Mourning a loss

Last night my papa passed away. I don't have too much time right now to explain and give any details except to say that he is now at peace and rejoicing with our Lord and Savior. My heart is heavy as I write about this. Please. I ask for your prayers as this week begins. There are so many stresses as it is.

Tomorrow (Monday) we are going to Georgia and will be back late Tuesday night.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have
received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ
flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort
overflows."
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

"May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight."
Psalm 119:76-77

Naomi

An Ending

Today was my last day of work at Old Navy Rivergate. I worked there almost 2 years. It's a little sad to think about... I've known people there since we opened the store in early October of 2006. And it was so sweet, they gave Anson & I a Colman tent! I cannot wait to go camping!! ee!

But leaving isn't all sad. I am so very excited at the same time. I know God has an adventure ahead of me! Leaving the familiar is what makes life exciting does it not?

Anyways. If it's in God's plan I will be working in Cary early October at the Old Navy there. I don't plan on making Old Navy my career... just a temporary job until God brings something else along. :)


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Naomi
listening to "Don't You" by Era
& reading James 2

A few disjointed thoughts

I feel a little guilty for not updating this more often but I suppose I really shouldn't feel that way because there have been plenty of things to fill my time. I certainly haven't been idly sitting by waiting for something exciting to happen. The poor month of June is going to feel very left out since it passed without even a simple hello. What can I say. My birthday that month on the 23rd was fantastic. Anson took me out jet skiing on Lake Norman and I had so much fun! It was us and the fish and the birds and a wonderful sky for two hours... well more like an hour and a half since we got lost getting there to begin with. Even stopped on a little island for a breather and to stretch my poor legs.

And now I really don't know what to say, where to continue... perhaps it is just too late to begin writing a blog post anyway. *sigh*. My beloved Anson has defiantly inspired me. Since July 21st he has been witting every single day, posting a countdown to the wedding and sharing his insights on life and what amazing things God has been teaching him. Honey, you inspire me!

...

There I go again. Getting distracted. I guess I wasn't meant to do this whole blog posting thing. Anyways let me get to my point... In the womens bible study I am apart of we are reading and discussing the book of James. Oh how many good things James has to say in so few chapters. God has certainly been teaching me a lot just through reading His word... unfortunatly for me I struggel so very much to take the time to read as much as I should. Yes I read every day, and not just out of one book... but is that enough. No. But God is faithful. He is still teaching me so many, many things. About patience, and the practice of setting aside one's own desires and feelings inorer to serve, to love when a person is so very hard to love. Thank you God for loving me this much.

Oh and the slip of paper I am using to mark my place is this lovely little list of questions to ask yourself. Thought I'd share:

1. What experiences of prayer and meditation have you had this week?
2. What temptations did you face this week?
3. What movements of the Holy Spirit did you experience this week?
4. What opportunities to serve others did you have this week?
5. In what ways have you encountered Christ in your study of the Bible this week?

"As the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without deeds is dead."
James 2:26

Naomi
listening to "Don't You Forget" by Era
& reading James 2, John 16, & Genesis 31

Counting Down the Days

Well Anson and I have both been counting down the days till our wedding and getting more and more excited every day! You can count down with us here.
:)

God bless

Naomi

Our Engagement Story

Thursday afternoon, May 15th.
At the top of an old silo/tower Anson James VanDoren asked me to be his wife... and I said YES!
Anson and I had been talking a lot about getting married, especially the few weeks prior to our engagement. While my parents were still overseas in Thailand we had gone shopping for an engagement ring and found one that was perfect. But even though we had found a ring Anson still had to wait till my parents got back. Anson and my dad went out to lunch on Monday where Anson asked my dad's permission and blessing to marry me. I think Anson's original plan was to propose at the beach but understandably he could not wait the 3 weeks. So instead he was able to get the ring in just a few days and propose much, much sooner. At this point I already knew my dad had agreed and given his blessing, I was only patiently waiting for the "official" question to be asked. :)

That Thursday morning Anson let me sleep in (he's usually up before I am and gives me a morning wakeup call) while he went into Charlotte to pick up the ring (I didn't find out about this until after). A little after lunchtime Anson came over on the bike and picked me up. I had no idea where we were going nor did I know that he was going to propose! Once we turned onto a certain road, only then did I figure out that we were headed to Anne Springs Close Greenway. The Greenway is a large nature park near Fort Mill and Rock Hill in South Carolina. There are pastures, old cabins, riding and walking trails, even a swinging bridge.

Once there we looked at a map of the park and I found a trail that went to what looked like an old railway bridge... Anson wanted to take photos off of the top of the old silo first. It was only then, walking to the silo and up it, that I got a little nervous and excited of what was possibly about to happen.

At the top of the silo is a gorgeous view overlooking some of the horse pastures and woods. Simply gorgeous. As we stood there looking out, Anson's arms there wrapped around me from behind, I felt his hand leave my arm and reach into his pocket and gently slip a diamond ring on my finger. He got down on one knee and told me for the very first time that he loved me. He then asked if I would be his wife and share the rest of our lives together. Time stood still. It seemed like an eternity before I could bring words to my mouth. I wanted to cry! I wanted to laugh and tell the whole world that I too, loved a man so very dearly! This man, before me on one knee, was asking me to be his wife! And I said yes.



Anson's side of the story

A wedding dress!

Well today I bought my wedding dress! I've been to two other bridal shops in the past two days. Today it was the first dress that I tried on. Mom and I immediately spied it on the sale rack and I only picked it up thinking it would be fun to try on but not as a serious consideration. But after putting it on I was convinced it was "the one". It fits perfectly! I feel like a princess in it.

Anson and I have been blissfully engaged for an entire week. :)

I'm Engaged!

As of May 15th at about 2:00pm to Anson James VanDoren. :)

just real quick...

Anson is home! ... or well technically he's been home since Saturday... And I'm so incredibly happy he is! yay!!!!! :)
ok that's all

-Naomi

Mosaic

and I had no idea my pastor had such an incredible testimony...



but it's not about the man. much more then that. God has certainly used his life in some amazing ways though.
This morning's talk/sermon was the third in a series on "pity the fool" or wisdom. Naeem focused on decision making. And while I do have my sermon notes I don't think they would say as much as listening in person to what he had to say (eventually they should be up on the church website for those interested)
What stood out to me the most was the last point, # 7. "What are you waiting for?" in the end any decision is between you and Jesus no matter how many counselors and friends and family that you have with an opinion. For me it can be easy to get caught up in searching for answers from others, counsel from as many people as I can that I know, love and respect...

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done"
Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Proverbs 9:10

-Naomi
listening to "Still Falling" by Saybia
& reading Gardner's Art Through the Ages, 12th edition

An update

It's late but at the moment I can't sleep so what better thing to do with my time then update my long overdue blog. :)

Life is, well, happening. I have never been so anxious for a day to finally arrive then I have been about April 19th! I'm ready for it to be here and for Anson to be home again. I've missed him terribly and it's sad to say the longer he's gone the more I miss him! And want him back even more then the day before. Yes, I know that sounds terribly mushy but it is the truth. For the past few weekends we've been able to "see" each other over web cam and talk, though usually our "conversations" end up in one or both of us complaining that our faces hurt from smiling too much and that we both would much rather talk in person.

And as for school, two of my classes (Graphic Design 3 and Typography 2) have given me at least 3 very large assignments due by the end of the semester. So I've been working hard this weekend trying to finish one of the projects, a poster for a fictional Russian cultural festival. The other projects are a magazine (cover, table of contents and articles) and a book (create and design content plus have 3 copies bound). So as you can see my school life is keeping me busy.

I'm excited about this summer. Anson and I are hoping to go visit a few places. We both will be taking classes over the summer. I'll be glad to have those over and done with. I will most likely be taking a Research and Reporting class, Psychology, Math and the dreaded Public Speaking course. Certainly looking forward to getting all four of those core classes over and done with!

This past Thursday was such an interesting day. It was so cool how everything tied itself together and fell in place. Almost like God had themed it. What I mean is, in art history class we began learning about Islamic art. And this has been with all of the other cultures or religions' art that we've been learning about so far, the teacher has also focused a great deal on the culture or religion behind the art. It's apart of understanding why something was made the way it was and for what purpose. Anyways, I'm off track... all that to say we're learning about Islam in class. Then Thursday night at my womens bible study we are going through a study by Beth Moore about the Patriarchs. Interestingly enough that night's video was all about Islam and how Ishmael's bitterness passes down through his descendants.

I'm a little excited. I've already talked with my art history teacher last week so Tuesday I am going to bring in some artifacts from Papua to show her. I'm sure she will find them fascinating.

(a photo I took on my recent trip to the Grand Canyon with Joy.)

This bible verse from high school has been running through my head tonight.
" You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you."
Isaiah 26:3

Naomi
listening to complete silence except for the hum of my computer & the refrigerator in the kitchen
& reading 1 Corinthians 11-13

A lot has happened...

Well a lot has happened since I last wrote. I'm posting mainly to say that I'm alive and well. God still continues to bless me each and every day! I'm very excited about what He is doing and planning for my life... I just need the patience to let it all unfold with His timing, not mine. The past few months I've been growing closer and getting to know even deeper the man I am so very proud to call my boyfriend. He has taught me so many things and has been a great encouragement especially with the ins-and-outs of school and work life.

It's hard to believe January is almost over!
Sadly, I have an early class tomorrow morning and my bed is now calling. goodnight. :)

"Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died —more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:34-39

Naomi
listening to "Love You 'Til The End" by The Pogues
& reading Wild at Heart