Thankful for Jesus.

My dear friend Michelle lost her youngest brother-in-law to cancer today. He was 21 and had a wife who is now a widow, parents who now don't have their youngest son, and two brothers who also no longer have their youngest brother. Life can be so heartbreaking at times.... As upsetting as the reality of this is, Tim had battled cancer since he was a young boy and now is home with our Lord and thankfully out of pain. I am writing simply to ask for prayer for the Harriman family as they learn to live in the wake of Tim's death. I am sure they can use all the prayer that anyone lifts up. Even those who never knew him.

Thanks. All my love.

One Fine Day

These are just some pictures from a walk my friend Terri and I took yesterday! It was a beautiful fall day!

It is oveeeerrr...

So I just wanted to post a little update. I had my interview this morning at 10 and am not done.. well I was done a while ago but have been trying to clean up the house a bit as there are dishes everywhere and it's feeling overwhelming. But the interview went as well as I think it could have. My hands weren't visibly shaking which is good! I should hear later today or tomorrow what the results are!

With love.

ps. Thank you everyone who was praying for me and for all the luck that was past my way! I really appreciate it!

Interview AHHH!

So I am on here just to let all you who read my blog know that I have my interview for Assistant Store Manager (with Starbucks) on Wednesday.... THIS Wednesday. (I only applied yesterday so I am finding it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I only have one more day to feel like I am prepared for this. yikes!) I don't know exactly what time on Wednesday because when I tried to call back I got an answering machine but sometime for sure!

So.. Just hoping for a little prayer. Thanks so much!

With love.

ps. My name is finally Michelle Oenema at work and everytime I see it on a till or schedule I get a goofy grin on my face that makes my colleagues make fun of me :) I will keep on grinning :)

1 Peter 5:6-12

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will life you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace." (emphasis mine)

---> I hope that anyone who reads this will find encouragement in this passage as I have. Have a great day. With love.

Early Morning Thoughts

This morning after Ian gave me a kiss goodbye on his way to work I thought: "Mmm, I don't work today I am going to have a nice little sleep-in, YAY! And then wake up all refreshed and ready to go about the day." Not so my friends, not so. About 15 minutes later I woke from a terrible dream that came from no where! And couldn't get back to sleep because you know how it is, if you are having a wonderful dream you can never get it back no matter how hard you try but when you have a bad dream, it is all that pops into your head the moment you close your eyes. So anyway new thoughts: "Great I am home alone ALL day and awake at 6:15 and a little freaked out."

Well, it was as good a time as any to finish the book I have been reading, "So Long, Insecurity" by Beth Moore (Which I would highly recommend it to anyone who is sick of feeling discouraged by insecurities and feelings of insignificance or worthlessness, because we were created with great worth AND significance). So that I did, I finished the book and then saw at the end of the book that her and her daughters blog on their ministry's blog and so I felt curious, it only being like 7:15 at this point. And on there was a slideshow of photos from one of their trips to Israel. This is the reason for my post.

I had never given much thought to visiting Israel, even when one of my roommates moved there for 8 months for onSite. But looking at those pictures I am thinking that it would be really amazing to walk where Jesus walked. I can't imagine what it would be like but if I try really hard I think it would be powerful and moving. Perhaps one day I will have to make it out there. Anyone interested? A group might be lovely. Think about it :) I am not making the big bucks yet. But one day it would be amazing to go.

So this is not a terribly profound blog haha but I just had the urge to write and comment on how sometimes God can take a terrible awakening and use it to bring our focus for the day to Him. Amazing. He is good :) Now I think I will go make MORE coffee, it will not be my first batch of the day, and open up the blinds to let the light of the day in. I hope everyone has a good day.

All my love.

The Ian and Michelle Oenema residence!

So, I figured since I am home sick today I would update my blog with some pictures of Ian's and my cute little home :)

This is what you see as soon as you walk in our door:

And this is what you see from the couch:

This is what you see when you turn the corner into the dining room:

This is what you see as you turn the corner into our kitchen:

This is from the kitchen/hallway into the dining/living area:

This is our little dining room (which now has a fold-up treadmill by the dishwasher):

Our kitchen:

Our very very full spare bedroom (lucky Mom and Dad get to stay in there soon, it will be more cleared out for that!):

Our bedroom as you walk in:

And this is our room from the bed:

So, it's still a little bare, although we have put up three more large paintings and are in the process of figuring out where to put photos and such, but we like it!

Hope this gives a little hint as to how we are living :)

We're Married!

We've been married for just over two months and I love it! YAY! I was going to put pictures of our new little home but it turns out I can't upload pictures to my computer when my camera is dead, who knew?! Not I anyway. Anyways, life is good and I love my husband :) Soon there will be more pictures on here!

2010

So... the new year has begun.

I find the phenomenon of time dragging as well as flying by hard to grasp. There are times when a week feels like a year and then the next minute 4 weeks are gone and you have no idea where they went.

I experienced this just recently with being home before Christmas and now not being home for Christmas haha. It seems that once December 1st rolls around Christmas cannot come fast enough, but then somehow, December 23rd comes and then 2 minutes later it's January 5th!?! seriously? I don't know.

I had such a wonderful time being home and it was especially nice to have Ian home for Christmas with me. It was nice to be surrounded by people who you feel comfortable to just be around. I loved it. That week at home, however, went way too fast and I've decided it is best to show up at home just before Christmas (not the week before) and then stay until after the new year has been rung in. Well.. that time is gone now but it was enjoyed. It is hard to get back into the swing of normal life however. Especially when you don't know what normal life is for you at the moment. I feel as though I am constantly waiting, even though each day in the middle brings enjoyment.

Our wedding is only 10 weeks away. Which is only 10 weekends and yet, it still seems so far off. It isn't in reality but.... Things feel hectic while at the same time I am not exactly sure what is even going on at the moment.

I should go and get some things done. I love everyone I have in my life. (Just so you all know).