Can I just tell you how wonderful it is to be married to your best friend? to know that God Himself put you together? to come home to the face you like bestest in the world every night? To wake up next to him in the morning, and ache with craziness all day because you're so ridiculously giddy happy to be with him that you can hardly stand being 8 hours without him?
I love being married to Tyler Entrekin.
For those of you who are not yet married- be you single, dating, engaged, frustrated, or in-between- please know that if you can trust God with your life, and allow Him to be in charge of your potential relationships/future marriage, the results are sweeter than I know how to explain. When God is your matchmaker, your marriage can be a perfect little foretaste of heaven. It can be breathtakingly beautiful. It can be eternally strong. It can be good and right even when life and your attitudes are less than nice. And when I say "let God be your matchmaker," I don't necessarily mean sit in a nunnery and wait for a man to walk in and a voice from heaven to say "he's the one." I mean, trust God, put Him first, rely on Him for security and love (not on a relationship), and don't let a significant other distract you from Him. When a significant other has this same attitude, and helps you get closer to God, then you're probably on the right track.
Please. if you're frustrated with your relationship status right now, try God. I promise He won't let you down. He promises He won't let you down.
Thanks for listening to my overflow. When you're absolutely crazy in love your heart gets full and you have to unload sometimes.
I sincerely pray each one of you trusts God and lets Him bring you happiness.
In Him,
Jess
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
hi
It's been awhile. I've been getting married and getting used to being married. I've also been moving in, starting a new job, and preparing for school. Life has been full. I would apologize for not posting in ages, but I'm honestly not sorry for enjoying real life and neglecting the online world for awhile. It's been wonderful. I highly recommend it.
Married life is wonderful. I tell anyone who'll listen to me (and some who I'm sure wish they couldn't) that it's been the best two months of my life so far. To be mutually crazy in love with someone, and then get to live with an monopolize on that person, and do the everyday humdrum things while smiling at and hugging that person, is happiness itself. Not every moment is glorious, but even the less-than-lovely ones can be sweet. I'm learning that it's not simply love, but God's unconditional love that covers a multitude of sins. Relying on that is how we get over the hurdles.
So right now I'm pushing onward into my own version of happily-ever-after. :) and it's great. I hope everyone else has had as wonderful a summer as I have. (But I personally like mine best!)
Til later,
Jess
Married life is wonderful. I tell anyone who'll listen to me (and some who I'm sure wish they couldn't) that it's been the best two months of my life so far. To be mutually crazy in love with someone, and then get to live with an monopolize on that person, and do the everyday humdrum things while smiling at and hugging that person, is happiness itself. Not every moment is glorious, but even the less-than-lovely ones can be sweet. I'm learning that it's not simply love, but God's unconditional love that covers a multitude of sins. Relying on that is how we get over the hurdles.
So right now I'm pushing onward into my own version of happily-ever-after. :) and it's great. I hope everyone else has had as wonderful a summer as I have. (But I personally like mine best!)
Til later,
Jess
Saturday, April 23, 2011
oh, hello again...
So, I owe you a sheepish apology for my lack of commitment to blogging lately... I just have been so insanely busy with school that I haven't had the energy or time to blog... but I have written a little bitty poem, so I'll share that with you... an update on life will have to wait a bit yet.
Single Girls' Paranoia
Quiet, calm evening,
Air a perfect temperature on exposed skin.
I relish the feeling as the breeze strokes my neck.
Around me, eerie quiet. spooky, expectant stillness.
Then the sound.
A car? or voice?
The wind up high, whistling in tree limbs and sky.
I no longer feel alone.
Her low moan
makes me want to glance behind.
Is someone there?
Walk quickly, ignore the shiny, pretty moon and soft air,
Open your apartment door and slide the chain on the other side.
Release the tense breath in your chest now.
You're safe from your own paranoia.
Single Girls' Paranoia
Quiet, calm evening,
Air a perfect temperature on exposed skin.
I relish the feeling as the breeze strokes my neck.
Around me, eerie quiet. spooky, expectant stillness.
Then the sound.
A car? or voice?
The wind up high, whistling in tree limbs and sky.
I no longer feel alone.
Her low moan
makes me want to glance behind.
Is someone there?
Walk quickly, ignore the shiny, pretty moon and soft air,
Open your apartment door and slide the chain on the other side.
Release the tense breath in your chest now.
You're safe from your own paranoia.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Courtyard
A gust of the spring breeze washes over me.
Glaring bright, but gentle in warmth,
The sun beams down.
Sitting here, I'm exhausted from lack of sleep,
Achy and weary from lugging around a heavy bag on a thin strap all day long,
Disappointed in myself for my failures,
Confused about how to deal with others',
And anxious about the many, many, things I have to do this week. (and next week... and next week...)
Oh, and I'm really hungry, too.
However, the sound of a constant fountain and the gentle hug of the breeze
Help to soothe me.
Lord, please carry my burden
Take care of my tomorrows,
And give me wisdom to deal with mistakes.
Help my soul to be as peaceful as my surroundings.
Help me to transition from this current melancholy state
To one more hopeful and cheerful.
Give me your strength;
Enable me to do my daily tasks,
While still loving those around me.
Basically, know that I really need and want you right now.
I know I don't want you often enough, and that's how I got to this place.
But right now I'm thankful for the way you embrace me with the breeze
And I'm content just to nestle into you and let you fill me up.
Glaring bright, but gentle in warmth,
The sun beams down.
Sitting here, I'm exhausted from lack of sleep,
Achy and weary from lugging around a heavy bag on a thin strap all day long,
Disappointed in myself for my failures,
Confused about how to deal with others',
And anxious about the many, many, things I have to do this week. (and next week... and next week...)
Oh, and I'm really hungry, too.
However, the sound of a constant fountain and the gentle hug of the breeze
Help to soothe me.
Lord, please carry my burden
Take care of my tomorrows,
And give me wisdom to deal with mistakes.
Help my soul to be as peaceful as my surroundings.
Help me to transition from this current melancholy state
To one more hopeful and cheerful.
Give me your strength;
Enable me to do my daily tasks,
While still loving those around me.
Basically, know that I really need and want you right now.
I know I don't want you often enough, and that's how I got to this place.
But right now I'm thankful for the way you embrace me with the breeze
And I'm content just to nestle into you and let you fill me up.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
New blog!
So, as I've become increasingly addicted to blogging, I've noticed that all of my favorite blogs to read have very coherent themes. Mine, however, is basically a collection of random brain-spews... So, I've decided to create a foodie blog, which will focus on my OTHER favorite hobby, cooking, and let this one continue to be a spew, but a less random one. I hope to continue posting poetry, prayer requests, and random life-updates on this one, and without a conflict in blog-theme interest, that will (fingers crossed!) occur more frequently.
As for my new cooking blog (which just has one weensy little post, its so new!), here is a link, if anyone reading and happens to be interested.
The Budding Budget Foodie
As for my new cooking blog (which just has one weensy little post, its so new!), here is a link, if anyone reading and happens to be interested.
The Budding Budget Foodie
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
A-dorable
So, this is a quickie post, since my life is consumed by homework this week, but I saw this on a friend's page and had to share...
I started ballet when I was about this age, and this video brings back so many fun memories of jumping around to twinkly music played on a boombox. I really really hope God gives me a little girl who loves to dance as much as I do!
I started ballet when I was about this age, and this video brings back so many fun memories of jumping around to twinkly music played on a boombox. I really really hope God gives me a little girl who loves to dance as much as I do!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Fresh baked goods totally trump ice cream every time
So, while my fiance could easily eat a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting (especially if it has anything "mocha" in the title), I prefer baked goods. I'll take cookies or muffins over nearly any other dessert option. Those are pretty much my favorites. One of my favorite things I did in high school was what I dubbed "Muffin Mondays," which meant on Monday, I woke up extra early, and baked some kind of hearty, healthy(ish) muffins, and made sure to clean up the colossal mess before my mom got home from her morning bus route. I still haven't figured out how to cook without wrecking the kitchen in the process. Anyways, I would pack said muffins in my lunches all week long. Nothing like homemade goodness halfway through a busy day! I really wish I had the time I had back then, to do stuff like that.
However, I did get to (successfully) do two baking experiments this week! Although both of them (sadly) featured boxed mixes, I did manage to add my own little twist. As yummy as box mixes can be, I still feel like it's cheating. My mom rarely EVER used them when I was growing up. The only cookies I ever ate out of a package were Oreos.
My first experiment was fudgy brownies- my fiance LOVES brownies, but they have to be fudgy, they have to be rich, and they can't be TOO gooey... I've only ever once made the "perfect" brownie, according to his tastes. And the frustrating part is, the second time I tried that recipe, it turned out horrible, even to my tastes. And I'll eat just about anything. So, in desperation, I got a Ghirardeli Fudge Brownie mix, and tried it out. My twist: instead of using the included fudge as icing, I swirled it into the top layer of batter before baking. YUM! I loved them- they were firm on the outside, but with gooey chocolatey middles. Tyler declared them, "not quite perfect, but pretty good." Compared to other attempts, that was high praise.
My second experiment was Lemon Poppyseed Cake. I got a fierce craving last night for something sweet, gooey, bready, and fruity... after half an hour walking back and forth between the fresh baked goods and the baking mix aisle in Kroger, I bought a can a poppyseed filling and a lemon cake mix. For anyone who likes lemon poppyseed, I highly recommend trying this: I mixed a little less than 1/4 cup of poppyseed filling into the batter (used slightly less water and oil to even it out), and baked it in a small bread pan. If I do it again, I'll probably line the pan with parchment paper, since a hunk of the cake stuck to the bottom when I tried to pull it out. For the icing, I mixed about a cup of prepared vanilla icing with a couple tablespoons apiece of milk and orange juice (if you feel brave, get orange-mango- it's extra sweet and tangy), and a teaspoon of poppyseeds. You'll have to use a beater or mixer to blend the poppyseeds in. The result is A-mazing... I could pretty much eat the leftovers with my fingers. However, in an attempt to be ladylike and less piggish, I'm just pouring an extra few tablespoons over each slice of cake as I eat it. ;)
I realize this post is probably rather boring to some, but cooking has become a rather intense hobby for me lately (closely seconded by blogging), and Tyler's already graciously listened to me discuss the finer points of these experiments several times over... so I figured I'd tell any willing readers about my cooking ventures, and give his ears a rest. Not that he minds, he's very supportive about it, especially when it's edible.
And to prove the statement made in the title, I have, myself, eaten a little less than half of the cake today. I expect the rest to be gone by tomorrow, or Monday at the latest.
However, I did get to (successfully) do two baking experiments this week! Although both of them (sadly) featured boxed mixes, I did manage to add my own little twist. As yummy as box mixes can be, I still feel like it's cheating. My mom rarely EVER used them when I was growing up. The only cookies I ever ate out of a package were Oreos.
My first experiment was fudgy brownies- my fiance LOVES brownies, but they have to be fudgy, they have to be rich, and they can't be TOO gooey... I've only ever once made the "perfect" brownie, according to his tastes. And the frustrating part is, the second time I tried that recipe, it turned out horrible, even to my tastes. And I'll eat just about anything. So, in desperation, I got a Ghirardeli Fudge Brownie mix, and tried it out. My twist: instead of using the included fudge as icing, I swirled it into the top layer of batter before baking. YUM! I loved them- they were firm on the outside, but with gooey chocolatey middles. Tyler declared them, "not quite perfect, but pretty good." Compared to other attempts, that was high praise.
My second experiment was Lemon Poppyseed Cake. I got a fierce craving last night for something sweet, gooey, bready, and fruity... after half an hour walking back and forth between the fresh baked goods and the baking mix aisle in Kroger, I bought a can a poppyseed filling and a lemon cake mix. For anyone who likes lemon poppyseed, I highly recommend trying this: I mixed a little less than 1/4 cup of poppyseed filling into the batter (used slightly less water and oil to even it out), and baked it in a small bread pan. If I do it again, I'll probably line the pan with parchment paper, since a hunk of the cake stuck to the bottom when I tried to pull it out. For the icing, I mixed about a cup of prepared vanilla icing with a couple tablespoons apiece of milk and orange juice (if you feel brave, get orange-mango- it's extra sweet and tangy), and a teaspoon of poppyseeds. You'll have to use a beater or mixer to blend the poppyseeds in. The result is A-mazing... I could pretty much eat the leftovers with my fingers. However, in an attempt to be ladylike and less piggish, I'm just pouring an extra few tablespoons over each slice of cake as I eat it. ;)
I realize this post is probably rather boring to some, but cooking has become a rather intense hobby for me lately (closely seconded by blogging), and Tyler's already graciously listened to me discuss the finer points of these experiments several times over... so I figured I'd tell any willing readers about my cooking ventures, and give his ears a rest. Not that he minds, he's very supportive about it, especially when it's edible.
And to prove the statement made in the title, I have, myself, eaten a little less than half of the cake today. I expect the rest to be gone by tomorrow, or Monday at the latest.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
a little poetic spurt
So, poetry has always been something I've loved reading and writing; I remember writing my first poem when I was about 7 or 8. It was about Sojourner Truth (if you don't know who she is, Wikipedia her.) and when I rediscovered it about 10 years later, it was so bad I destroyed it. I don't keep too many horrible things around for posterity to find.
Anyways, I tend to go through poetic periods, and I've had a tiny one lately. Here are the results...
Winter Sunshine
An invader on this winter day,
A golden, pure, translucent ray,
The yellow sunshine's fingers reach through the trees,
And give a gentler Midas' touch to everything.
The left corner of the brick building gleams.
Ode to Procrastination
Oh, Procrastination;
Sweet sensation
Of forcefully forgetting important tasks
Until after they're due.
Side note: at the moment I'm writing this, I have a test and 5 projects due next week that I've barely touched.
Aside from writing, my life's been going along in normally abnormal style. I am trying to put more efforts into relationships, though; both with God and people. I've been distracted from God lately by stress and busy-ness, and as a result my relationships have suffered. For anyone who reads this, please pray for me to grow closer to God, and be a better fiance/daughter/friend/student to those I encounter every day. Not even I like Grumpy Emo Jess, so I'm pretty sure no one else does (even though Tyler graciously endures and comforts her). I'm ready to get back to a better, more stable, kind, and God-focused version of myself.
Anyways, I tend to go through poetic periods, and I've had a tiny one lately. Here are the results...
Winter Sunshine
An invader on this winter day,
A golden, pure, translucent ray,
The yellow sunshine's fingers reach through the trees,
And give a gentler Midas' touch to everything.
The left corner of the brick building gleams.
Ode to Procrastination
Oh, Procrastination;
Sweet sensation
Of forcefully forgetting important tasks
Until after they're due.
Side note: at the moment I'm writing this, I have a test and 5 projects due next week that I've barely touched.
Aside from writing, my life's been going along in normally abnormal style. I am trying to put more efforts into relationships, though; both with God and people. I've been distracted from God lately by stress and busy-ness, and as a result my relationships have suffered. For anyone who reads this, please pray for me to grow closer to God, and be a better fiance/daughter/friend/student to those I encounter every day. Not even I like Grumpy Emo Jess, so I'm pretty sure no one else does (even though Tyler graciously endures and comforts her). I'm ready to get back to a better, more stable, kind, and God-focused version of myself.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
the return of inspiration
Laughing
My whole self is so light,
I feel like I'm breathing in joy with each breath.
It's like in "Mary Poppins," when laughter allows them to float;
Except, this emotion goes deeper and has no limitations.
It's like heaven's imperturbable happiness has invaded Earth,
And touched everything I see today.
Why this superlative joy?
Because my God has acted on my behalf!
He has granted my most desparate plea!
Jehovah has come down into my life and orchestrated a full-blown miracle!
My God is so GOOD!
Oh, how can I not love and worship Him?
Oh, Father, forgive me for the days when I fail to remember Your goodness,
Fail to honor You in my life.
Brand the memory of this miracle permanently into my mind.
Help me not to forget and stray.
Help me not to find other things more wonderful than You.
Help me to abide in this moment of undeserved, overflowing joy and love
For the rest of my days.
To my God be all glory,
Because great, marvelous, impossible, wonderful things He has done.
My whole self is so light,
I feel like I'm breathing in joy with each breath.
It's like in "Mary Poppins," when laughter allows them to float;
Except, this emotion goes deeper and has no limitations.
It's like heaven's imperturbable happiness has invaded Earth,
And touched everything I see today.
Why this superlative joy?
Because my God has acted on my behalf!
He has granted my most desparate plea!
Jehovah has come down into my life and orchestrated a full-blown miracle!
My God is so GOOD!
Oh, how can I not love and worship Him?
Oh, Father, forgive me for the days when I fail to remember Your goodness,
Fail to honor You in my life.
Brand the memory of this miracle permanently into my mind.
Help me not to forget and stray.
Help me not to find other things more wonderful than You.
Help me to abide in this moment of undeserved, overflowing joy and love
For the rest of my days.
To my God be all glory,
Because great, marvelous, impossible, wonderful things He has done.
"To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yeilded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the lifegate that all may come in.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father through Jesus, the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God,
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus his pardon receives!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father through Jesus, the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!
Great things He hath taught us, Great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,
But purer, and higher, and greater will be,
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father through Jesus, the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!"
"To God Be the Glory" by Fanny Crosby
Monday, January 24, 2011
Oh, my, what a wonderful story...
This post is undoubtedly WAY overdue, but here it is. A little blip (I'll TRY to limit the mush- no promises!) on the wonderful love in my life, and how we're getting married in t-minus 137 days! I love seeing that number get smaller and smaller. :)
Tyler and I have been dating for just a smidgen over two years now. He's my best friend, my favorite companion, my most trusted confidante, and my hero when bugs crawl on the walls in my dinky southern apartment. I would claim to be the most blessed girl in the world, but I happen to have several friends who are equally happily engaged/engaged to be engaged/married. We'll just say I've joined the ranks of undeservedly happy women.
I pray that every single one of my friends gets to experience this- whether it comes from God alone (pure and unadulterated), or is additionally funneled through another human being, to be so loved, so aware of it, so able to rest and rejoice in it, is the greatest joy in the world.
I will say, (having been single, too) I know it can be hard not to have that romantic human love- but in my loneliest times, it was my God who was my friend, who loved me and held me and took care of me. In the midst of all this romantic ecstasy and mush, don't think I'm undervaluing the love of my Heavenly Father. It's only because He loves me and gives me strength and grace that Tyler and I can be together. Our relationship would never have begun, much less survived, without our God.
One thing I've discovered as I've fallen more in love with Tyler, is that romantic cliches and songs are popular because they are true. I wish I'd written a big hit love song- just so I could say I tried to put these feelings into words with some marginal success. As it is, I'd like to share one of my favorite love songs. It was written by a young woman named Mandy Mapes, about the love story between Ruth and Boaz in the Bible. I identify with it so strongly.
LOVE STORY
"I see your smile,
And it's so much sweeter,
After all that I've been through.
And when you laugh,
I get a glimpse of forever,
And I praise God that I found you.
"And anytime someone asks me,
How it all unfolded
I tell them,
Such incredible chances
Make for marvelous love.
"And just like the sun
Lights up the moon,
This love is a reflection
Of more than just me and you-
Our lives
Were less than ordinary
But when I couldn't see past tomorrow,
God was makin' history
Oh, my, what a beautiful story
Of love.
"Unexpected mercy
Is the greatest thing to find
When you've been broken many times.
My soul found joy!
And for the first time in a while,
I felt like singing.
"And anytime someone asks me,
How it all unfolded
I tell them,
Such incredible chances
Make for marvelous love."
"And just like the sun
Lights up the moon,
This love is a reflection
Of more than just me and you.
Our lives
Were less than ordinary,
But when I couldn't see past tomorrow,
God was makin' history.
Oh, my, what a beautiful story,
Oh, my! what a beautiful story!
Oh, my, what a beautiful story,
Of love."
I thank God for the beautiful story of first, His love for me, and second, His love to me and Tyler through each other.
Tyler and I have been dating for just a smidgen over two years now. He's my best friend, my favorite companion, my most trusted confidante, and my hero when bugs crawl on the walls in my dinky southern apartment. I would claim to be the most blessed girl in the world, but I happen to have several friends who are equally happily engaged/engaged to be engaged/married. We'll just say I've joined the ranks of undeservedly happy women.
I pray that every single one of my friends gets to experience this- whether it comes from God alone (pure and unadulterated), or is additionally funneled through another human being, to be so loved, so aware of it, so able to rest and rejoice in it, is the greatest joy in the world.
I will say, (having been single, too) I know it can be hard not to have that romantic human love- but in my loneliest times, it was my God who was my friend, who loved me and held me and took care of me. In the midst of all this romantic ecstasy and mush, don't think I'm undervaluing the love of my Heavenly Father. It's only because He loves me and gives me strength and grace that Tyler and I can be together. Our relationship would never have begun, much less survived, without our God.
One thing I've discovered as I've fallen more in love with Tyler, is that romantic cliches and songs are popular because they are true. I wish I'd written a big hit love song- just so I could say I tried to put these feelings into words with some marginal success. As it is, I'd like to share one of my favorite love songs. It was written by a young woman named Mandy Mapes, about the love story between Ruth and Boaz in the Bible. I identify with it so strongly.
LOVE STORY
"I see your smile,
And it's so much sweeter,
After all that I've been through.
And when you laugh,
I get a glimpse of forever,
And I praise God that I found you.
"And anytime someone asks me,
How it all unfolded
I tell them,
Such incredible chances
Make for marvelous love.
"And just like the sun
Lights up the moon,
This love is a reflection
Of more than just me and you-
Our lives
Were less than ordinary
But when I couldn't see past tomorrow,
God was makin' history
Oh, my, what a beautiful story
Of love.
"Unexpected mercy
Is the greatest thing to find
When you've been broken many times.
My soul found joy!
And for the first time in a while,
I felt like singing.
"And anytime someone asks me,
How it all unfolded
I tell them,
Such incredible chances
Make for marvelous love."
"And just like the sun
Lights up the moon,
This love is a reflection
Of more than just me and you.
Our lives
Were less than ordinary,
But when I couldn't see past tomorrow,
God was makin' history.
Oh, my, what a beautiful story,
Oh, my! what a beautiful story!
Oh, my, what a beautiful story,
Of love."
I thank God for the beautiful story of first, His love for me, and second, His love to me and Tyler through each other.
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