Ryan, if you're reading this, STOP

Today has arrived! As the Song of Solomon puts it, it's "the day of the gladness of my heart." Indeed!

I went to bed at a reasonable hour, and would like to have slept to a reasonable hour, but... my happy heart and whirring mind combined are enough to overcome all sleepiness. I'm getting married today!!

For those of you who can't join to worship with us in the flesh, please DO join us in spirit, praying for God's name to be joyfully, sweetly, gladly glorified today-- in our ceremony, in the way we take pictures, in the way we act before, during and after... The rehearsal last night was so much fun, and a blessing to me-- I have been so blessed! Walking down the aisle on my Father's arm to happy make-me-wanna-dance music towards a wall of beaming beloved faces, with one ESPECIALLY happy face dominating my view...wow. I can't wait to do the real thing tonight!

And for those of you who can't be there, this is a little like what I'll look like! (Except happier!!!)

for the last time online as such,

--Christina Maria Thompson... =D
P.S. here are more pics

In light of the previous post...

Beautiful Babies!

So many of my friends are rejoicing over new ones! I thought I'd share the joy, and give God some more glory for the intense cuteness He creates! =D


There's Ethan Gill, whose parents are quite good with the camera. He was born a good 2 months ago, so has made his appearance at Immanuel, and also has lots of cute pictures online! This one is pretty recent, and pretty cute. =D

My friends Matt & Mary Scott Foreman welcomed William Cullen (Liam) on July 29, 2007. He definitely already looks like Matt. I don't have any more recent pics than the one they sent announcing his arrival, but I can already tell that! (And I just want to say right now that I have liked the name 'Liam' for a VERY long time...)

Congrats to Ryan's landlords (and our friends/church fellows), J. C. and Randi Tyson, on their son Isaiah's birth. Ryan & I got to hold him and let him suck on our fingers. He's got some pretty strong jaw muscles, let me tell you!

He was born about 2 weeks ago, I think... date, anyone?

Ellie Grace Timmons (my very cute 2 year old neighbor) has a new sister, Lydia, and we've enjoyed her for the past 2 months...but I don't have any pictures of her! :( And friends from Grace, Jason & Julie Staples, just had baby Kayleigh on August 4th. Only 2 babies born at GBC, and about 22 born/expected at IBC. That's a lot of babies. I think the next one will be Jillian Preston: she's due on our wedding day!!

And last but certainly not least, my friends Rachel & Aaron Selph brought home Phoebe Caroline, born July 26, 2007. I just got to meet her yesterday afternoon! Her life is being well- documented electronically, but of all the pics I've seen of her, I think these two capture "her look" best. Look at that mouth-- those are totally "Rachel's lips!" She is a very pretty little baby.
And Caleb only adds to the overall cuteness with his big-brother attentions.



Enjoy!
--Christina
ps. 3 more days...

Big Questions, Maybe Ordinary Answers...

Some of you have asked about "what it's like being engaged and not long-distance," and others want to hear what it's like being so close to marriage. I haven't said much about my thought life or emotional journeys since moving to Louisville. That doesn't mean they've been boring or non-existent. Ryan & I have enjoyed & benefitted from the pre-marital counseling we've gotten to do with our pastor, Ryan Fullerton, and his wife, Christy. It was good for me to get to know them more personally, especially since they already knew Ryan so well.

The second counseling session, where we talked about "visions," which Ryan & I had asked for help in working out, was probably our hardest one. Ryan & Christy urged us to have ONE vision as a family, and the pattern in Scripture is for the husband to set that vision (with his wife's happiness very much in mind!) and the wife to follow it whole-heartedly with him. After the session, Ryan & I had a pretty intense talk... sitting on Glen & Bethany's backsteps, ocassionally awed by the grossness of the beetles & roaches teeming out there. That, and similar conversations were themselves rooted in internal questions. For me, it meant a lot of searching, wanting to make sure this really is what God wants, that I really am willing to surrender any dreams to be handled by this man, to let God make me useful in perhaps a way I didn't anticipate. My desire for marriage has been to be more effective in Kingdom-building than I could/can be alone. The last independent choice I’ll make is to whom I’ll choose to surrender my choice-making… I'll let you "listen in" on my prayers, thoughts, and final resolution.

It was that question—“Can I submit cheerfully, God-glorifyingly, to this man?”—that kept me saying “No” to several wonderful men who asked to date me, for 4 years. When Ryan came along again that question was the filter. To my delight, there was no reason to say ‘no’ to him! When we talked about them, we had similar life-goals— to advance the Kingdom, to be useful to serve His Church. We had similar desires, even: ministry, especially towards children, quite likely ministry amidst poverty. In our friendship, we served together often, I loved the heart I saw (and still see) ministering particularly to children. So why the agonizing questions now? Am I just doubting everything the last month before marriage because, well, it’s the last month before marriage? I think partly yes. Marriage isn’t reversible. It’s like the Anglican wedding service states: “marriage is not to be entered unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purpose for which it was instituted by God.” But partly, I was afraid—did Ryan still have those same desires that I thought he did? Will marrying him bind me to follow a path that leads me to abandon all my dreams? Is that most pleasing to God?

A passage Christy Fullerton read in our session has stuck with me as a good sort of goal verse. It's describing the widow that the church wants to support, so I guess it's a good model for the young non-widow to have: "Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. [ ...] So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander." (1 Tim 5: 6, 9-10, 14) It's a very home-centered, everyday sort of obedience He seems to want from me. (see below entry on Margaret Paton) Ryan F. interprets 1 Tim 2:15 ("Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.") to mean that the context of sanctification for most women is meant to be their home! Where you need more faith, love and self-control than in dealing with kids & household demands 24-7, I have no idea! I see that in experience, certainly, and reading over it I don’t think it’s a distortion of the text. It makes a lot of sense, actually.

I wonder if God hasn’t been preparing me to come to this conclusion for the past two months, leading me to read Margaret Paton, and sticking lines from John Piper’s sermon on Ruth in my head: “Knowing how to connect everyday ‘ordinary’ obedience to Glory has radical implications for your Monday morning.” Unglamorous, normal solving of marital conflict, caring for small children and cooking of extra food for guests seems to be quite pleasing to my Father; quite Kingdom-advancing and Church-useful.

So that was sort of a long way of saying that I know my nursing and foreign-mission and adoption and foster-parenting dreams are all just that: dreams. They are God-given desires to express deeper God-given desires to nurture and share Hope with the hurting and lost, and He is pleased with those I know! BUT...they may not bear fruit the ways I sort of foresaw them doing. The putting away of the fulfillments I’d planned/envisioned feels a lot like putting a knife to Isaac’s throat. They’re all dreams I’ve nurtured for years. BUT after those good searching talks with Ryan, and after hearing him read the "Short and Long-Term Vision" Ryan had to write as a counseling assignment, I can step forward in faith by marrying Ryan, knowing that we are on the same page as far as dreams and desires go, and trusting that as he leads us as a family, he'll be trying to honor God, and love me as well as he can. That may well (likely, even) mean no nursing school for me-- not for quite a while at least, maybe never. It may mean staying in Louisville to learn and serve here for quite a good bit of our lives. It may mean home-schooling my children in Indonesia for years. Neither of us really knows, and I guess we never can, for all our planning.

When it comes down to it, I want to marry Ryan. He has won my heart time after time in the past year. I admire his character, and his leadership as he grows in it. I love him. I know he wants me to be happy, and he knows that’s found in me being holy. He struggles to be more holy himself. He serves me, bears with me, is kind to me—in three words, he loves me. My family approves of him, my closest friends advise me towards him, our pastors recommend him. How can I not want to entrust myself to a man like that? If it is no disobedience for me to marry Ryan Szrama, and I find nothing in Scripture that would indicate it would be, then I will choose to work out my salvation by his side, trusting Him to lead him to lead me.

...and let me just say that I can't WAIT!! ...10 more days...
--Christina

I can completely understand...

When was the last time normalcy made you cry? Probably the last time after it hadn't been normal to you. I read this article and could identify VERY readily.

When we were in Italy, and we'd arrive at a restaurant that served gluten-free ANYTHING, I'd about cry. Those of you who were with me can attest to that.

Eating is a gift, not to be taken for granted.

"So whether you eat, or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

--Christina, who WILL be having gluten-free wedding cake! =D

Showers of Blessing

Here are some pictures from the shower my home church, Grace Baptist of Taylors, and Tia Olga threw for Ryan & I this weekend. The womenfolk of Ryan's family all came down (or up, depending on where they live normally); his grandmother Martha Presley, his Mom Tamara, his sister Courtney, his Aunt Karen, and his cousin Kelly (Kasey couldn't make it). My maternal grandmother, Lulu (aka Mama Lulu) came as well, and of course the Greenville Tias came-- Olga & Sylvia. It was the first time the grandmothers met, as well as some of the other family members. It was also the long-awaited first time Ryan met my sister Nicole's boyfriend, Colin-- they've been hearing about each other for months now, lol. Though, Colin, i don't think the gift you let Nicole put your name on made the best impression... since when is Sense & Sensibility a guy movie? ;D

I can go on and on about how wonderful the whole weekend was, and I probably WILL eventually, ...I mean, my family really outdid themselves, and so many sweet memories were made... but I HAVE to get these lesson plans started, so I'll post these pictures to appease some of you clamoring for updates, as a temporary/intermediate fix.

The plans for teaching the very DAY after we get back from our honeymoon daunt me a little. I was wanting to be made more to feel my dependance on, even my desperate need for Divine Grace... I think this is an answer to those prayers!

Love and grace,

--Christina

The Two Sets of "Tony & Angie"s

I realized I have pictures of both of them, so y'all can see them!

The Hepp variety
Ryan knew Tony through Cross of Calvary Baptist in Corydon, IN. We ate sushi with them last week. Tony just graduated from Southern & they'll be moving to Texas on August 18th...sadly for us!

The Taylor Variety (married on May 5th!)
They're members at Immanuel with us, and we have Bible Study on Thursdays at their house. Ryan usually dresses up for the occasion, as the following picture will show

(sporting Tony's daughter Destiny's, nicknamed Nini (aged 4), hair tie. He thought he knew how to 'work' them, but didn't really. So Angie & I showed him how it was done.)

Side By Side Living

Well, I've been told by many that I need to update, and I've even wanted to myself! What's kept me has chiefly been the inexplicable aversion of this particular computer to blogger. I don't understand it, but it takes usually 3-4 tries, often with several minutes of blank screen at a time, for the editing pages to load, and I've gone whole hours, attempting multiple times, to no avail. Sometimes the pages just won't load. Thankfully, posting original entries is easier than editing older ones, so at least this should work. It's not that I've been too busy to post, per se, it's more that if I have to choose how I'm going to spend a 2 hour chunk of time, with a wedding, ensuing marriage, new teaching jobs, and buying & adorning of a home all bearing in on me in less than a month, there are other things that quickly take priority.

So, how's life been as in-state fiances? Well, it's been life. =D Some of it has been great. Let me list some highlights: sushi at our friends Tony & Angie Hepp's place (I rolled my own for the first time, and Ryan tried it all, even finding he liked the roll containing raw tuna the best!); Bible Study on Thursdays at Tony & Angie Taylor's (I know, two couples with the same names); a Sunday afternoon spent working together on VBS laminating, coloring & cutting; reading Harry Potter 7 out loud to each other, a chapter at a time; the weekly ritual of me bringing him lunch at work (on our 1-year anniversary, I surprised him with a scrapbook of 'Our Story' and take-out from the Kashmir, where we had our first date if you recall-- another time I managed to drop my entire soup bowl upside-down, lol); church small group every other Sunday evening; the Church Wedding Shower hosted by Jillian & Brian Preston for us last Sunday-- we sat out in Shelby Park, and ate BBQ and even gluten-free hamburger buns for me (made my day); evenings talking with Glen & Bethany (the couple I live with), and often laughing very hard at Glen; Sunday lunches with a whole motley crew around our "table" (we have to sit in the living room cause the kitchen table only seats 4), with a large percentage of the food being consumed by Rob Smythe (a favorite tag-along in my mind); watching Transformers with Lyle, Ryan's work buddy, and Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix with Ashlea, my roomie from last summer; Q'dobas and Moes meals; strolling through the mall hand-in-hand, looking for wedding bands or a queen-sized bed; the increasingly frequent spells when Ryan cracks me up and I can't stop laughing, no matter how much it hurts! (then he starts laughing at me, which makes me start up all over again) He's gotten a technique down pat called 'Seductive Eating'-- guys, never, ever try seducing ANYONE with it. I also must mention David Devasto's week-long visit last week. In his honor we had quite a number of great times, including our Dairy-Del ritual. Dave was with us that fateful day last summer when I first met Ryan, and when Ben Hedrick dared me to eat...well, you know. Anyway this year, Sarah, Karis (now a very cute 1-year old), and Ben joined Ryan, Dave, John Letoto & myself one night after VBS. Before we arrived, Bed told the servers to give me, no matter what I ordered, another bubble-gum-covered-chocolate-cone. They did, to my utter astonishment, and everyone's laughter. It was as gross as I remembered it, but this time, I just fed the coating (aka gross part) to Karis, who loved it.

So, to sum it all up... living near Ryan is wonderful, AND it also gives us opportunities to practice forgiveness and forbearance like you wouldn't believe. We're now in the same local community of faith, and part of the package is friction. I'm quite the sinner (I know you're shocked, right hehehe). We've had to learn how to relate to each other in a group all over again, had to address questions of teasing and what a united front means, and how we show respect for each other all the time. We've had to (and still are) grow in bearing with daily annoyances and grievances, which has led to lots of confession of sin and forgiveness. Glen & Bethany really have encouraged us in this; we're trying to take into account each other's family's 'culture'-- how things were handled, and what was expected in our different families growing up. We're learning that the "one-flesh" marital unity doesn't come by becoming clones of one another, but rather by each becoming more and more united to Christ, so as a part of that we're trying to be more diligent in encouraging one another towards Him. There have been some hard conversations, some real soul-searching, and even crying. But it's all been in a context that makes the overall taste so sweet that I wouldn't trade it for anything. We've discovered that we'd much rather talk than not! So this week we've tried to make time to just talk, to just be together.

Pre-marital counseling has been really good, and it's led to some good conversations. [I have much more to say about that.] This past week wedding prep has picked back up, and today actually felt a little overwhelming, especially in relation to the work I have to be doing getting ready for school next year. I'll start teaching the day after we get back from our honeymoon! So I have to be READY, and 2 weeks ahead of time, because I won't be thinking about lesson plans on the honeymoon, let me tell you that!

Well, packing must be done. We'll only be in Greenville 2 nights, and my sisters have way cuter clothes than I do anyway, so I'm not too worried. =D Like I said, I've got more to say about pre-marital counseling, and also about my own spiritual state & growth. There's lots of thoughts, as always. I just finished CS Lewis' A Grief Observed if that gives you any hint as to the direction of some of my musings of late. Also working on The Moon By Night (Madeleine L'Engle) and The Sacred Marriage, as well as Margaret Paton's Letters from the South Seas (so encouraging!).

Loved and with love,
~Christina

A Walk in Shelby Park

Shueys.

Summer.

Shelby Park.

Sarah, excited and happy and free.


Crazy Paton (we say "Sina's getting walked by the dog").

John, lagging behind with "his hobo bag"

Jenna faces...Jenna feet...

Jenna in General.

Juice cups.

Morgan half grown-up.



John's swordfighting leaps.

Baby Abigail, sleeping safe & warm like every baby should.

These are the moments I savor like summer watermelon-- slices of sweet, hot days.

My New Room

Behold my setup at 719 Gwendolyn Street, upstairs front bedroom. :)

Bethany [Moore] had it set up in a blue and brown color scheme, which suited me just fine. ...the only challenge has been integrating frames and decorations from a green-and-purple scheme. I just plain couldn't use some stuff. lol as if I needed any more frames out! I had fun rotating pics, and figuring out how best to arrange them all. The other night I stayed up WAY too late doing that. Those of you who recently saw my room back in Greenville may be able to tell which pictures are differently framed, or are new! :)

View upon entering. The windows provide a lovely light. It's quite a large room, too!

As before, the nightstand is the place for Ryan's Shrine.
(Notice the sweet card & flowers he had to welcome me home!)

The view from by the bed. The table & stools are gift from Dave & Sina [Shuey], who recently bought a bigger kitchen table, so now all 5 of them can fit around it! :)

My closet and 2nd nightstand-- another gift from Dave & Sina. I'm rather proud of the organization of my closet. Things fit rather nicely. And I just did my first load of Louisville-dirtied laundry today.

The view of Shelby Park ("the park") from my window. 5 mornings a week I start out my day running there, sometimes accompanied by Sina. See how close it is? And the church is only a block to the right. I cut through the back yard, an then through Mark & Libbie Timmons' yard, directly behind us, then cross the street (Oak St.-- where Dave & Sina live), and pass 5 houses, for a 2 minute commute to church. It's great!

Home Sweet Szrama Home

As per Ashley's request, some pictures of what may soon be the Szrama home! It's still being renovated, but the inspection went well, and the owner's agreed to do all the work we asked on it. We're excited! We spent some time last night pricing beds and wedding bands, and tomorrow will likely do the same...and pick out paint colors for our new walls... and try out towels to register for. Hehe exciting 4th plans, no?

Ryan's First Wedding

I mean his first time OFFICIATING a ceremony. (Saturday, June 30th-- same time Todd & Kara Edwards were getting married in Pennsylvania!)

Details to come... pictures for now :)

Preparation-- definitely the most challenging part. I got to help him find vows and type them up. Gave us some good ideas for our own ceremony comin' up!

Mollee (the bride), getting ready

The wedding & reception were in this Forest Museum of sorts-- beautiful! The windows gave a gorgeous view of the Indiana farmland. We're going to make a trip to the orchard nearby (Hubris Orchard). The Shueys, with Sarah & Abigail, are gonna come too if we can work it out!

Ryan praying with Mollee and Shawn. He did a wonderful job in the delivery. God answered prayer!-- he was clear, to the point, personal, and not mincing in his words of charge to the couple and the audience. He presented the Gospel (which is inherently central to any wedding, whether the couple knows it or not) very clearly and simply. Made me proud, and very thankful. :)

A new favorite of mine

(Can you see the rolling hills behind the happy couple?)

Unique Opportunities of Serving as a Wife

"The hidden side of church history has been the part played behind the scenes by Christian women. Occasionaly the work fo outstanding single women has been better known, but for those married, and whose lives have been of strategic importance to the kingdom of God, it has generally been their husband's names that have come down to posterity. The work of the men was more public, more documented, and thus more available to the writers of history. The wives, without whom eminent men would not have been what they were, were content to remain little known or remembered."

~Iain H. Murray, Intro to Margaret Paton: Letters from the South Seas

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

~God's Promise: Matthew 6:1-4

Isn't it amazing that God, who needs nothing, would be the One to notice and reward service to those who are are both least likely to thank, and most needy!? (and if small children aren't needy, I don't know who is!)

"And whatever you do, in word of deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. [...] Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the Inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (wow!)

~More promises: Colossians 3:17 & 23-24

"...God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for His sake in serving the saints, as you still do."

~Still more promises: Hebrews 6:10

"She [Jessie Inglis, missionary to the New Hebrides, late 1800s] was always kept so busy making history that she had no time to write it...She never thought of herself but as an ordinary woman doing an ordinary woman's work." --John Inglis, of his wife

"Next to the support Margaret Paton gave to her husband, her greatest service lay in the nurturing of the children which she gave to the world. The cause of seeking missionaries began in the Patons' own home, and they were honored by Christ in the calling of all their four children to the work of the Gospel. " I think this next part is quite my life goal:

"Her influence over her children was deep and permanent. There was in her nature a rare combination of saintliness and humanness, that made the Christian life very real and winsome to all with whom she came into touch. her life was, in her own words, 'a pure white-heart of love for her children.'" ~Francis H. L. Paton, of his mother

(all quotes from aforesaid Introduction)

Some principles and thought-habits I am trying to cultivate as I prepare to build by own home, because I know that "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish woman tears hers down. (Proverbs 14:1--yikes!). I'm enjoying and benefitting from Margaret Paton's example and words. She's very real-- funny at times, and always honest. What a woman! Look her up! :)

--Christina, very happy in Louisville

Home!

"When you lay me down to die/
I'll open up my eyes on skies I've never known/
In the place where I belong,/
And I'll realize His love is just another word
for Home."
~Andrew Peterson, "Lay Me Down [to Die]"

"And I think my home is just Heaven's reflection/
As long as my home's here with you."
~Michael Card, "Home"

I've left so much-- the big things: my parents, my sisters, a church where I've loved, lost and found again, the comfort of one Tia, Uncle & set of cousins just down the street, and other across town; and the less important but equally present: the home I love, the creek we played in for hours, neighbors I trust, the pediatrician who used to find "kitty-cats" in my ears during checkups, the dentist & dental hygienist that I've gotten to know despite their looking in my mouth every few months, the health-care providers who have all my records on hand, a mental road-map that seldom fails me, a bank, pharmacy, and library that have all my information stored... I don't deny that the thought of "new" automatically provokes recoil in me. BUT despite all that, Melissa heard the intense excitement in my voice as I exited I-65 onto Jackson St. "Melissa! This is going to be my exit for the next few years!" She laughed at me. :) The other night I said something to Ryan about "'til I'm home" and he stopped me- "where do you mean?" I meant Louisville, of course, but why? At first, it was because I did find a place to belong there. I have never felt more accepted and loved than I did in the brief months I spent worshipping and serving with the people of Immanuel Baptist Church. Christ is always 'Home.' But now there's another reason: Ryan.

From now until the day I die, my home will be wherever he is: just as the Church finds Her home; Her rest; Her secure refuge in Her Husband, so I look forward to building my home wherever my Love is. Ryan's love is such a wonderful, tangible reflection of the Love held for me by the Lover of my Soul. My home in his love, in his arms-- what a reminder to me of the way it really is eternally!

And oh, it's good to be home. :)

An Abandonment to Divine Providence

"Everything helps me to Him."

-Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751)

That quote captured my heart, and my heart cried out "Lord, make this my cry forever-- that I would let all things readily bring me to You!" It also came to be a wonderful theme of my trip to Nashville, as I will explain momentarily. Seems like God was arranging a nice little theme for the next 2 days of my life. Speaking further of that quote and that man, John Beevers writes: "...that is a cardinal principal of his. All things are sent and governed by God, and, however troublesome they are, they will, if accepted gladly, lead us surely and quickly toward holiness."

So my trip to Nashville, right. If you're wondering why I was going to Tennesee instead of my 'new Kentucky home,' it's because my Dad's sister Robin lives in Nashville with her family, and I figured seeing and encouraging her and her family would be worth the detour of a day. I'd gotten gas only a day before, so decided to drive straight out and just stop when I needed to, which I guessed would probably be around lunch time. (I left at 10:15) So off I went, with a marvelously encouraging sermon by Ravi Vander Laan (read an article similar to the sermon I heard) ringing in my ears. "Just how badly do you want to be like your Rabbi!?" He asked. The Spirit whispered to me that today, just like every day, I'd have the chance to become more like Him. And He definitely provided that!

Around 12, I stopped to fill up, and the nice couple in front of me at the pump said "It looks like your hood is smoking." Hmmm... I pulled up the hood, and gasped! My oil-cap had been laid on top of the radiator instead of replaced when the oil was added by my sweet Dad just before I left. Oil was all over the engine- thence the smoke- and worst of all WASN'T in the engine! I quickly added oil (I'm an expert by now) and left the hood up and chilled in the shade about half an hour so the engine could cool off. Immediately I began to think about all the 'what-if's-- what if I'd been going straight to Louisville (through the mountains for the first 2 hours), what if I'd filled up the night before and so hadn't stopped (I usually drive from G-ville to L-ville with no gas-stops), what if, what if... I could very easily have had my engine explode. As it was, nothing happened. What Mercies are hidden in near misses!

About 45 minutes later, just on the other side of Chatenooga, I felt the now-familiar shaking that comes when one loses a tire. "Not again!" I sighed as I pulled off. At least it wasn't raining this time. My right rear tire was slashed-- I either ran over something that sliced through a belt, or it was just a bum tire. I had to laugh, though. How many tires is Dad going to have to buy for me before he finishes the Tweel? How in the world I'd change this tire, especially considering I had no spare with me, and all my tools were under all my stuff in the trunk, I didn't know. So I did the sensible thing. I called my Daddy. Why did I ever think being a Daddy's Girl was such a negative thing?

"You're not gonna believe this..." I started. He was not surprised at all, lol. I think he was expecting at least one minor mishap on this trip. I was overdue for one. Well, let me just tell you that having a father who both desires and is able to care for you is WONDERFUL! He "just happened" to be at his computer, and was quickly able to pull up my location on a map, locate the nearest service station, call a towing company to get me, and pay for any repairs or parts Max'd need. I got picked up, Max got all fixed up, and we were on the road again in under an hour and a half!

While at the service-station, enjoying the air-conditioning at the hottest part of the day (otherwise I'd have been sweating and being further sun-burned in my au natural car), I grabbed the first book I could get out of my bag-- a little book from a dear friend, Jacqui. Its title forms the title of this post, and gave birth to most of this entry's forethought. I haven't finished it yet, but I'll let ya know how it goes. Immediately I was struck by the "coincidence" of me reading THIS book at THIS time, in THIS place. Divine providence indeed.

The service-station guys treated me very kindly, going out of their ways to get "the little lady's" tire replaced lickity-split, and cleaning my engine of the oil that was everywhere. One guy even drew me a diagram to tell me where a little leak in a radiator gasket was. Very cool. They seemed singularly impressed with my Dad's care for me. It actually provided me with an opportunity to be more public in my thanksgiving for my Dad-- letting them know I count it a BLESSING, God's kindness, to have a father who looks out for me. As I left, the owner called out, "You make sure you call your Daddy to tell him you're on the road again, all right?!" And I did.

"It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance..." (Rom. 2:4, paraphrase)

So many near-misses, so many instances where God kept me and even my belongings from serious harm or detriment. In this world of sin there are no guarantees except that bad things WILL happen. But Divine Providence has bound Himself by Covenant to guarantee that each turn of fate's wheel, however minute, is meant to bring the Christian nearer Himself. "In Thy presence is fullness of joy"-- God is always plotting for our JOY! (Psalm 16:11) Every one of those experiences was a chance for me to grow in trust in my Father, to see anew the way He's blessed me with the love of my family, to marvel at the precision and restraint of "calamity" He allows and to give thanks for a joyful spirit, and humor!, amidst all the setbacks. I'd much rather be thankful than worried or stressed!! Makes life much more enjoyable-- most likely because it draws me nearer to Jesus.

I listened to John Piper's sermon, "Ruth: the Best is Yet to Come" (on Ruth 4) this morning, and it was right along these lines. "God is plotting for our joy even as we bellyache at Him!" I am resolved to skip the bellyaching and go straight to the rejoicing. So remind me of that when I don't. :)

Full of joy and fully thankful,

--Christina ...two states closer to Ryan...

"The truly faithful soul accepts all things as a manifestation of God's grace, ignores itself and thinks only of what God is doing." ~J-P de C

'Prayed for Daily'

I found this card from my Mother last week, and glued it in my journal as a perfect summary of the blessings my eyes have become aware of as I packed:

1. there has never been a time when I was unloved-- cards from family, friends, even my babysitter abounded!
2. I've been priveleged with singularly good theological teaching, surrounded by it! What a blessing to have my thoughts taught so young!

Valentine's Day 2004

"Dear Christina,

You are prayed for daily and will always have your mother's love. (heart) More importantly than this is the heavenly love that's promised to you unconditionally. He has shown you great love in these past few weeks through this hard trial. What love to minister to you through so many people, songs, books and His Word. "Oh love that will not let you go!" I love you.

Mom"

What evidence of love, both hers, and His.

Full of thanksgiving and brimming with love,

--Christina

In My Father's House

My last morning in my father's house. Quite an alien feeling, to wake up to a room mostly devoid of all the things that made it familiarly "mine"-- the pictures on the wall, the bulletin board covered with snapshots, the carefully organized books, the clothes in the closet. All that remains is a pile of empty boxes/folders/mailing envelopes (evidence of my "stuff"-purges), some random things I didn't have the energy to appropriately place last night, and my overnight bag that will be stowed in the front seat next to me when I stop this afternoon at my aunt's house. My car is packed-- not exactly as full as it will go, but certainly as heavy. My Dad used his keen engineering eye to get it in the best possible way, then went to bed, leaving Jonathan (Suit) and me to realize that he didn't put any of my clothing in...so out half of it came, and we spent the next half hour maneuvering, sweating and just staring from the non-fitting-items to each other. "I assume you have a plan for that?" I asked him at one point as he heave-hoed. "Not really...." he answered. So we stared some more. Anyway we got it good enough. "Don't get in a car wreck" was his friendly advice to me. Yeah. As if I'd want to deal with ALL my stuff ALL over someplace. So I'll be driving safely. :)

So many thoughts as I've packed and sorted. A lot about the freedom that comes from SIMPLE living-- ixnay on the ack-ratingpay from here on out! ... a lot about how blessed I've been to be so surrounded by good teaching and by love fro my entire life. A lot about how weird a little kid I was. :) Creative, but also SUPER-attentive to detail, and slightly addicted to list-making.

I've left before, spent months or even years away from living under this roof. I've called all three bedrooms in this house "mine" at some point or another, and for a while got just the couch over breaks. But this morning is different somehow. I guess it's the knowledge that I won't be coming back-- not as Christina Maria Thompson, anyway. Oh dear, let's hope there are no tears today. I'm trying to save my breakdown for at least another few days. It's time for this arrow to be shot from the quiver. My parents have polished, straightened and sharpened it- me- for the past 21 years. They trust, and expect it to fly straight and true. May I make them proud!

The room grows brighter. It's getting lighter outside. Time keeps passing. I want to leave a clean room for my mama, which is why I'm up early. So I'll go to it then!

...packing..

"Oh, it's hard to imagine the freedom we find
from the things that we leave behind."

--Michael Card

Trying to get to that point... it's hard to know what's junk, what's worth carting around, what's good enough to give away. Some things- letters, work, pieces of mail, the wacked-out stories I wrote as a kid- part of me wants to save so that Ryan can see them and know that part of my history. We are made up of so many memories, so many pieces. Maybe I think he deserves fair warning. :)

I've hit on a partial solution of stapling/gluing/somehow affixing those momentos into the chronologically appropriate journal. Oh, yes. There are now 40 of them, not including the notebooks full of sermon notes, poetry, and 'collects'! I am nothing if not a chronicler!

Beach Vacation

Well, I've been non- blogging for a while now. I claim the 'I was on vacation' excuse for last week. My family and I went to the beach (my favorite vacation spot every year. except for that time my Dad & I went to Oxford-- that was my favorite that year). It was a sunny, scrapbookin', Boggle-playin' adventure in North Myrtle.

Here's a picture from the week... we're all nice and golden crispy. :) Ok. Back to wedding stuff and packing!! 66 days...

~ Christina

wedding countdown...

75 days to go!!!!

WOOOOHOOOO!!!


...nothing real special about 75... it just seems rather small! :)