Almost a Wordless Wednesday

My president, my team.

How cool is that?

Somewhere in the Bible it says

The URL for my blog comes from a Bible verse (hey, don't stop reading yet) that is incredibly meaningful to me. I remember I came across it when all this "God-stuff" awareness was so new to me a few years back.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17.

This verse explained what had happened to me, what was happening to me, and resonates with me still (as in Ellie is a New Thing).

My friend Walt says his favorite verse is, "Somewhere in the Bible it says..." I love that one too. I also like the one about His ways not being my ways and the one about Him knowing the plans He has for me. I'm not able to quote chapter and verse often, but it's the words that matter.

Like many of us, I don't spend the time in the Bible that I should. But almost every time I dig in, I have an a-ha moment. Yesterday in church they shared Jude 1:24, and it was such a perfectly simple way to describe my God, I had to reread it at home in the afternoon. It's a prayer of praise, I learned, and I love the way God is described:

"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault."

He keeps me from falling away.

This week's question of the week is a please.

Will you please share a Bible verse that means something important to you, changed your life, moved you recently, sticks in your head and heart or one you just, well, like?

Even if you're not a church-goer, I would bet something comes to mind. The Golden Rule is one for some, my friend likes "...that one about faith as tiny as a mustard seed," and even one man I know who sees himself far from God gets a lot of strength from Isaiah and it's mention of soaring on eagles wings.

I'm not asking you to be a biblical scholar, I'm asking you (again with a please) to be relational.

I can't wait to read your thoughts.

Sushi anyone?

As a girls' night out/let's learn something new kind of experience, my friend Jeanette hosted a sushi making party last night. Since I'm not a cook, I was feeling a little anxious about this event. I joked I was going to make candy sushi.

Turns out, I wasn't joking...

Isn't it the cutest?

Okay, back to the party, Jeanette demonstrated for us, and then she set us free. She had stations set up through her kitchen and dining room.

(Aren't you digging on her "looks like Victoria's Secret bags" vinyl cloths? Well, it was a girls' night!)

First was the seaweed (shiny side down). I could handle this step.

Spread with rice (too thick this first time),

I rolled and came up with:

Edible, but too fat.

So I did it all again.

My much more compact sushi is on the top row of the platter. Filled with egg and carrots, it's not too shabby for a second effort.

By the way, Tracy was my side-by-side tutor. I couldn't have done any of it without her encouragement!

Now for the moment of truth, time to eat.

Meh. It was fun to make, but I'm still not a fan of eating it.

Andi got fancy and made hers rice outside. It looked so amazing!

Jen and Janet talked and worked.

Everyone talked and ate.

My daughter friends chopsticking their creations.

A great idea for a girls' night out! Thanks Jeanette!

And a special thanks to Agnes. I used your mat, we all used your seaweed and plates, and some of us even ate your Wasabi.

Greening, bit by little bit

This little pile of stuff doesn't look like much, but it's the start of one of my projects for the day. I've been keeping in mind the verse from Genesis,

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden

to work it and to take care of it."

I've started to look more earnestly for more things I can do to reduce my impact on the environment.

Kane County has a monthly electronics recycling event, and the list of things they accept is extensive. This little pile is what I found in our office, and later on Brad and I are heading to the basement to see what else we can recycle.

Cool too, while looking to see what types of things Goodwill industries takes, I learned they have an extensive computer recycling program that benefits both them and God's earth.

Impressive!

So long self

On Wednesday evening, I was out walking, and I had what I'll call a body revelation. I've been thinking about it since then, though I didn't really expect to share it here. This morning I feel compelled to.

Readers of this blog know I struggle a bit with my body image and I have a particular frustration with my thighs. The truth is, and this is not a disparaging comment, though I'm fairly slender overall I am also curvy. I have hips. I am a woman.

I will never state anything bad about my body on this blog again.

I will work to not utter such words in conversation.

I will work harder to not think harmful thoughts about myself.

I am not perfect but...

I am loved.

My legs take me places I want to go.

My legs take me places I need to go.

My smile makes others smile.

My skinny arms still give good hugs.

The shape of my body doesn't impact my friendships.

The shape of my body doesn't hinder my teaching talents.

I have been blessed with incredible health.

My husband loves my body.

God thinks I'm His masterpiece.

So:

I am not flawed.

I will continue to work towards strength.

I will stop comparing myself to other women, particularly much younger women.

I will gratefully accept the gifts God has bestowed on me.

At our church, we believe in confiding in accountability partners, in sharing things we're struggling with to make them real. You are now my partner in this. I invite you to call me on this any time. If my words are harmful to myself, let me know.

Will you?

Now, be good to yourself.