quote to ponder

"I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness, and the willingness to remain vulnerable."
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

little things

I finished embroidering the flower girl dresses today. They turned out so sweet and adorable!

nesting

John is moving into an apartment this weekend. I so want to be with him. I want to help him move in, hang the drapes, wash the windows, put the dishes in the cupboard and find just the right place for the lamp.
But I can't.
So, in the mean time, I am working on the wedding.

-an idea for centerpieces-

Trying to find a balance between it all (meaning family-life, friends, church, wedding ....). And trying to remember that God has put me in this place, with all my longings, desires and frustrations, that I might learn of Him.

new shoes!

Oh, the joy of a perfect pair of shoes! It cannot be tempered, not even by their price ...

Sunday - morning and evening in pictures

Julia really is taller than me now, by about 3/4" (you just can't tell because I wear taller shoes)

notice Julia taking over for Ben?

making space ships

quote to ponder

Art is simply the language of the soul ..."
-Robert Redford

now this was interesting. I answered all the questions on the quiz - as well as I could (how do you choose which actress would best play you?Kate Winslet, Jenniefer Ehle, or Gwyneth Paltrow?) - and came up with this answer:

Take the Quiz here!

holy desire

I am still reading through the Old Testament, and I am currently making my way through Zechariah.
Something that continues to amaze me - though it should hardly be a surprise, it has been reiterated so many times - is how much God blatantly and passionately desires us. He wants an intimate, heart-to-heart, being-to-Being relationship with us, sharing all that we are and never being separated. He will even move Heaven and Earth if the end result will be that He is the Object of our adoration.
He never ceases to yearn over His people, even when they will not acknowledge Him. Simply imagine His joy and delight when we focus all of our desires on Him.

"'I', declares the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire around [Jerusalem], and I will be the glory in her midst.'" (2:5)

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land the west; and I will bring them back, ... and they will be My people and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.'" (8:7-8)

pre-marital life lessons

"Far from being a compromise, in one sense, marriage might be the toughest ministry [you] could ever undertake. ...
"If you want to be free to serve Jesus, there's no question - stay single. Marriage takes a lot of time. But if you want to become more like Jesus, I can't imagine a better thing to do than to get married. Being married forces you to face some character issues you'd never have to face otherwise."
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas, chp. I

"... that's what marriage is for - to teach us how to love."
Ibid, chp. III

today

"Can you die of happiness?"
- Jane to Elizabeth, Pride and Prejudice

they're here!!!!!!!!!

The invitations came today!!!! All 21 pounds of them.


The company was so great - they even put the packing slip in its own envelope.

now, to start addressing ..........

dessert

Anna made dinner tonight, and I made dessert. Mmmmm!



Molten Cakes (serves 4)

Ingredients

• 6 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 8 tablespoons (4ounces) unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• pinch of salt (omit if using salted butter)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons flour

preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Generously butter or spray four 5- to 6-ounce ramekins or six 4-ounce ramekins.

Melt the chocolate and butter over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

Combine the eggs, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl and beat on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the mixture is thick and pale. When the whisk is lifted and the batter is run back and forth over itself, it will hold a slowly dissolving ribbon.
With the mixer on low speed, sprinkle the flour over the batter and mix until combined.

Fold the egg mixture one-third at a time into the chocolate mixture.

Fill the ramekins with batter to within 1/4 inch of the top. (At this point the cakes can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Bring to room temp. before baking.)

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the sides of the cakes are firm. The centers will be soft to the touch but set.

Let stand for 1 minute, then unmold each cake onto a serving plate. Serve immediately.

set free

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

...

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine

You are forever mine

- chris tomlin "amazing grace (my chains are gone)"

constrained by freedom

- rainy night on the road 2008/01/06 -

thoughts from a long drive home

Freedom does not mean that I can do whatever I desire, whenever I desire to do it. Why? Because true freedom does not come cheaply, it is not "free". It brings with it responsibility as well as debts of gratitude that can never be repaid.
True freedom actually constrains.

Constrained by freedom and the love that bought it at so dear a price.

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." " - Galatians 5:13-14


Who are we that You would be mindful of us
what do You see that's worth looking our way
we are free in ways that we never should be
sweet release from the grip of these chains
like hinges straining from the weight
my heart no longer can keep from singing.

all that is within me cries for You alone
be glorified Emmanuel God with us
my heart sings a brand new song
the debt is paid these chains are gone
Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord You know our hearts don't deserve Your glory
still You show a love we cannot afford
like hinges straining from the weight
my heart no longer can keep from singing.

Such a tiny offering compared to Calvary
nevertheless we lay it at your feet.

-mercy me "God with us"

Jacobsen tradition

We go to the desert. Every January. Just after New Year. To ride, ride, ride. We drive 11 hours to the Algadones Dunes just north of the Cal-Mex border (quite the car ride). Then we stay and ride for a week or two.
This year, I drove down with Mom and Anna on Saturday, drove back up with Daniel and Anna on Sunday.
I might go back down with them on Friday. We'll see.
It is a looong ride down. But it just might be worth it.

the Jacobsens - 2008/01/06


we got a CHP escort for part of the drive

Yes, it can be dangerous. So, where's your gear?

new every morning

-California Sunrise-

the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases/ His mercies never come to an end
they are new every morning/ ... great is Thy faithfulness O LORD
great is Thy faithfulness

I love living in California. I even love living in the San Joaquin Valley. One thing I love about living in the San Joaquin Valley of California is that we have sunrises that do not merely cause you to catch your breath and worship, but that take your breath away entirely.
The view this morning was no exception.
Of course, there are days where the mountains seem to be non existent because of the smog, but the sunrise is always stunning.
This morning's sunrise reminded me that God is good to me, very good. His mercies are always new. He sees my need and begins to meet it before I am even aware that it exists.
He is good.

new post, new year

John posted to jSe! You just might want to check it out .... :-)