooouutttt. Rap, rap, rap" [And yes I actually said the words "rap"]

I'm thug. No big deal.

So, sticking with my confidence theme, and because I'm in Florida which tricks me into thinking that everything is a good idea because it's so sunny and stinkin' beautiful outside, I'm sharing this very embarrassing video.

This is me playing a super fun, highly ridiculous game with my director at Steak n' Shake. He's actually on the other side of the table - unseen from the camera. Smart man.
There was no alcohol involved although it was fairly late at night. 

So I guess there's no excuse. Sad story =)

Hope this brightens your day...or at least makes you grateful you're husband doesn't videotape you're awkardness!

Skipping Resolutions

HELLO! I've been gone a long time - nearly a month. I feel more refreshed and inspired in this little blog world. Pumped for what the year holds here in this space. Praying for it to be used to God's glory.

Source: ffffound.com via Amy on Pinterest

Instead of resolutions that I may keep for a month and then do so completely the opposite that any impact from the said resolution was negated (weird sentence anyone?), I decided to use 12 words/statements that I want to describe my year.

1. Savor

2. Sacrifice

3. Uncomfortable

4. Service

Source: Uploaded by user via Amy on Pinterest

5. Stellar - - aka SEXY.

6. Embrace

7. Completion

8. Confident

Source: becauseitsawesome.blogspot.com via Shaunna on Pinterest

9. Faithful
10. Create

11. Intimate

12. Stretching

Source: imgfave.com via Shaunna on Pinterest

Schwhat to ya'll think? It's gonna be a great year...I can feel it. Although, I did just eat homemade ice cream so pretty much anything sounds good right at this moment in time. Well, besides lima beans. 

I. HATE. LIMA BEANS.

Have a lovely day, friends.