1st Christmas Together

our niece Kyla

My Favorite Christmas Song

Wanted to share my favorite Christmas song. I heard it a lot last year on the radio, but our station doesn't seem to play it up here (or maybe I just drive less).
"How Many Kings" by Downhere



How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?

All for me.
All for you.

I could play around all night on this YouTube station
http://www.youtube.com/user/SPIRIT1053
Check it out if you need some new music

White Out

snow plow mountain

The snow in front of our apartments was as high as our waists from the wind

Our deck- 2 ft deep in snow

It's Blizzarding!

I've been looking forward to my first big snow living in Iowa and it has finally arrived! It began Sunday evening and picked up today accumulating around 4 inches. The weatherman is calling for 7 inches of new accumulation tonight!

Snow doesn't slow Iowans down like it does in Texas and even compared to Maryland. Life carries on, cars plow down the roads, people go to work as if nothing is the matter. Most schools went for a half day today even though the ground was covered in the a.m. with snow still falling. Jeremy wisely decided to stay in our warm apartment and spend the day studying in his office. Knowing it would be nearly impossible to talk him into building a snowman or sledding with me the day before a test, I was siked to have a day of babysitting on the calendar. I knew they would be up for the task!

Our day was spent sledding, making snow angels (mine was a lot bigger than I remember it), building Frosty, and plowing around in the enormous fluff. Exhaustion was a familiar feeling that set in once we were chilled to the bone and ready for a warm break inside... and hunger! Speaking of exhaustion and hunger, there's nothing I want more right now than a hot meal, warm shower, and my bed.

Early goodnight from the land of snow and corn,

Leanne

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love the feeling of Christmas! This year feels especially peaceful, warm, and joyous because of the husband I get to share it with. It's an interesting experiment to combine our two separate sets of Christmas decorations and see which survive.

To start, Jeremy's parents handed down to us the perfect size tree for our little apartment. Just one glitch, the tree stand was lost somewhere between Jeremy's last apartment, his parents basement, and our garage. Not to worry, I have a "real tree" stand handed down to me three years ago from my parents. A stack of magazines, half a roll of duck tape, and 1 frustrated Jeremy later we have a slightly unstable tree that is going to have to hold up to the new year! Moving on.

Themed or memory tree? Jeremy is from a strictly themed, white light, gorgeous tree family, while I am from a colored light, memory ornament, not so matching tree family. Both beautiful in their own way. The ironic thing was that while we both wanted to stick to our family way of theme vs. memory, we each preferred the opposite type of lights that our families had. Jeremy bought a whole set of colored lights last year, but luckily I had some white on hand from Texas decorations. I do believe that we succeeded in this area with minimal tears shed to create "our tree", what the child of our two family trees would most likely look like. Ornaments with special value collected over the years that mostly have red in them, tied together with red balls, matching ribbons, and white lights. It somehow pulled itself together.

On the other hand, our front door looks as if it is having an identity crisis: the TCU wreath we made this year is above our Hawkeye doormat and to the right of it a very country looking snowman! I have to admit, part of me does wish that everything from the front door forward was tied together in one look, but I easily let that idea go. Some day our house will blend perfectly, but for now I am happy to leave it be. It's us right now: 2 becoming 1. Our first Christmas.

The Harvest

I have never been one to dream of life on a farm, but now I understand. Land far as the eye can see, new life all around, seeds spreading, rain falling, plants growing high, blue skies, sunshine, just the whistle of the wind, peace, quietness, harvest. Beautiful, isn't it? After housebound weeks of cold the sun came out this weekend and called our names. We went for many walks in 70 degree weather with new eyes to see around. Things are greatly appreciated when absent for a bit. On Saturday night before falling asleep, I whispered to Jeremy, "I'm thinking about corn fields." Only here, only in our apartment, one of many that have sprung up in our little town surrounded by fields.

I love that we've chosen to live here & I know that it was all in the books for a reason. I love our little church just five minutes down the street. When we pulled in this Sunday Jeremy commented, "Isn't it nice to actually be on time to church?" Yes, it is. We could have never pulled this off driving across town, although we would have driven further if this one hadn't felt like home.

I love the dirt road behind our apartments. 40 steps, turn the corner, trees hide the buildings, and you're suddenly in a simpler place. Tennis shoes are a must and I admit to Jeremy each time how geeky I feel in my ensemble, but step outside and no one cares. Why would they, it'd be ridiculous to dress any other way. To the right, a soybean field stretches as far as you can see, to the left trees and grass, no doubt filled with animals galore, and a little further along the way "our pond". We cross our fingers that the one little lady in her old Chevrolet doesn't speed by and stir up the dirt, but even that won't get us down. Sneak through the opening on the way back to walk around the townhouse community. Each building exactly alike, few changes in color, but filled with young, fresh families. New babies, small bicycles, their own place to call "home". We stop one more time by "our pond". Steps towards the door, the back of a row of duplexes face us. You can't help but see a baby in her high chair being spoon fed, a small toddler climbs atop the table, young children jump up and down on their mini trampoline savoring the last few minutes of light. Life is beautiful.

Everything is fresh to a pair of new eyes. The harvest, a reminder that God provides. Reading in Mark, parables I've heard many times stay close throughout the day. He taught them in parables so that, "they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand." I've looked and listened, but never taken the time to search before shutting my eyes to the light. A choice is made against carelessness to look, listen, search, and apply.

So it is with the Parable of the Sower, one falling particularly on new ears to a girl surrounded by fields during harvest time. "Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn't have deep soil. When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn't have a root, it withered. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn't produce a crop. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown."

He explained to his disciples, the seeds are the word. Some hear and receive it with joy, but having no roots it is short lived and disappears when tribulations come along (rocky ground). Others hear the word, but reject it due to worries, seduction of wealth, and other earthly desires (thorns). The harvest comes from those who listen, accept, and bear fruit producing a crop 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.

Hearing, listening, applying, time to bear fruit. How does this work in my own life? How can I share? Where can I speak up? Next paragraph, a lamp is not brought in to be put under a bed. "Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you. For the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." These are my contemplations; tailored to my location and just in time for the Thanksgiving season.

For now from the Land of Corn,

Leanne

Home Feels Especially Cozy in November

The Thanksgiving countdown begins! Around our house the cold weather is keeping us inside longing for hearty food, warm blankets, and some cozying up on the couch. Although Pharmacology is putting one of those things on hold till tomorrow.

This past weekend we spent in Des Moines with Jeremy's family and road up to Fort Dodge to see Chris run at states. For the meet, I dressed in 6 layers of clothing- 2 pairs of socks, long underwear, multiples sweatshirts, and a coat. Exactly how I would dress for snow days growing up in Maryland (with a few more pairs of my warmest socks). I told Jeremy that we could really use one of the snow hats my brother used to cut eye holes out of and pull over his head! That would have been a little scary though. In Fort Dodge, two hours north of Des Moines, it was windy and fiercely cold; the type of day that can cause a throat ache simply breathing in the air. Feel no sympathy for me in my six layers(really). Christopher and all the other runners on his team wore tiny track shorts to run their 5k! Somehow he managed to pull off a great time and passed several other runners at the finish.

The night before the meet was October 30th and in Des Moines this is known as "Beggar's Night". This traces back a ways to a suggestion made to steer Halloween away from the night of vandalism it had become. As suggested, begging began to take place the night before Halloween and kids were expected to perform a trick or tell a joke to get their treat. There are two trick-or-treaters left at the Brady house- Seth went as a ninja, Grace went as a cat, and Jeremy and I were left to hear lots of knock-knocks!

On Sunday we had supper with friends before hitting the road. We were sent home with enough cookies to last till Christmas and provisions for our home. What a blessing! Then this week has been a combination of babysitting, job interviews, job hunting, and of course Pharmacology. The interviews have gone well. It's funny to think that I've had two this week and three prior to that and yet I may still go through ten more before I actually hit the job God has for me. This time around I am being more careful to be thankful for the opportunity whether or not it is the job for me & to just keep on applying. The last interview I went in for I left really wanting the position & when the rejection letter came it was a big let down. That Sunday our pastor said something that really hit me- the way you react when things aren't going your way is an expression of how much your life is centered around yourself. Hmm... that seems like a life long struggle that I need to start on right away!

I was just reading Sally Clarkson's blog, I Take Joy, one that I stumbled upon a while back. I really like reading other people's blogs- it's one thing I've found to help me stay focused on living purposefully. This particular post was about fear and overcoming difficulties:

"As I study the stories of scripture, it was when people looked at their obstacles in life--the storms, the giants, the battles, that they became fearful and useless and defeated. But when they looked at God, instead of their fears, they became strong and conquered in their battles and storms and difficulties. Peter saw Jesus walking on water and started out toward him andfound himself walking on water! But when he turned his eyes to the waves, he became scared and began to fall."

There is so much more good stuff in this post alone & in the rest of her blog. You should check it out if you're in the reading mood.

Yours from the land of corn,
Leanne

This Season

Last week was the end of my temp job at ACT. Jeremy and I had been debating this decision for weeks- was this really where I was supposed to be? And then last Tuesday while at work I realized that it was time to leave. I'd made enough money to help us get by and there were so many other things I felt I should be doing with my hours of the day right now. I'd also just had an interview and realized there are jobs out there that would fit my gifts and interests. So, I gave a few days notice and worked through the end of the week.

I once heard the story of a man who felt lead to go to seminary but did not have the money to pay for school. Should he continue working and ignore his calling? The answer that was given to him was to never take away a chance for God to work in your life. Go to school and take as many semester hours as you can pay for and then do what you have to. The man put his trust in the Lord, went to school, and through miraculous gifts was able to finish it straight through. God provides.

In my own life I see God providing. Just like he provided the ACT job right at the point that Jeremy and I knew we needed additional income. This week when our coffee pot broke we had one $20 target gift card left from wedding gifts- guess how much our new one cost. Jeremy has been pretty sick the past week and guess what they did in lab the other day- flu tests on each other (& he is also not pregnant according to the other test)! It is just incredible to me how he provides for us in great and small ways.

The Lord has been putting a lot on my heart lately. In my work situation he has revealed to me my issue of pride. This is something I didn't see while surrounded by beamers and Texas women at TCU or the families I incredibly respect at church. But being in a production building working hand in hand with people from different status levels and educational backgrounds was an incredibly humbling experience. I gained so much respect for the work ethic held by workers taking home $9/hr that did not exist with my eyes set at a distance. I realize the weaknesses and challenges that are innate in so many that make it hard to secure a job with a steady income. Break my heart for what breaks yours. I've also felt broken towards parents who are missing the love of the father. I've realized what a burden it must seem to have to care for little ones full of energy and needing constant attention without understanding the love that God has for us and desires for us to love our children like he loves us. Without love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, all the fruits of the spirit that god works to grow in us where would we be as wives, husbands, mothers, and fathers? This thought makes me want to share. It makes me think of the precious little ones that are missing out on an incredible love. I just can't describe how much this thought tugs at my heart.

I'm afraid that this feeling will dissipate just as quickly as it came & I'll lose my passion while seeking other things in this life. I feel like this is how it's been for me in the past- for a period of time I feel an incredible desire to serve in all the ways the Lord could possibly use me, but I am only human and prone to stray. I fall down to busyness and distractions. If anyone has wisdom to share on this I would love to hear it.

Right now I am loving being a wife and having extra hours open to serve and learn. I am very much looking forward to my first holiday season with Jeremy and am so thankful for all of our blessings up here that we did not have just 3 months ago: a home with a place for everything, a husband who teaches me new things each day, and a church to help us grow. For the love of old hymns: All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto thee!

Yours from the Land of Corn,
Leanne

October Morning Suprise

This morning I woke up at 8 am unable to fall back asleep. After a half hour of trying to lie very still and not wake Jeremy I decided to head out to the living room and start my day. Unfortunately, Jeremy's sleep did not last much longer once I reached the living room, opened the blinds to let sunlight in, and met my eyes upon tiny white dots floating in the air. At first I thought they may be tiny bugs, but as they began to fall more thickly I realized- It is Snowing in Early October!!! To be fair, I had heard that it may snow this Sunday, but it didn't seem real until that moment. After running to the bedroom to open up the blinds and show Jeremy what I'd found I spent the rest of the morning staring out the window in amazement. We called my parents, Jeremy's parents, and Caity to let them know the news. As I sat on the couch the words "I can't believe it is snowing" came out of my mouth almost every thirty minutes. I started to feel the warm and fuzzy Christmassy feeling and Jeremy reminded me that it is still a few months away. A lot of the trees around here are still green and almost all still have their leaves, but we have snow.

After a few hours of enjoyment I began to realize that my winter clothes are still down in the garage. "Jeremy, I don't even have my snow boots out." I do not need my snow boots YET Jeremy(while trying not to laugh) told me, today a pair of tennis shoes will work just fine. If this were Texas at any time of the year and it was sprinkling snowflakes we would be outside in snow boots, a ski coat, scarf, hat, and gloves playing in the snow. I think the Real Iowans know that there is plenty more to come and inches more around the corner to play in. The pretty snow disappeared this afternoon and it is probably a good thing for Jeremy who is headed to the Hawkeye football game tonight! I am staying home and packing up my tees and shorts. Hello sweaters, coats, and boots :). We will be seeing more of each other this year. What an adventure!

Yours from the land of snow & corn,

Leanne

Fall Is HERE

Jeremy and I got to spend this past weekend with some sweetie pies in Johnston, IA doing lots of fun fall stuff: glittering pumpkins, soccer games, football, getting his sisters ready for Homecoming, gymnastics...

Jeremy babysat for Emily and Nick in highschool so it was a lot of fun to have a whole weekend together with them...another perk of living in Iowa. We wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way!


Emily & Grace picking out their first pumpkin. Emily later picked the biggest pumpkin in the entire bunch!

Nick and Seth playing football & Emily and Grace glittering pumpkins.

Waiting

I feel tired this week. Listening to the radio on my way to work this morning a woman came on and shared that she is a very fast typer, but while she is fast she makes many errors. On the other hand, she went on, God makes no mistakes but he may not always move fast. I know that I am waiting on the Lord right now. I know that he has a job in his plan for my life and I must be patient and wait on him. That doesn't mean waiting is easy- it can really wear down on you.

The majority of my temp job right now is quality control- put the cd in the computer, make sure that it has data on it, the right number of lines, and the right school name. I also monitor worklists to see when they go through- type in a number, hit enter, if it has a check it goes in the check pile if not it goes in the non-check pile. You understand, not very gratifying work. On several days I've spent less than 2 hours working and the other 6 reading books. Without any additional work responsibilities it is hard to go home and feel like I've accomplished much. I continue to put in job applications for real jobs in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City as I work this temporary position, but haven't heard much back lately. I have somehow made it through 4 weeks in my current position and I've learned that patience takes real strength, and trust me this is not of my own. It's something that I'm really struggling with now. I'm here, I know that he hears my prayers and will work it all out for the good, but how much longer? The first two weeks weren't too painful, but it's getting harder and harder. I need to rest in knowing that he will work in his time not my own. When I am feeling tired and wondering how much longer, I need to be patient and trust.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge" Psalm 62: 5-8

I do know that there is a reason for this time of waiting. Patience, strength, endurance, trust, there are so many things that I can learn through this trial. I'll let you know how it goes. Job or not fall is definitely here: time for pumpkin everything, apple picking, and beautiful leaves; tomorrow is our 2 month anniversary, and this weekend we are babysitting for a family back in Des Moines. There is still so much to be thankful for :)

Yours for now from the land of corn,
Leanne

TriHawk

Early this morning Jeremy hopped into the chilled Iowa water to do the first leg of the Tri-Hawk triathlon with a relay team from his class. The boys did awesome- 3rd place!


...and they're off- they were in the 2nd heat

I finally picked him out as he edged the finish

Jeremy didn't look as beat down as some others did coming out of the water- he's still got it
Sam put the team together and rode the cycling leg of the relay

Dan ran the group to the finish with a final time of 1:11:45

So this is how life starts to fly...

We've almost been married for 7 weeks now and life seems to be happening faster and faster. I think the criminal is busyness- it seems to steal time like no other. For the past two weeks I've been working for ACT (the testing company) in their production building.

I must admit I loved being a housewife- I would be perfectly happy cleaning, cooking, running, errands, paying bills, and making sure our home is in order everyday. During my 5 weeks at home I never once felt bored or lazy. Everyday I woke up with Jeremy- made his lunch, had coffee together, spent time on devotions, and then began working down the days to do list. Before I knew it Jeremy would be returning to a perfectly balanced home and wife along with a home cooked meal. It was also easier to do things for other people and entertain. I love this concept- it may seem a bit 1950's-ish, but I see the light on it. Every day I really felt like I was serving in an incredible position- doing a really big important job- and living with complete purpose.

However, there is a little tool called a budget that we've been working on and it has become clear that at this time I need to work outside of the house. With a husband in school, it would really help to have a job with benefits and a way to begin paying off loans. I've been applying for jobs since we got back from our honeymoon and there haven't been too many bites. Then two Thursdays ago I put in an application at The Loft and ACT. The loft was the first mall job I had applied for- I figured it would help to go ahead and get a part time job going while I searched for a regular position. The next morning I got a phone call first from the Loft setting up a noon interview and then at 1130 from ACT offering me an immediate full time temporary position under the same supervisor as the regular position I had applied for. So, I canceled my Loft interview and began work at ACT the following week.

Since then, life has really gone full speed. With rush hour traffic I've been making it home around 6. Then at night time I do the things I would typically do in the morning so that I can leave the house by 8. I pack our lunches, prep for the next nights dinner, pick out an outfit, get the coffee set on a timer, and then before I know it it's time for bed. I treasure dinner time. Jeremy has his first test this week so he's been incredibly busy studying, but he always stops completely when dinner is ready. We both sit down at the table (we have one now!) and share our days. I look forward to this time. I also enjoying sitting down to eat my lunch and thinking about how Jeremy is sitting down to eat the lunch I packed for him. One day when I was running out the door for an interview followed directly by work Jeremy packed my lunch for me and at lunch time I opened it up to find a vitamin, calcium chew, and note among the food :).

I still haven't made complete sense of the whole work situation, but I am trying my best to have ears that listen. I'm up for two full time positions that I should know about by the beginning of next week and I am realizing to even have a job right now is a blessing. Working alongside other temps at work that have masters degrees, 10+ years of experience, and excellent internships but are struggling to find work has made me truly appreciate this. During the first week of work I felt like I was a helping part to a tiny piece in an assembly line and wasn't even being considered for the full time position. I continually reminded myself of Jeremiah 29:11: "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." There are so many situations where this reminder is incredible. I didn't remember the two verses that followed, but when I looked them up this is what they say: "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." What a pretty promise.

Well, Friday is almost here and it is time for bed.

Goodbye for now from the Land of Corn,

Leanne

Job & 1st Hawkeye Game

Finally a lead in my job hunt! Since we returned from our honeymoon I have been on a constant search for a job here in Iowa. We're fortunate enough to be sandwiched between two great towns for work opportunities, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, so that expanded my possibilities a bit. However, knowing very few people in the area (other than students) there were no places where I had an easy in. I've applied for over ten jobs in the last month, always trying to followup within a week hoping to be more than just a resume in a stack of papers. No such luck until yesterday. On Thursday I applied for a position with ACT testing, expressing my interest also in temporary work. Yesterday, I received a phone call from human resources with ACT that they had forwarded my resume for the full time position and would like to place me immediately in a temp position that is under the same supervisor! It's definitely a start. I go to work this Tuesday.

Sadly, this may mark the end of my stay-at-home wife position. It was a lot of fun to play Martha Stewart while it lasted, but I guess I should use some of my other gifts for a while. It's funny how much work there can be in a home. There's a lot of love to put in it. I know that I've put a full months worth of days into cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, and errands and we don't have any kids to care for or animals to clean up after! I never once felt bored while I was at home and it didn't grow old. There's a time for everything though and right now it's time for me to get a job.

In other news, today was the first Hawkeye game of the season! Jeremy is a hawkeye and I married him. According to Jeremy, this means I too am a hawkeye. I can agree to that as long as he'll agree that we are still horned frogs. I'm not a big football fan, so my favorite part about TCU games was dressing in purple. This was a little different than TCU games. Iowa has about 22,000 more students then TCU does- imagine what that amounts to in alumni, staff, family...fans. It was a bit of craziness. A lot of people get up at 6 and 7 am to start tailgating. Jeremy didn't subject me to this- we showed up around 10 am and enjoyed coffee and breakfast at home. Good choice- by the time the game was over we had been out in the sun for long enough and I was glad I had a full nights sleep and coffee under my belt. We won by 1 point- blocking two field goals from UNI in the last 30 seconds of the game! Close start to the season.

Tomorrow we're driving back to Des Moines after church to spend Labor Day with Jeremy's family :). Hope you have a lovely Labor Day!

Sincerely Yours from the Land of Corn,
Leanne

The Grand Tour

IOWA: the only state that starts with two vowels, the state with the highest literacy rate and the greatest number of tornadoes, birthplace of both the "Eskimo Pie" and Herbert Hoover, a state with 90% of it's land devoted to farming, and home of the Bradys! While Iowa is clearly an incredible state to visit, we know that you may never get a chance to come visit. So, here is the grand tour of our condo. Please make yourself at home.

Our living room

Our Kitchen

Guest Bathroom

Jeremy's office

Our Bedroom

Master Bath

Our deck & lovely view of the Maytag building