Feeding Bag

Let me just start this post with saying that one of the things Matt deals with at work is something called data feeds. I don't really know what this means but I do know when Matt dreams about work funny things happen.

At 1:30 am last night I was awoken by a tapping on my head so I sat up and realized Matt was sitting up tapping me on the head! The conversation that followed went like this...

Anne: Matt, what are you doing?
Matt: I'm waking up the feeding bag.
Anne: What?
Matt: When is the feeding time?
Anne: There is no feeding time.
Matt: Aren't you supposed to feed something?
Anne: Do you know what you are talking about?
Matt: Yeah, I'm awake. (Then starts snoring 2 seconds later).

I assumed Matt was dreaming that we owned a farm and there was a bag of food I was supposed to give the animals but after talking to him in the morning he informed me he vaguely remembered the conversation and was dreaming about work. That made it more funny to me.

Psalm 77

I've been struggling a little bit (ok a lot) lately with trusting God and anxiety. I was talking to a friend about it and she reminded me to reflect on what I know is true about God and his goodness. The next day I read Psalm 77. I was encouraged because the Psalmist did exactly that. He starts out talking about his trials and emotions (maybe different than mine as mine is a lack of reliance on the Holy Spirit) and then ends with what he knows is true about God. I bolded the ending because that's what I need to remember. How can I not trust my holy, mighty, great, awesome, sovereign God.

1 I cry out to God; yes, I shout.
Oh, that God would listen to me!
2 When I was in deep trouble,
I searched for the Lord.
All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,
but my soul was not comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan,
overwhelmed with longing for his help.
Interlude

4 You don’t let me sleep.
I am too distressed even to pray!
5 I think of the good old days,
long since ended,
6 when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
I search my soul and ponder the difference now.
7 Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?
8 Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion?
Interlude

10 And I said, “This is my fate;
the Most High has turned his hand against me.”
11 But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
12 They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

13 O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you?
14 You are the God of great wonders!
You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.
15 By your strong arm, you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Interlude

16 When the Red Sea saw you, O God,
its waters looked and trembled!
The sea quaked to its very depths.
17 The clouds poured down rain;
the thunder rumbled in the sky.
Your arrows of lightning flashed.
18 Your thunder roared from the whirlwind;
the lightning lit up the world!
The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your road led through the sea,
your pathway through the mighty waters—
a pathway no one knew was there!
20 You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep,
with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.

I Quit the Gym...

...or one of them I am/was a member of. Yes, I was the proud member of 2 gyms for the last 15 months of my life. Now before you start to think this is completely ridiculous let me tell you that one of them was free and the other was $19.95 per month. Matt's job pays for one gym and I joined that right before we got married. At that time I tried to quit the gym that I was paying for and was talked into staying by a convincing gym worker. It reminded me of the Friends episode clip below. I didn't really go to the gym for a few months after we got married, hence the early marriage weight gain. But during the late winter/spring I went to the gym I was paying for a few times a week. Over the summer I have only visited the free gym. So today I finally quit the $19.95/month gym. I brought Matt with for support and we walked away $239.40 richer every year (and no one convinced Matt to join). Who am I kidding anyway I never go to the gym at the beginning of the school year. Plus the free gym has racquetball which I really enjoy!

Summer is Ending...

I am beginning to face the reality that the summer is ending. I have one week left of absolute freedom and then I will be surrounded by teenagers day in and day out for what seems like eternity. But, I do like my job, overall. I am currently going through a positive moment in regards to thinking about work so now is a good time to blog. I posted a list of my summer goals at the beginning of the summer so I am going to comment on those goals now.

1. Visit Germany (since we already bought plane tickets and have a place to stay I'm pretty sure this one will happen)
We had and amazing vacation to Germany. I feel so blessed to have been able to take that trip.

2. Read 10 books
I lost track of the number of books I read this summer. I was up to 10 by the middle of the summer so I'm hoping I read almost 20. Although, I really need to read some more substantial stuff. I think I was at about 75% chick lit this summer.

3. Sleep until at least 8 everyday
I will only say that I was a huge over achiever on this goal. I would probably struggle if I had to get up at 8 for school. Unfortunately and even worse, I will be getting up at 6:30.

4. Go for a walk almost everyday (if it's nice out)
I did well on this until after Germany. I think because we walked like it was our job in Europe I decided to take some time off of walking and I'm still taking that time off. I did attend a strength training class at the gym twice a week this summer though and it was really challenging. I think I am a little more toned because of it.

5. Bust out the sewing maching I got for Christmas and re-teach myself how to sew. I want to make blankets and clothes.
I think I did well with this goal. I am working on one more project before the summer ends.

6. Go to the Farmer's Market on a regular basis
I only went to the Market once. Saturdays were just too busy. O well.

7. Try at least one new recipe every week
I don't know about the every week thing but I tried a few new recipes this summer. My biggest achievement was learning how to cook in a wok. I had to flavor it and everything. My sister-in-law Yvonne has also been able to offer me some expert advice and recipes on wok cooking.

8. Become friends with someone who has a pool, the summer off, and lives near me
This one was a tall order so not so much.

9. Take a lot of naps
You don't really need too many naps when you sleep 10+ hours at night.

10. Go to lunch with Matt several times
We did this a few times. The class I took at the gym was over the lunch hour though so that took away 2 possible days.

My Favorite Commercial

I've been singing this song in my head for the last couple of days.

Dancing Traveler

More info on this guy: http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/.

Brett Favre = Cher?

I don't really like Rick Reilly, the new ESPN sports journalist who migrated from Sports Illustrated, but I did find this video entertaining: