Another year is winding down already, and I have posted on this blog exactly twice. Quite an accomplishment, right? There are a few posts that were begun and never completed; a couple that were completed and never published…. until now. Those two are below. Sometimes I write these thoughts down when I’m riled up and decide not to publish them later for fear that I might offend someone. Realizing now that approximately five people (if that) are actually reading here, I decided if I’m going to offend anyone, it’s better the few than the many. So, read away… and maybe I’ll dig back into my archives of Drafts and publish some more for your offensive reading enjoyment. That being said, I would like to keep…

I am intrigued by this article and what it says about a principle I hold dear. “The stuff of many women’s fantasies includes an adoring, faithful spouse; attractive, obedient kids; people who depend on you, love you, give you a reason to get out of bed, regularly stand up and sing your praises. And it is idolatry, just like money, power, and fame.” http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/28/worshiping-at-the-altar-of-family/

 These thoughts are inspired by a tweet from a website I saw on Facebook: “Be patient with yourself. To be human is to be beautifully flawed and covered in grace.” @MIHImage (http://www.madeinhisimage.org/) I don’t believe that God loves my flaws. I don’t believe that He accepts me “just as I am.” Because what I am–human, sinful and broken–is not worthy of a perfect and holy God. I believe sin angers God. It is an offense to His perfection. Which means that my sin angers God. My flaws are not acceptable, they are an abomination to His image. I do not believe that my flaws are beautiful.    They are shameful. My imperfection is not pleasing to God… but His love was and is so great…

I find this time of year so inspiring (mid/late spring, beginning of summer), and I’m not sure if it has to do with the long-instilled sense of excitement that comes with the end of a school year and the beginning of another summer with its accompanying vacations; or perhaps it’s just the beautiful weather, temperate climes and the promise of many sunny afternoons spent with a cold drink in-hand. Whatever it is (probably a combination of both my youthful anticipations and now-adult enjoyments), I love this season. Perhaps even more so this year because we had an unusually early, and warm, spring here in Chicago, and I’ve been soaking it up. We enjoyed not only an early spring, but a mild winter and I’m beginning…

Groundhog Day was last Thursday (and yes, it does appear we’ll have 6 more weeks of winter)…. but I feel like I’m having a Groundhog Year! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that this is a leap year…? Why, you may ask, am I feeling this way? Well, I’m starting a new job. Again. Things seem to be repeating themselves… This time last year, I was still working at The Restaurant Directory — we had just opened an office in the suburbs, and I was commuting 3 days a week. Until I got recruited by Jones Lang LaSalle. I started my position there as a Sr Graphic Designer in early March 2011. Tomorrow I start a new job. Again. I will now…