Missing out on ALL that God is doing

Our daughter Kella recently turned 3 and is quite a hoot. A spattering of what she is saying these days:

• Is Jesus in heaven or in my tummy?
• Don’t worry mom and dad.. I won’t color my eyes black. I like them blue.
• Jesus always comes back for me just like you and mommy.  
• Judson STOP. That’s MIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!
• Ahhhh Judson.. You’re just so stinking cute.

We don't always eat chick-fil-a.
OK maybe we do

The dinner table only fuels Kella’s unpredictability. She says things that make us laugh and things that test our patience. And Judson isn't immune. He grunts like a wee little man one second and then throws his food across the kitchen the next. The Vint dinner table is rarely predictable. Except for one thing: our prayers.

Lately, I’ve noticed that we are always thanking God for the good things in our day.. the food, the weather (if it’s good), health, our friends, what we saw God do, Daniel Tiger, Dora, Judson (most days), and friends we got to be with.

Gratefulness to God is a necessary and foundational way to pray. It guards against an entitlement mentality and constantly reminds us of who gives us all things.

And that’s where my concern comes in: God gives us ALL things and allows ALL things to happen to us (Romans 11:36). Good and bad. Comfort and trial. Spring and winter. And we’re not thanking Him for ALL things.. just the good things. If left unchecked, I’m concerned that the Vint family will grow to believe that God is a lot like Amazon Prime - existing to make our life better instantly.

When we don’t acknowledge the junk in our day and process through it, we miss the lessons God is trying to teach us.

And as an American family who has everything we think we need at our fingertips, what we really need is to be weaned from trusting in created glories to trusting in the Glorious Creator. Here are a few ways we are trying to bring ALL things to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6).

• Actually THANK God for more than just good things. Thank Him for the tough things that drive us away from self dependence and get us leaning into Him for dependence.
• Here are a few examples:
• Thanks for showing me through my sickness that you are the creator and sustainer of my body.
• Thanks for that tense conversation I had today. It helps me fear you more than people.
• Thanks for conflict in our family. It’s hard but it’s leading us to resolution.
• Thanks for our internet going out today. It made me realize how addicted I am to it!
• Remind yourself of who God is and pray His character back to Him. Psalms (103, 19, 145, etc.) are a great way to help.
• Here are a few examples:
• A lot has changed recently in our life / God you never change
• Things were chaotic today / God you are on the throne at peace and in order. That calms the chaos in my soul
• I made a stupid decision today / I'm coming back to You, the all wise God, for grace and wisdom on how to move forward.
• I was impatient today / God you are so patient and kind with me. Help me to give that same patience and kindness to others.
• No one wanted to play with me today / God you are a friend I can always count on.
• Talk about God’s justice, truth, wrath, and righteousness just as much as His love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. This helps us bow down before Him and puts us in a posture to receive ALL that we need from Him and not just the some of what we want from Him.
• Pray for people ALL over the world to come know Jesus and to know Him more and more. This helps us realize that God has a heart for ALL people and gets us out of our family bubble.  

One of our Vint family rules is that “Circumstances don’t determine our joy.. Jesus does.” Our family circumstances are always changing. Jesus Christ never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." By thanking Him for ALL circumstances, we'll be equipped to weather the storms that are thrown our way. As Charles Spurgeon said, "We'll learn to kiss the waves that throw us against the Rock of Ages."

And sometimes what we consider a bad day, God orchestrates it to be a really good one. From the “worst day” in Jesus’ life came the greatest good that could ever come to humanity. Jesus got what we deserve (wrath and judgment) so that by faith in Him we could get what He deserves (acceptance and righteousness). Our good, wise, and powerful King works ALL things together for the good of those who love Him.

I don’t want my family to miss out on ALL that God is doing.

The Relief of Knowing You're Not Alone

Sorry. By the title you may have thought this blog post would be ultra spiritual... about faith or trust or something like that. It isn't. :) It's just that today I had a stunning realization that I am not a complete wacko! All of which is totally blog worthy after months of not blogging, right?! 


There are times when I sit down with Joel after a long weekend of great events and seeing God do great things in the lives of people and realize that we haven't seen our family or friends for weeks or months or BOTH! I feel the horror of my in-laws thinking I hate them. And then I think that maybe my friends hate me because I haven't text them back for a couple of days. And it's then that I feel like I am INCREDIBLY lame and there must certainly be something wrong with us (well, in many ways there probably is). Completely Serious. Weeks! And it's not because we avoid any one of them on purpose (usually). It's really just because we don't have 8a-5p-ish jobs and with varying seasons we get more freakish-scheduled and with the both of us, someone ALWAYS has a weekend activity, if not 10 activities and we WORK on Sunday's. We COMPLETELY love where God has us, but thus a con that includes at times (ok, almost always) having a LAME-O social life.


And then I read the following paragraph from Beth Moore's blog (yes, I know I am not Beth Moore and I am not writing a book... though maybe someday) and it gave me such joy because I realized I WAS NOT ALONE! GAH! (A few notes: Beth is in the middle of writing a book with her daughter Melissa, Melissa and Amanda are her daughters, LPM is her ministry, Living Proof Ministries). 


"Melissa said something to me yesterday that I’ve thought about a lot. She said, “You and Daddy and [insert Amanda's nickname] are pretty much my social life right now outside of home because I can’t be a dependable friend.” Whoa. Have I ever been there. People ask often how I’ve “balanced” (me balanced???) ministry with family and I’ve said the same thing over and over: I dumped practically everything else. If you have the updated version of David: A Heart Like His, it’s dedicated to my friend, Johnnie Haines, because she stuck with this on-again-off-again friend for 30 years. I’d drop out of communication for weeks at a time. I’m not suggesting anybody out there dump their social life. It’s not healthy. It’s just what I had to do for long stretches of time in order to fulfill my responsibilities to family and calling. These days I have my fellow sojourners at LPM and YOU and I am inexpressibly grateful. Truly, it’s one reason why I love blogging so much. It’s the way I get outside without ever leaving my home or office."


This makes me realize A LOT about me, us, and the friends that have stuck close despite our TOTAL wackiness. And honestly, it makes me ok with being lame if I'm putting my chips daily where I should (God, marriage and work). I am continually realizing that life is NOT balanced. And honestly, I'm totally ok with that. Someday (maybe), I'll see my friends (if I have any left after the next few years) more often! 


Sigh. I'm not alone! :)

Livin' It Up!

Sorry everyone! It has been a L.O.N.G time since we've blogged. We've SERIOUSLY been livin' it up. One thing that annoys me is when people make themselves "busy" and then complain about it. Every one of us chooses to busy. We sign up for ALL of it (especially in this house). That to say, we're not sorry for not blogging. We've been living it up!

But if you REALLY want to know why we haven't blogged (if there are still any of you out there). See below. This is a screen shot of our calendar. Here's a sneak peak into what life looks like everyday in the Vint home (and it's summer) (and we don't have any kids) (and I happen to be an organized/efficiency freak and put all of my meals on my calendar).

There's been A LOT in the mix lately-- from job changes, loving each other well and going on vacation, junior high ministry, some house improvement, trips, vacation, work, mission trips, high school ministry, camp, family, friends, going to the pool and college ministry. Would we have it any other way (most of the time)? Heck no! Who else gets to do what we do?



Maybe we'll see you soon! :)

My Favorite Granola Recipe

I'm certainly not a lady that feels she has to make every last thing from scratch (and don't worry I won't put that pressure on you either), but I do enjoy some homemade granola now and again. I have been looking for a granola recipe for over a year that I really like. I've tried at least 10 recipes, none of which hit the spot. My friend Sydney brought me over a sample of the recipe she uses and I loved it! Thought I'd share!

Sydney's Homemade Granola

Ingredients

• 3 cups of old fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup of walnuts roughly chopped
• ½ cup of almonds roughly chopped
• ½ cup of pecans roughly chopped
• ¼ tsp of cinnamon
• ¼ tsp of salt
• ½ cup of real maple syrup
• ½ cup of dried cranberries optional

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix all of the ingredients so everything is coated.
• Spray baking sheet (use one with sides).
• Layer granola evenly on baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
• Cool for 20-30 minutes (until cool to the touch) before storing.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Yields (9) ½ cup servings.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Loaf

The other day Joel and I were in the mood for some tasty goodness  and so I whipped up this easy "bread" (it's a lot more like cake, lets face it). It turned out simply divine... mmm... mmm... good! I found it on the food blog Dinner with Julie.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Loaf

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar (white or brown)
• 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup buttermilk, thin plain yogurt or milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2-1 cup chocolate chips, chopped walnuts or pecans, or a combination

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9″x5″ loaf pan with nonstick spray.
• In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 
• In another bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, oil, milk, eggs and vanilla.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry along with a few handfuls of chocolate chips and/or nuts, if you’re so inclined, and stir just until the batter comes together. 
• Scrape into the prepared pan and bake for an hour, until the top is cracked and springy to the touch.

LIfe is like a box of chocolates (or a bucket of chips)... you never know what you're gonna get!

Today was the kickoff of 180. A leaders training would not be complete without Mexican food from the infamous El Azteca of Ames. They have ridiculously delicious food and when it is light on the checkbook, we are always game!

With that said... you have to see what the chips were delivered in.

Nothing, but a fully sanitized trash can. Whon whon whon!

Gotta love it!

We Had a Whole Week Off & We Stayed Home!

Another blessing of our jobs at Cornerstone is that we have the whole week off between Christmas and New Years! Working in ministry we naturally work with people. Joel is well, 120% extroverted. He can never get enough and I well, my people-meter blows at around say 80% (don't worry, its not because of you of course). Sometimes I feel bad when I just want to stay at home because I am all peopled-out, but I LOVED this week. LOVED IT (until the end of the week I was all ready to have a good ol' time)! We spent a record 10 nights not doing a single activity besides staying home (that was partly due to sickness). Joel also read A LOT for his seminary classes (yes, he is getting his Masters... cool, huh?).

That said, I will recount to you most of what we did this week (backwards).

We had a New Year's Day party. Ah friends, food, football... and a little Grumpy Old Men to boot! Did I mention that Joel gave me my fav movie selection for Christmas? Love these movies!

Did I mention footballl... yep, we've certainly watched (are watching) our fair share of that lately! In my second life I think I'm going to work for ESPN as a sports analyst. =)

Joel was a well, a little under the weather on New Year's Eve so we hit the hay about 9:00p. I wanted to show my love and devotion to Joel and stay home with him, even though I was throwing a pity party for myself on the inside. I was sad to not be ringing in the new year with friends and fun. I soon got over myself (thanks to the Holy Spirit)... oh yes, and because I was the one who got sick earlier in the week and probably gave it to Joel.

Wah-lah! A little somthin' I threw down on New Year's Eve (while Joel was sick). Window transformation (in reverse... hah). The one set of windows we had yet to paint white in our home. This was one of those..."why didn't we do this a long time ago" type things. I like it way better!

The day before this I did come down with the awesome 24/48 hour flu. I am a huge baby when I am sick and want all the care Joel will offer, while Joel hates all personal contact while he is sick. We are so opposites sometimes! Who knew?!

Don't you love when the trees are like this? For an instant I really like it (and then I step outside and freeze my toes off). Our God really was the originator of beauty. Our fake flashy lights do not compare to days like this. On this day we were on our way to Des Moines to do some exchanging and returning.... and we picked out some tile for a project Joel has been working on all month and much of this week. That will require a post of it's own in a month or so!

Somewhere in here Joel and I did celebrate Christmas together. We got to attend the Cornerstone service (which I have never done), make our own special Christmas Eve and Christmas morning meals, and enjoy one another. SUPER FUN! We also spent most of Christmas day with Joel's family enjoying food, opening gifts, and playing games.

We shared the Sunday before Christmas with the Vint side of the family. Notice I only like pictures of young children and beautiful aged women (I'm so weird with photo taking).

Love Joel's grandmother, Melva. 1st Christmas without her beloved husband of 42 years. So hard! Do notice that her christmas light necklace blinked!

We spent the weekend before Christmas celebrating with my family in MN. My baby brother is 19. WILD!
A family favorite Christmas character even showed up. Santa and his little elf (my Grandfather has dressed up as Santa for years and come to our home... I used to be SO SCARED OF HIM and would hide). Some things do change. Isn't my Grandmother lovely?!

Joel's first time on Grandpa Santa's lap. Santa called us a bunch of ding-a-lings!

The week before Christmas we celebrated in style with the 180 leaders. "North Pole Trash" was the theme. Cute, huh?

This is one group acting out the dance they made up to a beloved Christmas carol. We had a blast!

The best and worst costume contest winners. Sonny got a Barbie for being worst dressed and Jewels got a Cafe gift card. Mmm... the cafe!

Most of the leader gang. Thanks for all you do ya'll!

That's a wrap for the 2nd Vint Christmas Season!

All Access Pass

One of the many perks of my job is that I get to have a hand in stadium cleanup. The Salt Company (the college ministry I work for) cleans the stadium after every ISU home foothall game to raise money. As the coordinator, I play a role in how this goes down each week. This week my co-worker (that does even more stadium cleanup setup than I do) was having surgery and so Joel and I got to use the ALL ACCESS PASSES!!! BOO YAH!

Def. a highlight of my job that my husband loves... Here are some of the photos!

Check it!

Maybe a future photo on the wall!

Love this one!

ACT (clap, clap, clap)-ION, ACT-ION, Action boys Action! (Yes, that was from my cheerleading days)!

Too bad the Clones had to lose. Despite their lame-o roller-coaster season we had 7 great cleanups. As you may well know, I am BAD at taking pictures. Next year I'll have to take some pictures of 200+ people cleaning a stadium. Now that is something to see! We certainly keep Jack Trice Lookin' Nice! Thanks to everyone who helped.

Retreat Season

What in the world have the Vint's been up to? Well, since we work for one church, but two different ministries, we've been up to retreats.... well putting on retreats that is.

While we catch up on our sleep, here are a few pictures to see exactly what fun we have!

Hanna, a TSC student, and I sporting our 80's great at the TSC Retreat 80's dance!

The TSC staff. I have the best job EVER!

The TSC staff girls. LOVE THEM!

Notice the hilarious difference between a college retreat and a jr high retreat! =)

Joel, after he jumped in a pool of nasty food and (unknown to everyone at the time...someone's puke).

After the students did the dizzy bat, they had to run around a baby pool of nasty (as close as possible without falling in). Joel pushing some kid in!

How fun!

I never want to forget this... Part II

In the previous post I told you that Joel's grandfather passed away. It has been 2 weeks since his death and still my mind flashes back to that day as one that I never want to forget. I told you about the first reason. Here is the second.

The night before the funeral I sat in my mother-in-law's kitchen late into the night sipping drinks and eating peach crisp. I, accompanied by my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, my husband, and Pete.

We sat listening to the life stories of two friends.

Dean, Joel's grandfather, had a friend named Pete Lombardi.

Pete was from Brooklyn, New York. Dean grew up in small town Iowa. They met and became great friends while serving in WWII together, probably enlisting in their late teens. Pete recounted their first meeting as Dean saying, "Well, if you aren't from Brooklyn, I ain't fron Iowa." And boy was he right.

After serving together they each went their separate ways, but stayed close through the communication that they had. Each man married and started having children. Pete described it as a competition. When Dean had one child, Pete had one child. I guess this went on until each had 4 children. Pete's family would come out to see Dean's family on their farm in small town Iowa for vacation in the summer months and when Dean's family could, they went and saw Pete's family that now lived in Maryland and Florida. Pete and Dean were very different men. Pete was a business man, having many achievements and making some good money throughout his life. Dean was a farmer and painter, never having too much or an abundance of money.

Pete was schedule to come and visit Dean in the month to follow, but instead changed his ticket to attend his funeral. Pete was asked to share a tribute at the funeral and he did. He mentioned much of what I have written above, but also told us, in his east coast accent, that Dean talked to him often about Jesus. Dean emphasized the importance of family, the importance of Christ and being involved in your local church. Pete said that Dean had the largest impact on his life of anyone he knew.

These men were very different, separated by so much, but remained close friends for 65 years. Can you imagine being someone's friend for 65 years?

I never want to forget this clear picture of friendship. Through thick and then, good times and bad, they remained great friends. I don't know if I have remained friends with anyone for more than 5-6 years, let alone 65! Wow! What this means for my life, I don't know, but it remains a picture in my head. A picture of faithfulness, the joy found in knowing the in's and out's of someone else and they knowing the same about you. A picture of loving people when you don't want to and someone else loving you when it is equally as difficult. A picture of faithfulness.

I never want to forget these two reminders of faithfulness. The faithfulness of a wife and of a friend. I never want to forget these two pictures because they are rare. You don't go to every funeral and see this. These two relationships, not even kept together by the will's of two people, but of God.

Oh Lord, that I would remain faithful, for great is your faithfulness!

I never want to forget this... Part I

On Friday, September 10, 2010 Joel's grandfather, Dean Vint (age 84), passed away. We had the privilege of attending his visitation and funeral this past week.

I was slightly anxious going into the funeral. One weird part of being newly married is that you don't know your spouse's life before you entered it. That sounds weird and maybe dumb, but it is an odd reality. I haven't known Joel's grandfather like he did. I didn't grow up with him like he did. I didn't paint with him or ride in his truck. I didn't know him without oxygen assistance or without a wheelchair. I hate that. I wish I did. I really wanted to be able to grieve with and to have deep compassion, but it is hard when you don't know. You don't have the same memories and it just doesn't feel the same.

Because of the prayers of my dear friends. If a funeral can be good, this was the best funeral I have ever been to. Good for me for two main reasons. I will start with Part I.

My throat hit my stomach as I sat from a distance looking on as Melva, Joel's grandmother, stood touching the hand of her deceased man. The man who had protected her, comforted her, romanced her, wrapped her in his arms, fathered her children, laughed with her, gone through good times and bad with her, provided for her every need... her husband of 62 years. Standing there for minutes that seemed like years, she said her last goodbye.. kissing his head and hesitantly walking away with tears pounding from her eyes. At that moment I felt my own face, tears reaming from my own eyes, and my own heart ripping in half. The reality of separation.

When you giddily stand at the altar on your first day of marriage, your wedding day, you don't think about the last day, the day your marriage ends and you are desperately separated by the inevitable... death. At that moment, as a girl hardly married, I thought about that last day.

Melva is such a dear woman. The Spirit of God is incredibly evident in her life through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. She is my real life definition of Proverbs 31. I want to be her. I want it to that faithful when my husband is sick for 10+ years. In sickness and in health, right? Isn't that what I promised on my wedding day? Yes, yes it is. For richer, for poorer? Yes, yes it is. Till' death do we part? Yes, yes it is. God, please! My marriage is awesome, but please keep it that way! Please help me to think about that daily! Remind me of Melva and Dean. I never want to forget this.

Now Joel and I have already decided that I am going to die first or that we will die together (haha... because we have so much control... right?). If Joel does die first or without me I will be one heck of a W-R-E-C-K! But what if it does happen, what if Joel does die first? I guess what else would I want... would I want to NOT be a wreck? No, I want to be a HUGE WRECK actually.

Why? Because of love, because marriage is the way the gospel is most clearly portrayed in real life. It is meant to be a representation of Christ (husband) and the church (wife). Christ died for the church. He gave his life, he sacrificed it ALL. No, Joel is not God, but besides Christ, he is the ONE and ONLY person who I have committed my life on this earth to. Committed. I have vowed. And if it isn't hard if he dies before I do and if I am not a wreck, I have not loved him like the church is to love Christ. That is what I saw in Melva. A woman who followed a man that led her well, who took her vows seriously, and who has lived a life of love.

And death, well, because of our sinfulness and our need for Christ. We are separated. I can't wait for the day described below, when the church is reunited with Christ and there is no more pain, crying, or mourning.

Revelation 21:1-4 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Thank you Melva for your faithfulness and your great example. Thank you for being a wreck and letting me see a very real picture of marriage on the last day. I will never forget this. I love you so much!

Matt & Jessica's Wedding

Joel's brother, Matt, got married to his wonderful new bride, Jessica, on August 28.

Joel officiated the wedding and I got to help with decorating and other fun things like doing my the hair of my two nieces and sister-in-law (this is such a fun thing when you've never had a sister until recently)!

At the Groom's Supper in our finest (I REALLY do LOVE it when Joel dresses up. He has great style anyways, but I guess it is just not his normal work apparel and so I get excited)!

Joel and Carrie trying to love on Matt. I can't even imagine them as children.... I have a feeling Matt got the bad end of the stick all too often (a middle child thing right?...) too funny!

I like this picture not because it is actually a great picture but because of the meaning. I am doing exactly what my mother would do in a picture with her sisters. Sticking out her face and smiling really big! Weird! It is also fun because we are clearly having a great time. One great thing is that none of us new sisters had a sister while growing up! We have a lot to catch up on!

My beautiful nieces Sydney and Addison!

Giving the bride away. Joel got to officiate the wedding. He did such a great job!

Ever since we got married we have been horrible at taking pictures of ourselves together. So we decided to do it when we got home (notice our home in the background). Dorks!

Yea!

Married!

I clearly didn't take these pictures, but LOVE them, so I thought I'd share!

The In-Laws. Enough Said! =) Haha... just kidding! I love this. The photographer took pictures of people at the reception with these frames. What a FUN idea!

Jessica had the most beautiful flowers! And notice the bling... TOO FUN!

We LOVE YOU Matt & Jessica Vint!

Visiting my brothers

Last weekend Joel and I got to go visit my brothers (and my parents). Brian was home visiting from the Navy. Together we attended Matthew's football game at his new home, Hamline University!

Joel and I with Matthew. Yes, it was quite wInDy!

Brian and Matthew.

Matthew and my parents, Brad & Sue.

Brian and my mom, Sue.

Joel and I with Brian.
Matthew, #18, standing on the sidelines.

My parents and Joel and I are now in the same life stage (no kids), they're just on the other end! I hope they pick up some new hobbies and really enjoy their time together!

GO STATE!

Tomorrow is the big ISU v. Iowa game.

If you didn't already know, Joel and I are ISU fans (we even have a room in our house that happens to sport the clones). As a non-native Iowan, my blood doesn't bleed cardinal and gold like Joel's, but lets just say I spent a great deal of energy, time (and we all know a lot of $$$$) at our beloved institution that they've happened to convert me.

Here are some pictures from The Salt Company Tailgate. This event was a lot of fun to coordinate. Have I told you that I LOVE my job? It rocks and is such a blessing!

We had around 300-400 students attend the tailgate. SO FUN!

After the game The Salt Company does a little something called Stadium Cleanup. We do this as a fundraiser each year. We had to have broken some kind of record. 300 students cleaned the stadium in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Talk about some serious awesomeness! Oh my gosh!

Jill's daughter Jaida, learning the ropes of tailgating early. Isn't she just THE CUTEST little thing you've EVER seen? I want one!

Some of my FAVORITE PEOPLE (the girls I get to work with)! With me are (the other) Sarah, Kendra, and Jill (and some college dude goofin' in the background).

Oh we will fight, fight, fight for Iowa State and may her colors ever fly.... (ok, there is a reason I don't sing... I'll spare you the rest)!

Game on dark side (that other black and gold team)!