I just do want coffee....

And wouldn't you know just when I thought I had this figured out, well I'm back at my first day of school. Trying not to think to loud, raise my hand or scratch my head. No ideas for what to do. (Caedmon's Call)

I would define a successful day as one when I never so much as step into my car. Considering the only time I drove Chloe (my Xterra) over the past week was Friday to meet a friend at the University of Louisville, I would say this has been an extra successful week! We walk to class, ride our bikes to church and I ride my bike to work (up a cobblestone street, I might add). That is a major benefit of living in the city--especially living on campus--we can travel light.

Another glorious thing about Louisville is the beautiful hardwoods, the rolling hills and the constant breeze. At least twice a week we take Bailey to "Windy Willow Way" to let her run around while we study.

All the essentials for an afternoon of studying: iPod, multiple devotionals,  journals,
any writing utensil you can imagine, fruit juice, crazy creek, notebook, and textbooks  (I guess)

And of course, some Wendell Berry, just in case you finish the 200+
pages of homework...(thanks for letting me use this book, Kristin!)

Despite the joys and beauties of this great city, and despite our absolute love for Southern--professors, classes, and all it stands for--I never realized how humbling it can be to live in an entirely new place.

When your car is running low on gas (which has only happened once thus far!) and you have not the slightest inclination where the closest Kroger Fuel station is (I mean, you can't just go to any gas station when you know you have 10 cents off waiting for you!) it can be quite humbling.

When someone invites you over for dinner and you and your husband enthusiastically and immediately shout "YES" at the same time because you are both so desperate for friendship (and a free meal) it can be quite humbling.

When you've been a Christian for a long time and, in light of a deep look at the New Testament, realize how much you don't know, it can be quite humbling.

When you are thrust into a new job, trying to memorize 15 different coffee blend details, learning how to pull the perfect shots of espresso while trying to get just enough oxygen in the 2 percent...or was it skim...or soy....milk to make the right amount of micro-foam to put into a hundred different drinks, and messing it up, again, it can be quite humbling.

When the 21C culture is telling you that by your age you should have a career, be established with a home, making money and you realize you are back in school, unsure of the next step much less than a "career" path, it can be quite humbling.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...He has shown strength with His arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things! (the Magnificat, Luke 1:46, 51-53)

We need this! We need to be humbled! The Lord knows we so easily put our hope in ourselves or in the things of this world, and so he replaces our pride and confidence with desperation and need of Him and Him alone. Pray that we would learn this! Pray that we would learn to trust Him and abide in Him to meet our needs.

The first time I brought Quinn to my yoga class back in Peachtree City, Kathy (our amazing instructor) told her that "yoga begins with humility". The first day of Greek class with Dr. Vickers, he begins by assuring us, "Greek will humble you". And last Thursday in New Testament with Dr. Pennington, when guiding us through some complex issues of the Gospels, he expressed to us with absolute conviction and a sincere compassion, that we "must come to the text with a humble spirit."

It is good to be humbled. I am so thankful that we "have no ideas of what to do". For we are literally following our Pillar of Fire every step of the way.

Our trip to the waterfront

The muddy Ohio

In 1937 the Ohio rose higher than this pillar and flooded all of Louisville.
This is the same flood that Berry mentions in Jayber Crow.

Kellen's talent

Yoga IS humbling. I thought my bridge was much better than that!

A perfect anniversary gift from our Maker.

May the Lord's grace and peace be yours in Christ Jesus. We love you all.

the heights and the depths

Oh, Matthew, isn't it a wonderful morning? The world looks like something God had just imagined for His own pleasure! (Anne)

These words resounded in my head as God woke me up at 5:30am this morning. I brewed some coffee, opened the windows to let the surprisingly cool air in, and read while the sun rose in purply hues over the horizon. Bailey and I went on a walk through what I call "Windy Willow Way". On mornings like these, abiding in Christ seems palpable.

But then there are the other times.

Late Saturday a terrible storm hit Louisville, for no longer than twenty minutes, and in which our power went out--not just for a few hours--for a whole day! It was funny at first. Kellen and I bought ice to keep our food cold and spent the evening reading our books by headlamp.When we woke up in the morning, though, the power was still off and the ice was practically melted. I needed to shower due to my run the evening before, and my attitude completely changed to an absolute annoying grumbler. Kellen stayed calm (which annoyed me, too!), bought more ice and went on as normal.

In the aftermath, Kellen revealed to me that he, at first, was very perturbed by the incident as well. You see, we had gone to the grocery store a few days before and "stocked up". We are learning more and more each day that, for seminary students, each item of food is completely valuable and not to be wasted. So when all of our perishables were on the edge of perishing, Kellen realized the absolute need to trust in the Lord. Will we put our hopes in the tangible or the intangible? the temporal or the eternal? I was too annoyed to see the whole situation as an opportunity to trust God. Even something as silly and as fortuitous as milk spoiling can be placed into the hands of the Almighty.

Anyways, the power did come back on and the only casualties were a few mushrooms. My verse--Psalm 40:1 about waiting patiently for the Lord--keeps reminding me to do just that, wait PATIENTLY!

Peace can reign only where everything is as God would have it, in God's order and in harmony with His will. (Andrew Murray)

His will doesn't always involve have the refrigerator running nicely, but His will is for us to always be in Christ! This is the peace that passes understanding and circumstance.

The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances. (Elisabeth Elliot)

IN OTHER NEWS: Kellen and I both got jobs!

Me, at a local coffee shop, to which I can ride my bike (www.vintcoffee.com)

and Kellen at a local tutoring company. So, praise the Lord!

Bailey also has some exciting news:

She is officially an SBTS dog! We are so proud.

the tree outside our window

I waited patiently on the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry.   (Psalm 40:1)

The God who has chosen me and planted me in Christ as a branch as ensured that I will in every way be worthy of Jesus Christ. Oh, to fully realize this truth! How it would deepen my sense of dependence and enable me to see that continual praying is the one need of my life--an unceasing waiting, moment by moment, on the God who has united me to Christ, to perfect His own divine work in me.   (Andrew Murray)

It is a fearsome thing to move away from one's home, especially when that home is so pleasant and comforting. However, at the same time, there is nothing quite as exciting as venturing out on faith to follow God's will. This is the marvelous tension between faith and fear that He uses to make an inexorable love in us for Him and an utter dependence that leads to obedience. And yet our finite obedience only proves His infinite faithfulness. I can say that with such certainty because I experience it as reality in the most peculiar ways.

My nerves were at their wits end the whole drive from Atlanta to Louisville, anxious about our new home. The wonderful life we shared in Peachtree City--full of long walks, lake swimming and tree climbing--only intensified and whetted my need for the serenity of nature. So, you can imagine my delight and consolation when we walk into our new and yet-to-be-adorned home and when, looking out the window, my eyes become fixated on a young, beautiful sapling resting in between us a the busy city street. I felt an over whelming desire (probably because I am reading Anne of Green Gables) to name the tree Bonnie and kiss it! After resisting the temptation, Mom and I notice that there are only a few other apartment windows that have such a view. Coincidence? I think not. Instead, I believe it is the divine Providence of the One who is drawing us closer to Himself; affirmation to continue the unknown path to which He has called us.

It is He that calls, He that establishes and He that keeps. What a relief!

Here is the darling in all her beauty!

A room with a view, literally