We Are Now A Family of Three (Four Kind Of...)

So, it finally happened! On December 10, 2007, our dear sweet Liliana Kelleen Bozich came into the world! And my how she's changed it already.

Right now she's sitting next to me, crying her eyes out, trying to avoid the sleep that's dogging her little tiny body. If she'd just close her eyes I think she'd pass out, but she refuses. She also has this infatuation with having my finger or Tommie's finger in her mouth as she falls asleep-which is cute but actually kind of annoying and impractical. So I'm kind of trying to wean her off of that. Although the crying is starting to make me crazy, so I might just slip my finger in her mouth after all. I seem to have no resolve...

Anyway, Lili is finally here and Tommie and I couldn't be more excited about it. Life has changed for us dramatically in the past three and a half weeks. Notably:

1.) I feed Liliana every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. That means nighttime is a relative concept for me. I seem to be awake almost as often as I'm asleep when it's dark outside. Tommie's awesome though and has been a great partner at night for me, changing diapers and putting a sleepy and sometimes grumpy Lili to sleep. All in all, this is my least favorite thing, but it's not that bad.

2.) Leaving the house takes much more preparation and time than it ever has. Now we are responsible to get Maple's things (if she's coming) and Liliana's things before we leave. I can only imagine what it will be like when there are more of us...

3.) Liliana's crying is a daily noise, unfortunately. The thing is though, that's how babies communicate and they're going to do it no matter what. So we've started to get kind of used to it. There are times though when I think I might pull my hair out if she doesn't quit. That's when I'm glad Tommie's around.

4.) Laundry has to happen at least twice a week. That girl can poop, spit up and pee with the best of 'em.

5.) I've never loved someone as quickly and easily as I love our daughter. It's funny because you might assume it's a huge revelation, but for me it's just been the way it is....I just love her.

6.) For no apparent reason, Liliana loves Johnny Cash. I'm serious. Particularly the song, Ghost Riders In The Sky. Remember how I said she was crying her eyes out? Well she's stopped now. Ghost Riders in the Sky is playing and she's got her eyes closed and pacifier slowly slipping out of her mouth. Now I can only hope she doesn't notice when the pacifier is totally out and that Johnny works his magic just a little longer this morning.

Well, I have quite a few things to try and get done today and Lili's naptime is a precious commodity. SO, that being said, trust that the mommy chronicles and more stories of my life are yet to come.

A Long Awaited Post

So I'm not really sure how many people read this blog, though I think it is likely under ten people. But for those ten people (or less), I know there are times when I am slow to post and you must anxiously be awaiting another update on my life and my family. Right?!

Well, here you have it.

To the left you will see a picture of me at 38 weeks pregnant. (40 weeks is when the due date is...) That basically means, 8 1/2 months. This picture was taken on Friday of last week I think... Despite what you may be rationalizing ("it's not that big, etc.), it IS big! My tummy is huge now and I think it gets bigger and bigger at least every three days if not more. Our baby is fully cooked and is now simply putting on the adorable baby fat that keeps it warm out of the womb. So, I guess it's understandable that my belly would be getting HUGE. I'm decently uncomfortable now, but it still hasn't been bad. Other than wishing more family is in town, I'm totally hoping baby comes a little early.

In other news, Tommie has launched his newest CD! It is definitely the best I have ever heard from him and it will be a favorite in my car for sure. He chose to put this effort out under a different name-KELLEEN, which as you may have noticed, also happens to be my middle name. Anyway, if you want to listen to his CD, check out www.myspace.com/kelleenmusic You can also buy a digital version on that site. OR, you can wait till just after Christmas and order your hard copy of the CD that can be shipped to you. Either way, I suggest the purchase, it's awesome! Also, feel free to tell all your friends.

In the arena of Christmas preparations, you might be interested to know that we bought a $10 LIVE Christmas tree this year! The coolest part was, we had to drive out to the mountains, hike around and chop it down ourselves! It was so fun. We went with Kristin and Mike, who also got a tree, and my parents, who did not get a tree thanks to my mom's allergies. It was so much fun and we ate awesome wings down at the Red Rocks Ampitheater in Morrison after our little jaunt. It was perfect. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if it had snowed a bit while we were out. But, it didn't and it was still great. We came home and decorated our cute tree and put up some Christmas decor...I think I'll wait till the evening to get some shots of all of that and share those pics later this week.

That should have you about caught up with life right now. More to come as more life goes whizzing by.

Forget Etiquette, Let's Talk About Money.

Most families talk about money. They talk about how they don't have enough. They talk about how they need just a little bit more for this or that. They talk about how once they have enough, that will be so nice and they finally won't want anything else. (*wink, yeah right!)

Most people consider money daily. We consider whether or not what we're doing at this moment is wasting or gaining us money. We consider whether or not the Starbuck's we're drinking was really worth the money we paid for it ($4!?).

Not to be left behind the curve, Tommie and I also consider money routinely. It's funny, God has provided so amazingly for us, and yet, we're not rich. Isn't that funny? God's greatest plan for us seems not to have us in a mansion right now with a giant swimming pool that would make my burgeoning belly seem light as air, a golden toilet to ensure my "poo" don't stink, or any of the other amenities I sometimes believe I have a right to. It seems, at this moment, God's plan for us is to be OK. We have enough for what we need.

I was thinking about all of this because we finally have almost finished paying for our kitchen. Our kitchen costs just a little under what it will cost us to have our baby. It made me think, if I had realized that before, would I still have wanted to remodel our kitchen? I think I would most definitely say, yes. Our other kitchen was nasty. I mean, actually nasty. But at the same time, we have some friends on a mission trip in Africa right now and they are seeing kids who got a second pair of the clothes for the first time in their lives this week. Now, that will make you think a bit about where you spend your money! Ha.

I often waver between guilt and satisfaction over my purchases and conveniences. I wonder if I've truly chosen what God would have me choose. I think when it comes down to it though, it's my attitude about money that matter most, not necessarily my actions with my money. After all, it is my attitude that will direct my actions. So, that being said, I look to Colossions, where our small group has been studying for the past couple weeks, and look at the verse that says, "Fix your mind on things above. Don't just consider the things here on earth." Monetarily speaking, that means trusting God with my money, purchasing items that forward his will, knowing what his will is so that I could possibly purchase those items, and above all, knowing that money isn't what will save and provide for me in this life-despite what it may seem.

Money will never make my life better. It may make it easier, but that's not necessarily better. God's plan is infinitely better. His provision-right on time, every time with exactly what we need. He has provided luxuries and he has provided chances to give so much it hurts us sometimes. It is his attitude we seek.

A Morning at Peaberry's

So this morning Tommie had an appointment at 7:30. He met with an investment planner at Starbucks. I attempted to sleep until about 7:45, wake up with 15 minutes to spare for work, and then hit the ground running.

It didn't happen. :)

Instead, after one of the most sleepless nights I've had in recent history, Maple decided 7:20 was when I needed to not just wake up, but to get out of bed, play with her, let her outside and feed her. It was kind of funny, because while I was holding her, desperately begging her to stay in bed with me for just 15 more minutes, I was coming to the realization that in one month my life will likely resemble this morning very much...except that it will probably look that way most mornings, with a baby in ADDITION to the puppy.

I didn't freak out, but I did start to think, maybe I ought to cherish these last few mornings I have relatively to myself-moments where I'm not feeding something, picking up something's poo, etc. That's when I decided that when Tommie got home, I was taking off. I decided to go to this coffee house that we've been wanting to try for a while-Peaberry's. It's a small Colorado chain that reportedly has the best chai in town. Plus, they have free wi-fi, which I'm utilizing right now to post this (and to purportedly be doing my morning work).

It was funny though, because when Tommie got home, I told him my plan and he said, "That sounds great!" (could he be nicer?!) I asked him to please watch the dog and to make sure she doesn't chew up the armchair, the 2 x 4s we have in the dining room, my socks, the bathroom trash or any of the other items she's taken to attempting to destroy in the past month. He readily agreed and kind of sent me on my way. But as I was leaving, I was looking at my little puppy who was following my every step with a wagging tail and hopeful eyes....as she stood at the door, her little eyebrows begging to come with me, I started to not want to go. I started to wonder if Tommie would know that she would want to go outside in a little bit. I started to think that we have a pretty good time during the day, despite that fact that she's so much responsibility. I started to wonder if Tommie would make sure she has the amount of water she likes, like I do-or if he would be able to hear her scratch at the door to go outside or if his music would make him accidentally ignore her. I started to think she might miss me....and you know what? I started to think I might miss her.

I also started to think about my slight apprehension about becoming a mom, adding one more responsibility to a life I thought was going to be relatively uncomplicated at 22, and I started to think, I'm going to love this little person 100x more than my puppy. I'm going to hate my responsibility in the same way I was contemplating not going to Peaberry's today. They're MY little responsibilities...and I want them to be happy, to be healthy, to be mine. I think I'm smart to take a morning away, and I think I'm going to cherish those little responsibilities just a little bit more tomorrow morning when I'm the one keeping the beast from destruction...and probably the mornings in January when I'm feeding the baby, changing diapers and working all in one.

SALT LAKE CITY BABY!!!

That's right, Tommie and I are back from our jaunt in Salt Lake. We had a great time hanging out with Tommie's brother, Kenny, recording Tommie's newest album and just being tourists.

To the left, you can see we visited Temple Square-haven of the Mormons. It was an interesting visit. It felt like what it might feel like to be a visitor in a VERY big Baptist church actually. We had a few people explain a few different things to us and overall, we thought it was interesting, but not a place we spent all day. We did try to look up some genealogy in their library though. That proved to be incredibly difficult and not at all aided by the fact that our "helper" was a Mormon "sister" from Fiji. She apparently was doing her 2 year service there in Salt Lake but had yet to perfect the intricacies of speaking English quickly while explaining a complex online research system. Funny. Seemed like all the "sisters" in the library had similar issues.

We also had our first encounter with the ever-popular SLC fast food chain, SCONECUTTERS. This restaurant, open 24hrs a day, purports to serve you any number of ethnicities of food on a, you guessed it, scone. Tommie, for instance, had a "sloppy scone." I had a "sconeburger." We could have also enjoyed "french dip scone," "scone gyro" or a variety of other options. Interestingly enough, the doughy substance on which they placed our food seemed to resemble less a scone than it did fry bread. Either way, we were very pleased with our lunch choice-if not simply for its uniqueness-and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. (plus they had horseradish in packets like ketchup and mustard...could things have gotten ANY better for me?!?! I think not...)

I would also like for you to "meet" Amos, Maple's nemesis for the weekend. He is a 4-month-old Boxer puppy that belongs to Kenny's roommate. He was VERY eager to play with Maple. Unfortunately for our little weiner dog, he has little concept that his enormous paws should probably not whap Maple in the head as an invitation to play. She did her gremlin growl almost every time she saw him. Needless to say, they were separated most of the weekend with one being outside, the other inside or one in one room and the other upstairs. Actually though, I stayed at Kenny's place on Tuesday to do some work and was left alone with the two pups. After leaving Amos outside for most of the morning and being subjected to his pathetic lonely cries, I let him inside and let the two dogs go at it for about 10 minutes. After that, they seemed satisfied that they had let each other know where they stood...then they both proceeded to place their heads in my lap at the same time and fall asleep-with Amos snoring loudly of course. So, the story has a happy ending-Amos and Maple became friends. And then she left the next day and doesn't have to worry about him anymore.

The studio and the people we met involved with Tommie's album were incredible and we have some great pictures from that, but I'll save that for Tommie to share and post. So look forward to installment 2 of SLC Baby to show up here any day now.

Goin' West...Again!

As some of you know, Tommie's been in Salt Lake City since Monday, recording his new album and hanging out with his brother, Kenny, who calls SLC home.

I get to fly out to SLC tonight to shop for a crib at IKEA and to just hang out for the weekend and drive home with my puppy and hubby on Tuesday/Wednesday. I think it should be pretty sweet!

We're going to visit the Mormon Temple (the building with the spires), which is what the addresses in SLC are based on. (220 W 400 N...of the temple, etc.) The Mormons also have some of the most complete genealogical records in the world, so we may stop by the genealogy library and see if we have anything interesting going on there.

Other than that, we'll be hanging out with Kenny, getting to know his awesome girlfriend, Raychel, and playing with his boxer puppy, Amos. It should be a blast and we'll post pics as soon as we can!

I Promise--UNDEROATH

So, I guess it's lame to put up a picture of concert tickets, but still, I hadn't been to a concert here in Denver until Saturday...so I was excited!

Tommie and I had the awesome opportunity to go see Underoath at the Fillmore Theater (which is an incredible venue...it even has crystal chandeliers and everything!). Since Kenny plays in Aaron's (the drummer for UO) side project, we managed to get the tickets gratis, which made the night that much more enjoyable.

The picture to the right is ACTUALLY a picture of Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, a band out of Birmingham that features, Dallas, the ex-screamer/singer for UO. I thought it was so telling that these guys were from the 'Ham because they all took off their shirts toward the end of their set and continued to rock it hard...I thought it was fantastic.


I don't know if you can see the picture to my left very well, but since Aaron (again, the drummer for UO) was the one who got us our tickets, he also hooked us up with a sweet spot to watch the show. We got to sit in "front of house" which is where the soundboards and stuff are in the middle of the venue. That also meant Preggo here had a seat during the show and we didn't have to bump shoulders with the cute little sweaty moshing emo kids. Plus, it was awesome to see all the sound equipment and such. Oh, an everyone bragged on Kenny, Tommie's brother, because Aaron had gotten a blood infection about three weeks ago and so Kenny filled in as the drummer of UO on tour for two weeks and apparently ROCKED IT! So congrats to him for being such a fierce drummer.

Finally, to your right is a pic of Underoath, which was the most incredible band of the night...which is good, because they were the headliners. They had background videos, very fantastic lights and the best music of the night. They may scream, and that may not be cool with some people, but they also are incredible musicians and it was AWESOME to see them live. I especially like the keyboardist/synth guy, he's on the left of the stage. He usually only has one hand on the keys and the rest of him is shaking like a polaroid picture. It's awesome.

So, here's to Underoath for an amazing show, here's to Aaron and Kenny for making sure we got to see it for free, here's to the Fillmore for a venue that doesn't stink and here's to Denver for making my first show here wonderful!

Top 5...

Here, without further ado:
TOP 5 THINGS I COULD THINK OF TO POST ON MY BLOG!

1. I was very proud of these cookies. Tommie & I made and iced them for my sister and brother-in-law's birthdays. They're orange halves, just to clarify in case you have no artistic eye. :) We're not the best icers in the world, and it was frustrating! But the finished product made me proud!

2. Tommie is now officially inundated with work. His website is AWESOME: www.coldorangemedia.com. Also, he is planning to go to Salt Lake City at the end of October to record a new album with his brother and some guys up there. I've heard the scratch tracks and I think our ears will be VERY happy with the results!

3. My belly is continuously getting bigger. This is me, yesterday, at about 29 weeks. In case you didn't know, babies are born at 40 weeks, so you do the math! We're getting closer every day. We've finally picked a boy name and a girl name, so we'll be ready whenever baby Bozich shows up!

4. Our kitchen is NEARLY done! The cabinets are in, we have a stove and microwave, the floors are down...Now we just need countertops and a sink! Not surprisingly, those are important items in a kitchen. I estimate 2-3 weeks before the final product. (I hope that's not too optimistic)

5. The mountains they are a-callin'! Tommie went camping a couple of weekends ago and kept telling me how GORGEOUS the mountains are. Of course, I actually haven't been up there since we've moved, just because I haven't really had reason to go. Well, snow is starting to hit the highest peaks and I'm not going to miss my chance to see the beautiful aspen trees as they change colors. Tommie is going to be working inflatable bouncy games tomorrow near Boulder and I've decided Maple and I will go on a roadtrip near him! We HAVE to see the mountains! :) So, a packed lunch and a state park later and I should have my hit of those gorgeous hills for now.

I hope you enjoyed your top 5!

Nanny State-Is She A Libertarian Now?!

The other day, while flipping through our broad array of standard cable channels, I happened upon our county PBS channel. There was a guy talking about how the U.S. Government was turning into a "Nanny State."

Simply the term intrigued me, but as he went on to talk about what he meant, I knew I at least had to read his book. It is David Harsanyi's premise that the government is ever-so-slowly creeping into our personal liberties under the guise of "doing what's good for you." This "nannyist" legislation ranges from mandatory seatbelt laws to making it a question of government as to whether or not a restaurant outside of Decatur, GA, can serve a hamburger on a bun of Krispy Kreme doughnuts (barf!).
Now, don't get me wrong, some of the legislation that he demeans clearly has benefits-clean air laws, for instance. I HATE going to restaurants with smoke. Actually, the author seems to have no problem with restaurants themselves saying they are "NON-SMOKING" restaurants. his problem is the fact that the government is making it THEIR business to tell the restaurants what they can and can't have in their business, even if ALL or most of their customers smoke or don't mind it in their place of business.
Another issue he brought up was the government deciding what you could and couldn't do in your own car. Did you know there is legislation in several states that is underway that hopes to ban smoking in cars? I'm not exactly sure of the reasoning, but it seems a little crazy to me. The restrictions on what people can and can't serve children at school is also really interesting.
Overall, Harsanyi's argument is that the American people aren't total morons. They know that wearing a seatbelt is probably a better idea than not wearing it. They know that eating a giant bowl of trans-fat goodness for breakfast isn't the best idea. But here's the thing: in a nation where we say "liberty" and "freedom," boneheads who want to drive without their seatbelts on after eating a trans fat meal from a fast food restaurant on their way to a party where they'll smoke all night...well they ought to have the FREEDOM to do it!
I'm not a libertarian. Yet. His arguments have their merits and their downfalls. All I'm saying is, it is certainly an interesting conversation.
I checked out this book from our library and finished it in two days. I recommend it, even if you think it might make you mad, it's at least interesting to ponder thoughts on liberty and freedom-thoughts I haven't had in a long time.

New Kitchen, No Food, New Way of Life?

Imagine the picture to the left being Tommie, eating pizza with a cheesy grin-so many pizzas in fact, it is almost a certainty his heart will explode from clogs and clots any day. Or, I guess since it is a picture of a girl, you could think of it as me. But I thought it was more fun to think of it as Tommie....

Anyway, this is my introduction to my post about kitchen remodeling! I have the fortunate placement in this world to have a mother who is a fabulous kitchen and bathroom designer. Typically though, her kitchens are astronomically expensive. But seeing as I am blood (and her favorite daughter...?), she graciously designed a kitchen for our condo that greatly enhances its aesthetic and actual value, all while ensuring we won't be paying for it for the rest of our lives!

Here's the trick though, in order to put a new kitchen in, you must take the old kitchen OUT. That means that for the past 5 days we have had no stove, no sink, no floor and no cabinets. So the already "multi-use" baby room/tommie's office has also become our kitchen cabinets and the storage place for our only appliance that can be used for cooking: the amazing microwave! Needless to say, we have anxiously accepted any and all offers to eat at other people's places any night we can. Otherwise, I fear the pizza fantasy above just might come true.

Thankfully, things are moving along on our kitchen and we're putting down our new slate floors in the next two days. That's even more exciting because that means we can pick up our new appliances and put them in on the floor so we can COOK! So hopefully the pizza will become a thing of the past (at least for a week or so) as we cook on our new Kennmore black, glass-top stove that we purchased at a bargain from Sears. (thank you Labor Day sales...and I guess thank you to whoever is being remembered on Labor Day, which I really can't remember who that is...)

So, I know kitchens may not be your #1 thought, interest or daydream, but until we're cooking again and avoiding the glory of fast food every day, I will be anxiously dreaming of our new cucina.

So What Am I Supposed to be Doing?

I've had an awful lot of time to think this week so far. Despite the fact that I'm technically supposed to have 20 hrs. of work a week from Student Life, I currently have had almost NO projects to work on this week. This is mostly due to the fact that my primary supervisor's dad passed away last week and he has been otherwise occupied, understandably. So, I've waited patiently (mostly) at the computer each day during my designated hours, hoping someone from the office will IM me or e-email me a project that desperately needs to be worked on. I'm afraid this might continue until next week when my boss is slated to return. We shall see. BUT, like I said, in the meantime, I've had plenty of opportunities to think and examine the question: "What Am I Supposed to be Doing?"

1.) I should be doing work for Student Life. That is what I am getting paid for. I have worked on and off on certain projects for them during this time, but even after requests for more, it seems I have exhausted my usefulness until my supervisor returns.

2.) I should be doing something "job-related." This would entail searching for other freelance writing opportunities, writing articles to be submitted to various magazines and online publications, even working on a book idea that I've had for about 4 years. Tommie keeps suggesting I organize my thoughts for this book idea that I've had....it's a scary thing to think though. I always wonder, is this really a book that needs/ought to be written? Won't it just be one more spine on a bookshelf among authors no one knows or cares about? Same goes for submitting magazine articles...what if they turn me down? What if no one cares about them? What if I'm a substandard writer and never knew it until an editor lets me know in no uncertain terms?
As far as the freelance opportunities, I think I've found a few that I might pursue as I wait for the return of my boss this week, just to ensure I'm working for someone.

3.) I should be doing something "Godly." Lately I have had the feeling that God is requesting, perhaps even requiring, more of me. This is a vague feeling that seems to have no obvious solutions. In fact, it seems only to have the vaguest of symptoms. I find myself sitting, reading CNN.com or Kallie and Buck's blog for the thousandth time, wondering, shouldn't I be fulfilling some Godly purpose set before me, or growing deeper in my relationship with Christ? Is is narcissistic to think that God has a "special" something for me?
Beyond that, I begin to examine the sad state of my personal spiritual pursuits. Why is it that despite all of my "free time" I seem to be neglecting Scripture, prayer, ministering to and with others? I think there is a fear in me, brought on by other experiences, that despite any regimen of "faith" I get into-20 min. of Bible study a day, 30 min. of prayer, etc.-that these things will leave me feeling no closer to God or my savior Christ. That instead they will make me wonder why obedience is not leading to desire as I was once taught that it does. However, there is a knowledge, deep inside me, that if sought God as he sought me, I would find Him where he always resides. If I realized that a regimen is not a relationship, if I spoke to Him about these things...then perhaps we would have a place to begin.

*So those seem to be the most obvious solutions to my "time" issues this week. I am thinking about all of them. Pursuing them in various forms and to varying degrees. I think change is always on its way, but sometimes you feel it more, and this is one of those times. It's probably coincidental that fall is also coming-one of my favorite seasons-but I will allow the coincidence to inspire me to follow the season change into one of my own. :)

Preggers...

Life with a baby in the belly is interesting to say the least. As of the past few weeks, the child inside (not to be confused with my "inner child") has made itself increasingly known. I've felt the baby kick, seen the baby kick and Tommie has even been able to feel it kick when it's not being shy for its daddy.

Also, while at Target the other day (my favorite store for so many reasons, not the least of which is their awesome baby stuff) I was getting kind of nervous that maybe my shirt was a little low. I kept getting these looks from people and I was wearing a scoop neck shirt, so I asked Tommie, "Is my shirt too low or something?" He said that he had noticed people looking too....Then, in another instant, after another person walked by with that funny look, it dawned on him, "They're looking at your belly!" And so they were. The baby has made its appearance, and apparently everyone is taking notice!

There are a few internal downfalls to this business of baby-bearing however. I have recently become the burping QUEEN! Everything I've read and all the doctors I've spoken to say that during pregnancy indigestion is common-let me tell you, IT'S COMMON! I was so uncomfortable the other night after dinner...my stomach just felt really funny, and no matter which way I laid I couldn't get comfy. Finally I burped SO loud, and I felt great! I'm sure that's Tommie's favorite part of all of this...

To see if I can counteract some of the down sides to pregnancy, I've decided to step up my physical activity. I was swimming laps for a while in my first trimester, but now that we've moved I don't have a pool I can easily do that in, so I've decided to do some workout DVDs! (it brings back memories of doing "workout" DVDs with Neesh and Tara in HH...) Anyway, I think these DVDs are pretty good, and it's funny because I definitely seem out of the age range of the people on them. I'm a little young I suppose.

I LOVE the Erin O'Brien DVD, although it's put together with weird production. She's funny and uses things around the house like the couch and walls and stuff to do the different exercises. She even has a section where your "partner" can join you and help you work out. Needless to say, I have yet to get Tommie to join me, but he graciously said he would eventually, so we'll see how that goes. The Leisa Hart DVD can be a little boring, but the salsa dance section is pretty fun and actually gets you sweating a little without realizing it!

If you're pregnant(and if you are, you should DEFINITELY have told me this by now) or know someone who is (far more likely), I would recommend each of these. I hear the more you exercise and the better shape you're in before labor, the better and easier it is. We'll see.

My belly continues to grow, and when Tommie gets back from being on tour with his brother Kenny in California, I'll steal the camera back from him and let you see just what I mean.

One Year and Counting!

Finally I'm into a regular posting schedule! You may just be able to find out what's going on in our life from our blog now. Which, depending on your view of Google taking over the earth, could be scary or convenient...

Tommie and I had an awesome weekend celebrating our one year wedding anniversary (Aug 19). We had my mom puppysit for us while my dad was out of town and we drove downtown to stay at the Hyatt Regency. What a nice hotel! It was a little intimidating actually...fancy fountains and valet and bellboys with the little FBI things in their ears...We checked in, and thanks to Baby Bozich, took a nap first thing! Then we walked around downtown for a while and took some pictures. I think you can see a bit of my baby belly in that shot of me and Tommie there up top...Then we went back to the hotel and changed to go to an INCREDIBLE dinner at a restaurant called Rioja on Larimer Sq. I would have to say that was one of the best meals I've ever had. They even gave us complementary champagne and a signed card, wishing us a happy anniversary! And the sweet goat cheese/fig beignets for dessert were amazing. So if you're in Denver and looking for a good date restaurant, that's it!

On Sunday, we woke up and went to a paint-your-own-pottery shop. It was so much fun! I don't think either of us realized how much fun we'd have doing that! Tommie made the mug, and I made the jewelry box to hold my earrings. We'd definitely do it again for a fun date. These pictures are the "before." Our pieces will be fired this week and we'll put "after" pictures up by next weekend.

Our puppy had a good time with grandmommy. Apparently she tried to climb a tree...kind of successfully, which is a little scary!

This week, on Wednesday, Tommie will be heading out to Cali to spend 5 days on Warped Tour with his brother Kenny and his band, The Almost. It should be interesting/awesome/fun/dirty all in one! Living on a tour bus for 5 days with dirty band kids will be a shift from living with a wife and puppy. I can't wait to hear about it!

So, after much time and anticipation (I'm sure) my blog is thus, officially, UPDATED!

Okay! Enough Already!

Hey all! I know, it's been WAY too long since I posted last!

I'm sure you can appreciate the absence, seeing as we moved an all. But as it has come to your attention and mine (thanks for all of the notes...), it's about time you guys got a chance to see some pictures of my belly, of our place and of Denver in general!

So, here's the deal. Today, I leave you with only this incredible picture of our puppy, Maple. She was far to tired to resist and I couldn't help dressing her up like our own little Polish sausage. Hope you like our kielbasa!


As far as the other pics, this weekend is Tommie and my ONE YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! It's totally unbelievable, but it is true. So we're going out on the town on Saturday and one of our plans it to take some sweet pics. So, for your patience for 5 more days you will receive a posting MUCH more interesting and with better pictures. With that said, watch the post on Sunday/Monday!

Love

OVERDOSE

So, last night I met Tommie at 5:20 for a matinee showing of TRANSFORMERS. It was fantastic! We got out at about 8:30 and after stopping by the grocery store on the way home, made it back around 9.

Much to our dismay, we walked in and found yellow powder strewn about our living room...Well, it turns out Tommie had accidentally left the door to our bedroom open while we were gone. Maple found her way into Tommie's suitcase, where he had some of the vitamins pictured to the right. By the looks of the yellow powder everywhere Maple had eaten about 4-5 of the capsules. Whether or not she actually ate the stuff inside...it was looking more like she had only eaten the capsule part based on the powder EVERYWHERE.

Since they were vitamins we didn't think it would do much harm, but we kept our eyes on her as we finally went to bed that night. When we woke up however, Maple was still in bed! That is VERY unusual. She's usually up at the crack of dawn, shaking her tail and trying to hop in bed with us. When Tommie took her out of bed and tried to get her to walk to him, she wouldn't even move her back legs! It looked as if she might be temporarily or partially paralyzed! We were so worried!

We called the vet and were able to get in at about 9am this morning. We spent whole time leading up to the vet we tried to get her to walk, but she just shook a little and looked more and more nervous/scared while she sat with her back legs limp looking. But we finally got her into the vet. They asked us to please place her on their scale to be weighed...so we put her down saying, "well, at least she won't run off of the scale this time like she normally does..." NOPE! In a display of great hatred for the vet, she SPRINTED across the room! Nothing else could get her to move, but she was scared of the vet! So, it's good that she could walk, but geez, what a faker! So, then she got examined while Tommie and I kept trying to explain that she really seemed unable to walk earlier that morning.

It turns out, as you may have guessed, the vitamins really weren't that much of a problem. The vet said they probably weren't great for her, but she'd be fine. It was the casings around the powder that were causing the issue in the vet's opinion. They were building up in her stomach. He said, "she probably has the craps." That's right, our dog wouldn't walk because she likely has diahrrea and her tummy hurt too badly to walk! Our poor little, drama queen puppy. So the vet gave her a quick shot to calm her tummy and told us to watch her to cause she likely "had the craps."

So folks, that's why I was an hour late for work this morning. My doggy had stomach issues because she had an overdose. And now you have had just a small peek into a day in the life of the Bozich family.

The Bozichs Are Your Idols

That's right folks, Tommie and Alisa are sitting on THE American Idol sofa that was apparently in the green room of one of the seasons of the show. And obviously we don't know that much about it...but it was still cool.

That picture was taken at the New World of Coke museum in Atlanta. Tommie took Alisa there for her 22 birthday. It was incredible! And yes, we are wearing 3-D glasses because we got to see a 3-D movie, actually, it was 4-d...the chairs shook and water spit on you and stuff. It was pretty fun. Overall, an incredible birthday for the little lady.

In other HUGE news, as you know, our house sold! Praise our God, Jehovah-Jireh, as we are learning to call him: Our God Provides. He truly does. If all goes according to plan we will be closing on our house on July 10 and headed out to Denver on July 20! We're especially excited that Mom and Dad are flying out to drive with us across the country! We think that will be a story-filled trip to be sure.

Tommie's working hard to put together his new company. He's got logos, web sites and other elements coming along nicely and we're sure the rush of clients is just to follow! Please keep praying that God will guide and provide.

Alisa is excited to try copy writing from a distance for Student Life. She thinks it will likely be a perfect fit, especially while the Bozich family is getting reoriented to Denver.

Maple is doing great. She's VERY rambunctious in the morning...you had better get up, or she will wake you up with kisses...or if you're Tommie, she will wake you up by trying to fight with her arch-nemesis: Tommie's hand.

Baby Bozich is getting bigger by the day we're sure. We went to the doctor and heard a heartbeat that sounded like a HORSE! Tommie says, according to his research, the baby already has fingerprints! Now if only it had a name. We're pretty sure we've decided not to find out whether it's a boy or girl, so, more surprises to come!

That's it for now folks. Watch for us...American Idol may call us after seeing this photo and say they need us on. Or Coke may call and say we're just the kind of sick people they'd like to have in one of their commercials....

The Bible-My Life

Below is an article I recently wrote for a magazine our company is giving to youth pastors across the country. Thought some of you might be interested!

The Bible and I have a complicated relationship. I guess that’s normal though, because when you think about it, most relationships are complicated. For that reason, the Bible seems very applicable to my real life. It’s complicated and it’s real.


At 22 years old, the Bible is something that has been in my life for nearly 12 years- almost half my life. It is something that has been a consistent companion at times and a long-forgotten friend on other occasions. There have been times I felt the Bible spoke clearly into the situations I was living through, and there were other times I felt a chasm of silence between me and the Word of God. Through it all, its complications and complexities remain constant.


Through these experiences, I have found that the Bible is a book full of answers. It’s got answers to some of the greatest questions of life, such as: why is there pain or what does love look like. Then there are more subtle answers to some less expansive questions, such as, what was Jesus like and who did he hang out with. The answers to those questions are real and true, and I found them in the Bible.


At the same time, to me, the Bible is full of questions. Read Ecclesiastes and you’ll find question after question, some quite cynical, unanswered and despairing. In the New Testament you’ll hear Jesus on the cross, crying out with a question that, to our ears, goes unanswered. But more than the questions I find already in the Bible, I find the Bible sparks a million questions in my own mind. Questions like, how can that be true, what does that have to do with me, and how could God have let that happen.


In another complicated twist, the Bible is used in our daily lives for some contrasting purposes. In many instances, people use the Bible to judge. It’s used to decide who is and isn’t wearing the right thing, doing the right thing, saying the right thing. People use the Bible to judge who’s wrong, doing something wrong, saying something wrong, agreeing with something that’s wrong or even to decide who is so wrong they could never be fixed.
On the other side of judgment, people often use the Bible in defense of love. People cite Jesus’ words as he tells us the greatest command is to love God and the second greatest is to love people. They use the Bible to defend love above all else, to defend this great God of love and peace.


I find in all of these things a great paradox and great complication. For me, the complication of my relationship with the Bible mirrors the complication in my relationship with my heavenly Father. It is a true and real relationship, marked by complexity, and His book is true and real.


I think if the Bible spelled out the answers to all of life’s questions in a simple seven-step formula, or if it listed all the questions we needed to ask in life, it wouldn’t be relevant because it would be nothing like the complication we find in our lives. If the Bible was less complicated on issues like judgment and love, it wouldn’t hold the ring of Truth when we hold it up to the tricky situations in our own lives.


So what does the Bible ultimately mean to me? What is its bearing on my life? It is the Word of God breathed through the hands of complicated people, speaking to a world full of complications and contrasts. And through all the difficult situations in my life, the incredible joys in my life and even the dull times, the Bible it is the reminder that my God and Father Himself is relevant and true and real to me because through His Word He has revealed that He understands my life and its complications.


I trust the Bible because it doesn’t make far-fetched promises to instantly clear up my situations or misunderstandings. I look to the Bible for guidance because it doesn’t dodge the difficult questions or neglect to provide me with various answers. I want and need the Bible in my life because it is another facet in my relationship with God that proves He knows me and my struggles. It is Truth. And the truth is, God is a mystery, and so is my life.

YES! It's TRUE!

I can finally update my blog with actual substance and not all of this fodder I've been using to ignore the fact that I'M PREGNANT! I'm really excited to finally let all of this stuff out.

Tommie and I found out we were pregnant by taking 3 home pregnancy tests. Let me advise any of you who are planning on taking a home pregnancy test: splurge and get the one that gives you the results in ENGLISH writing and not some plus and minus garbage. It was too vague and left to much to guess...plus it made me nervous. Anyway, we found out April 1 but didn't get our doctor appointment until May 16, which is the day I announced on Facebook our many changes!

You've probably noticed our little one in my womb over to the left...THAT's REALLY IT! It was kicking around and moving and all of that! We don't know what the gender is for those of you who are curious, but we will likely find out at about 4-5 months. Currently I'm about 11 weeks along, so almost out of the first trimester. It's been relatively easy so far, minus feeling queasy quite a bit. I don't throw up though, so that's a blessing!

I can't wait to start talking about this to all of my friends and getting their lovely suggestions for names and all. My sister Kristin suggested "Tallulah Phoebe"...I have to say, I don't think that one will make the cut.

Tommie and I are really excited and are looking forward to raising a little one...boy or girl, we just are praying that it's healthy and happy! As far as moving to Denver...we've wanted to end up in Colorado for just about as long as I can remember. We figured now was the perfect time, before we had too much to tie us down. We'll be leaving as soon as our house sells and HOPEFULLY by August.

I'll be having our baby with the Rockies in full view! (well, that's probably exaggerated, but in Colorado nonetheless). My due date so far is December 15...I just hope it's on time so it doesn't hate us for being a "Christmas Baby."

Tommie is going to be starting his own freelance graphic design company out in Colorado with the side jobs of playing worship and concert events. So if you think of it, pray for him and send him business his way!

I'll keep you posted now WAY more than I have recently since we don't have any secrets anymore. Can't wait!

$$$$$$$$ I'M RICH!!!! $$$$$$

According to this Web site: www.globalrichlist.com I am the 52,040,162 richest person in the world!

Heck yes!

How rich are you? Click on the site above to find out. Then leave me a post and let me know how rich you are!

Please Tell Me If This Is Not Something You Find AMAZING....

Try this incredible game out by clicking here and following the link to "POP VIRTUAL BUBBLE WRAP NOW."

Don't forget to try "Manic Mode" at the bottom of the image and try changing the size by clicking "Fresh Sheet."

This rocks.

Stress. Anxiety. Worry...Saving the World.

Some Situations Are More Stressful Than Others.

Life comes at us quickly. Do you agree?

Maybe spring semester is coming to a close and you're realizing you may just need to buckle down and finish that last group project. Maybe, like some of our dear friends, you're getting married next month and you're working your tail off to not freak out and to get everything done. Maybe, like everyone in my world (not really), you just got engaged and the wedding stress has just begun.

Maybe you started a new job. Maybe things aren't right with that "special someone." Maybe something huge is happening and it's horrible. Maybe something huge is happening and it's incredible.

For me, it's a bunch of little things-good and bad. There are things I'm waiting to do before I can finish a whole list of other things. There are gifts that must be bought, phone calls that must be made, projects at work to finish and a thousand other things that I think about while I'm laying in bed at night working hard to not freak out and to just please close my eyes and please get some sleep.

Lately I've had a hard time getting to know God. By lately I mean in the past year or so, somewhere, I lost it. I lost the drive to read the Bible. I lost the passion to pray. I've been struggling through the actions of my faith, all the while feeling like I was getting a new, brighter perspective of the relevance of Christ in my life. How can Christ be relevant and my life not show it? Well, pretty much that just means I have grown stronger in my faith...stronger in my belief that Christ is the answer, not just for "religious," "holy" people, but for sinners and beggars and all of us. I'm not ashamed of who He is.

I'm just having a hard time including him in my life. I'm finding however, that stressful situations-good and bad-seem to make the perfect opportunity for me to include God. I take a minute and pray because I might not make it if I don't. I take the time to look up Bible verses that deal with something similar to my belief that if I don't handle it the universe will spin out of control.

I'm not sure if this is making sense...I guess the point just is that there is always time. There is always room for something deeper. I am finding my way.

Meet MUJONNY...our Kenyan Son.

We adopted a son!...Kind of.

Tommie and I have joined with Compassion International to begin supporting Mujonny. I would be hard pressed to find a better international aid program like this out there. So shout out for Compassion!

Our small bit a month gives him a chance to go to a Christ-centered school at Kisima Church Child Development Center. It also helps him family pay for his food and learning. We're so excited to have this opportunity. We also get to write him letters and send pictures and he'll write us back! We can't wait to send off our first letter here in the next week or so. We're looking forward to really getting to know him...as much as you can get to know an eight year old.

That being said, let me introduce you to our little guy!

Full Name: Antony Muriuki Mujonny (in Kenya you are called by your last name)
Birthday: Oct. 16, 1999
Mujonny helps lives with his mother and four brothers and sisters in the hills of Kisima, a city of nearly 25,000 people. He helps his mother by gathering firewood while she sometimes works as a 'laborer.'

For fun Mujonny likes playing ball games. He attends church activities regularly and is in primary school where his performance is below average. We especially want to encourage him to use his mind to propel him to where he wants to be in accordance with God's plan for his life...

So, by sponsoring him, Mujonny will get Bible teaching, medical exams, hygiene education, recreational activities, story telling, drawing and painting opportunities. What an incredible opportunity. We are so blessed and we look forward to offering some of what we have to Mujonny.

If you're interested in sponsoring a child, you can sign up or get more information online here: Compassion International.

Things

I love how crazy Boston Terriers look.

There's no other reason for this photo to be on my blog except to say-that Boston Terriers are probably all mentally ill. They have to be. Their eyes are so ridiculous, it makes me smile.

On to what's going on in our life:

1. I have a sore throat. We went camping this weekend for one night in Oak Mountain State Park (about 30 min from our house). It was awesome...but I think I underestimated how cold it is at night without the proper acoutrements-Like a house. So anyway, my body hurts, but mostly my throat. Just thought you should know.

2. Katie Webb rocks my face. She came to visit from UF for a few days and we basically did what we usually did in Gainesville together-not much of anything. We hung out and sat around and it was one of my favorite weekends I've had in a while! YAY!

3. I found out Kallie is going to be a photographer. I'm exceedingly proud to be that girl's friend. I'm sure she'll post updates about it on her blog: dkbuckmaster.blogspot.com As a bonus you may get to see more videos of her husband singing in the car. It rocks.

4. There are "secret changes" headed our way. We don't know what they'll be yet, but our lives are certain to change soon enough. Just so no one mistakes what I mean by that: we're not pregnant . I just know someone would ask. Or not ask and tell people they thought that. Then I would be pregnant in everyone's mind anyway and that would be even weirder than actually being pregnant, which I'm not. So, these "secret changes" are on their way and I'll let you know when anything is solidified. I say all of that because we covet your prayers. Really, stop reading this right now and pray for God to guide us, please! I know you're so anxious to hear.

5. My parents Rule. They went to Mexico this weekend with my Dad's business and they went on a zipline from the tops of the Jungle. Here are some sweet pics:

6. My husband is an incredible designer. I know I'm biased, but you can check out his work for yourself. Click here to view his portfolio.


That's it. I just wanted to update you all on the mundane-ness and non-mundane-ness of my life!

Humility?!? I'm The Most Humble Person I KNOW!

Well, let's talk a minute about humility-and about how I must have the most in the world.

So, if you're catching my drift, you may also be catching the sarcastic tone I'm writing in. Recently some events took place in my life that really hurt my feelings. People said things. People did things. It hurt my feelings. Regardless of whether they meant to or not, people made me feel little, small, unimportant and worth betraying.

What really impacted me more than the actions of others though was the way I responded. I got angry. By angry I mean I wanted to flick someone off--haha. Which if you know me, I am nearly physically incapable of doing that (mostly because I'm a closet goody-two-shoes). I thought mean thoughts, hoping the people who hurt me would be hurt by someone else. I was also hoping that I could pout in such a way that they would know just by seeing me how upset at them I was and that they would immediately fall at my feet, sheepishly begging for my forgiveness....

The forgiveness I was unwilling to give without a grandiose apology; the forgiveness I was unwilling to consider until I got what I "deserved" (whatever I wanted) from them; the forgiveness I wanted to hand out begrudingly so they would understand how important and special I truly am. The same forgiveness I was granted freely by God through Christ.

I've been challenged at work to choose a verse that would help "inspire" me in some way: professionally, personally, whatever. I've been asked to select a verse that would remind me that Christ is the center of everything. Interestingly enough, the verse I keep coming to is
Matthew 10:7-8:

"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give."

I know this verse isn't talking about forgiveness. I know there are plenty of other verses that are. But what has struck me over and over again about this verse is the last part: "Freely you received, freely give." That phrase covers the attitude I ought to have in so many situations. It shows the attitude I'm lacking.

I have a problem with humility. I am admitting it. I'm getting help...from the only One who can help me. So, humbly I go, seeking to give freely since He has given so freely to me.

Maple is 1/2 WOLF

Tommie might be half wolf too...considering that is him in the background...ENJOY!

I'm a Working Woman

That's me at work...

I'm posting from work. I'm here at studentlife where I work as a copywriter for the marketing team. That means I write all day. I write the words that go on Web sites and publications, etc. It does NOT mean that I help people get copyRIGHTS. That's something else entirely. Something I'm sure I could never do.

Maple recovered well from getting spayed last week. It was sad, but it's over! And now she has her own little doggy bed next to ours. She's stayed in her bed since her surgery and is behaving for the most part. Although I think she pooped on the floor the other day just to get me back for leaving her at home by herself for too long...Or maybe I just left her at home by herself for too long...

Tommie is busy recording. This is some of the greatest music I've ever heard him create. I'm really proud and when you get a chance you ought to ask him about it.

Tommie's brother, Kenny, is coming to town on Friday to play the drums for the college-group take over of the worship service on Sunday. It should be sweet and a good chance to have Kenny visit. Not to mention, all of the older folks at our church just love Kenny's long locks and fierce rocker style.

I'm gearing up to sew more. I'm putting portions of my paycheck toward some sewing essentials and then, hopefully SOON, I'll be sewing some fantastic clothes worthy of PROJECT RUNWAY! (yeah, maybe that's a dream...but it's a good one!) I'm going to start with skirts, move to shirts and then finish with pants for this couple-month long installment of learning to sew better. I'll update you with my creations as they come.

For those of you in Florida, keep your eyes peeled! The Bozich Element will be making it's way down through Gainesville and then on to Tampa from Feb. 21-28. I have to get back before that, but Tommie will be there for the whole time. So mark your calendars, give us a call and let us know so we can make some time to see you!!!!

I think that's the main gig for now. I'm headed over to watch Jack Bauer kick butt tonight (although Tommie's a bigger fan than me), so if you're into that, count me among your ranks...Just thought I'd throw that one in for free.

Okay, that's all for now. Got to stop slacking and get back to work!

Love.

Alisa is now employed...

I got the job! My first day is next Tuesday. Thank you God. To Your glory.

That's all there is to say today!

VERITAS! Truly....

First and foremost, thanks to those who inquired about my job interview that I had yesterday. It was a great interview. I know I presented myself sincerely, truly how I would be if I actually worked there. Also, I got a tour of the facility, which is really sweet. They even have a nursery for the 12 youngest children of employees (I guess at 13 they have to be state registered or something...). The people there are a mix of older, but mostly our age people and they seem like they'd be great to work with. Jack, the marketing manager who I interviewed with, introduced me to everyone, so that's encouraging! He even prayed with me at the end, that we would both search for God's will in this employment, that Tommie and my marriage would be blessed, and that we both would focus on bringing God's love through Christ to everyone. It was awesome. I don't know if I have the job yet, but trust me, I'll keep you posted. I think I should know by early next week.

in other news....
I mentioned in my last post a book I just finished: Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas. I thought in this post I would post a few tantalizing thoughts I gleaned from that read. So here goes:

1. God's primary concern is love, not morality.
DON'T HEAR WHAT I'M NOT SAYING! I don't mean to say that God doesn't care if we run around like hoodlums, slicing each other up and stealing candy from babies. I'm pretty sure that would break God's heart. What I mean is that when someone asked, "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?" Jesus replied, "The greatest commandment is this, 'Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
I think that sounds easy but is exceptionally hard. I believe God's love and Christ's sacrifice changes us to people with similar morals, but it's hard to not look at someone and judge how much they love God by the way they live their life.
Anyway, when confronted with this issue in front of about 150-200 college students (who tend to be a bit sophmoric if I do say so myself...), here's what the author of this book I read, Kelly Kullberg, said:
"I'm not pushing morality on anyone. the point is that God, like a loving father, doesn't want his children used or exploited. His Word says that that we're not meant to love and then leave, or to be left, repeatedly. Regarding gender, if you thinkn about our anatomies, there's a rather obvious, um, design there. Like pieces of a puzzle fitting together. naturally, we'd see disease and confusion where design is repeatedly abused, and we'd see wellness where design is respected. God wants us to live well in the body. He wants to heal our minds, hearts and bodies, and for us to become merciful healers..."
That doesn't say it all, but it's helped me reshape my mind, not just about sexual morality, but about not sinning in general. It's God's mercy that he instructs us not to sin- he doesn't want us to be exploited by false truths. Praise God for his mercy. Forgive me when I ignore it and plunge headfirst into pain.

2. God is the greatest thing to happen to women since....The Beginning of Time!
I think, not unlike many collegiate women, I've struggled silently with the call of our culture to make a strong name for myself as a women and the desire I have to be loved as a woman in the most traditional sense. It's a paradox of living as an alien here. It's hard though. Here's a thought-provoker from Kelly Kullberg regarding this issue of Feminism and the Bible:
"Feminism started as a Christian movement to value women and men as equal image-bearers of the Creator, not as an effort to de-gender women or emulate a male model for success. rather, the early Christian view honored the uniqueness of women and acknowledged their stories, including the curse to Eve: that we'd be tempted to take our identity from a husband rather than the Lord, that we'd know pain in child-bearing and child-raising, that thorns would pierce our hearts. Christian feminism looked to Christ as the redeemer of that curse... As for the Bible and feminism, my assigned talk tonight, I've read many origin texts that attempt to tell the story in which we live: Native American, Hindu, atheist, humanist, Buddhist, Islamic, pagan and Wiccan. I'm suggesting that only one story has the ring of truth-a personal, loving God created men and women equal. They are equal in his image to love him but have secondary differences in order to love and serve one another. They also have a unique purpose: through an act of love, they continue to create and nurture life in his image."

3. Jesus is the answer to hard questions.
Alot of times we leave our hard questions out of the pool of things we ask God. There's slight fear that maybe He can't really live up to evolution, charges of being unloving in a world full of evil, all-knowing, a healer. We fear these things and dare not bring them before the God we still struggle to believe exists. It may kill our faltering faith. I have found though, as Kelly Kullberg suggests, that it is in the midst of bringing our doubts that God proves most faithful.
"Jesus' offer of forgiveness and new life is the answer to sexism, racism, consumerism, injustice and cynicism. Where there is forgiveness and love, the cycle of evil is broken. Bitterness dissolves and gratitude emerges. With Jesus as our best friend, the world begins to look new and full of possibilities. Full of hope."
We don't need to be afraid to ask, "Where is God in DNA?" Did you know the head of the human Genome project is a Christian and speaks at these Veritas Forums?!? I mean, COME ON!! If that's not a hard questions. We can ask God, what about creation? What about pain? He's big enough. We don't have to deflect questions from others, fearing God cannot answer. We ought to pursue those questions with a fervor-not for simple answers that refuse to acknowledge the possibility of God's existence, but a fervor for looking for God in academics, a place that he has nearly been forbidden from in the past few years.

I loved this book, if you couldn't tell. I think God is speaking loudly through this woman who had the faith that God had more answers than we gave Him credit for. She also had the faith that sometimes that mystery is the answer....

So, go explore! I hope you enjoyed this short, short jaunt into my thoughts from this book. If you happen to read it or explore the Web site, where you can listen to academic experts exhort God, let me know what you thought!

She Working Hard To Work For A Living....

YIKES! Does that title even make sense? I guess what I'm trying to say is: I HAVE A CALLBACK INTERVIEW!!! God is so faithful to me even in my disbelief or doubt.

The job I'm applying for is part-time copywriter for a company called StudentLife. The organization hosts camps and conferences and produces Bible study material for students. I'm in luck because they are based here in Birmingham and are in need of someone to produce copy for their Web site, promotional materials and in-house productions. I'm psyched because I think part-time is something I'm totally into right now... that way it won't be such a shock going from six months of no work at all. Anyway, the interview is tomorrow, Wednesday at 9 a.m.

In other news, I completed a book this week that was phenomenal. It's called Finding God Beyond Harvard, by Kelly Monroe Kullberg. It's about how we don't have to set aside our intellectual questions to believe in God and the saving power of Christ. Apparently the book corresponds to speakers and forums around the nation filled with top academics who are describing their science in the realm of God rather than the other way around. If this sounds interesting to you, and I hope it at least does to you Melissa, then check out the Veritas forums Web site.

I think that's it for this morning. I'd write more...maybe something with an intellectual tilt, but I have to save all of that up for my interview assignment. I have to re-write some of the copy on StudentLife's Web site for tomorrow's interview. Seriously though, check out that book and let me know what you think....I think it's amazing!

Peace and Love,
*alisa*

The Almost, New Orleans and Rob Bell...

Tommie and I drove in this morning at 3 a.m. We put our sleepy puppy to bed and crashed, falling asleep in minutes. When I woke up this morning and began to burn the fog out of my groggy mind, I started to put together the pieces of thoughts I collected in the past two days.


The reason Tommie and I got home so late is that we left New Orleans, LA, at about 10 p.m. We had gone to see Kenny, Tommie's brother, play a show at the House of Blues. He did a fantastic job. The kid is a prodigy. He's 17 and on a national tour. Whoa.

I guess though, in order to collect the thoughts, I ought to start a little farther back than the incredible drumming we had the pleasure of seeing and hearing. I ought to start with our drive into the city of Slidell, LA, just outside of New Orleans. As we drove down the ever-lengthening, dreary I-10, we all of a sudden began to see signs of life. We also began to see signs of destruction and reminders of the horrors that befell New Orleans over a year ago. It's funny, I guess I had it in my mind that they would have had everything all cleaned up by now, all traces of Katrina erased and new, better things in place to whitewash the memories of the weary residents and the curious tourists. I was wrong though. Trees were down all over the place. Apartment complex after complex was in ruin with no sign of anyone doing anything to improve them. Neighborhoods were pockmarked with ruined houses belonging to residents who were either not returning or unable to repair their damaged homes. All this lay in stark contrast to the homes residents had taken the opportunity to not only rebuild, but improve. The same was true of the city itself. Ramshackle store fronts stood next to remodeled businesses thriving (or at least surviving) in the post-Katrina Crescent City.

I tell you this because it made me think, there's much that could be done for those people.

As we drove home, trying desperately to not let our sleepy minds take control of our tired eyes, we listened to a podcast of Rob Bell, a contributing pastor at Mars Hill in Grand Rapids. He was talking about serving people. He was talking about changing the world through service. Not the dreamy pie-in-the-sky utopian ideals spouted by those who haven't been in the real world, but truly "hearing the cry of the oppressed" as Jesus did and serving them as our Lord would.

What does it mean to "hear the cry of the oppressed?" It means to actually know someone who is poor, downtrodden, abused, in need--oppressed. It means to know them and to do your best to serve their need-Not just to medicate their need by giving handouts, but to care for them.

So, this trip has me thinking, New Orleans, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, all of these places and more are in need of something. Our neighbors, our families, our friends and the people we meet, someone is in need. We do not have to help ALL of these people. We must help who we can. We must help one. One first. Then one next. It is like Christ. It is our calling.

I would love to post millions of ways to help, but I don't know them all. Feel free to post a comment to this blog with a ministry you think people could support. In the mean time, I'd like to advocate an organization one of my friends believes deeply in, an organization I am going to look into and hopefully support: The Mocha Club.

Do what you can. Serve one.