stinamiller's Xanga

New Website...

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:39:44 GMT

simplychristina.com

[I probably won't be posting here anymore...]

Mystery Diagnosis

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:07:36 GMT

So, I've had this really weird rash on my wrist & ankles this past week. I am extremely allergic to poison ivy, so I've been kinda worried it was that...

... It took me about 4 days to think through all the possibilities of what it could be before I remembered...

"I have really sensitive skin!! I used a new lotion this past week... the rash is exactly where I used the lotion... I'll bet it's an allergic reaction to it!!"

Well, I stopped using it & started a little allergy meds, and WHALAA... CURED!!

A friend posted last week about struggling with a funk. I've been thinking about it a bunch since then...

... I think for me - just like with the rash, I'll often realize I'm in a funk long before I realize what caused it.

I guess there are some things I can do to speed up the process of figuring out why I'm funky:
1. Stopping/Resting [Sabbath]
2. Thinking about what's really going on below the surface
3. Asking God to reveal what needs to change (usually it's me - my attitude or perspective about or towards something/someone)

I tend to not Stop - cause then I'd be admitting that I have a problem. Even if I KNOW I'm funky - I still hate admitting that "I'm not perfect" & am down. It's scary to admit that!!

Maybe it's a natural cycle - a time to stop and re-evaulate what I'm doing & why. Though, I find that if I'm actually diligent in taking Sabbath (which is a time of re-alignment), I tend to get less funky & more strategic with my "must continue" & "must stop" items.

[MOMENT OF AUTHENTICITY: I'VE BEEN FUNKY FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS... I'M CURRENTLY AT THE "THINKING" STAGE....]

I'm a procrastinator...

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 01:17:43 GMT

I'm sure this is not a shock to any of you.

I procrastinate doing the "non-fun" things in life.

I hate it when I do.... the drama, the stress that accompany it....

... but, it is a vicious cycle I seem unable to break.

An honorable woman...

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 21:50:58 GMT

Today I attended the funeral of a dear friend.

Vivian McBee
July 31, 1933
April 19, 2007

I've had several people that I love pass away, but more than anyone before (despite the fact that I will enormously miss her)... I am completely, absolutely overjoyed that she is exactly where she's wanted to be for so long - with her Savior.

Pastor Steve did the funeral ceremony & among the passages he read were:
Proverbs 31 (The Wife of Noble Character)
[verse 20]:
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
[verse 25]:
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
[verse 26]:
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Titus 2:3-5
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

She was precisely one of those women. She made the decision to make Christ Lord when she was 40 years old. She did more for Him in the last half of her life than sadly most people do in their whole lifetime.

She taught more Bible Studies than we can count, she mentored a TON of women (myself included). Always encouraging us to love God & live for Him.

She played a very distinct role in my life (along with Monica Whitfield), by being my first glimpse of what a woman in fulltime ministry looks like.

I love how Proverbs says: "she can laugh at the days to come." She had a constant twinkle in her eye & smile on her face. I mean - you might think I smile a lot - it's NOTHING compared to the joy she walked around with all the time.

I pray that I can be as impactful with my life as she was with hers. That I can love people, care for people, serve those in need, & honor my God - with the same consistency & excellence that she had.

Blast from the past...

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 04:18:46 GMT

I've been looking through old family photo albums recently.

Did you know me in the 80's?

You just might be in my "Retro" album on Facebook.

Check it out:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1781&l=8659d&id=500518586

Repair me, please...

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:39:23 GMT

Ok, so God's really been working on me lately. It's really sucked.

Do you ever experience conviction... you screw up... you're convicted... you screw up... you're convicted... you screw up again... you kinda try to stop listening to the conviction, cause you just know you're gonna screw up again & can't handle the disappointment with yourself...

Yeah, that's kinda been my life lately. I'm ashamed to admit it, but it's true.

Well, over the past week or so, I've DETERMINED [di-tur`mind : 1.) devoting full strength and concentrated attention to; 2.) compulsive: strongly motivated to succeed] to live in a matter worthy of my Savior - to actually listening to and responding to His correction in my life.

I've been reading a whole lot from Romans lately.
Saturday morning I read:

ROMANS 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Well, I've been thinking about how that verse affects me now for 3 days... and then at lunch today I see this:

It really made me laugh... but the more I thought about it today, the more of a picture it became of my life...

... when I give up, when I stop listening to the Holy Spirit, when I stop trying to change my life to obey Him...

... my life looks like that picture.

I become comfortable in "Well, it's not really hurting anyone. Really, I'm the only one that even knows about it."

Little do I know that at the moment I allow myself to believe that lie, I have admitted defeat.

What about it affecting others? Yes.

Sure, no one may know out-right when I'm pushing conviction out of my life... but, everyone near me is affected.

I lack wholeness - the gift that Christ gave me when I made him Lord (boss).

I lack hospitality - there's no way I want anyone close... I don't want them to step into the bathroom, or they might see the missing sink & realize what a mess I am.

I become overwhelmed with trying to "manage" it - I mean, honestly, that piece of paper that is where the sink used to be... it's all water-damaged... it has to be changed quite often so everyone knows to stay away from the gaping hole.

So what does this mean for me? I'm in process. The Lord is seriously working on me.

I'm not yet who I want to be... but, by His grace, He is changing me more into the person He wants me to be, day by day.

Easter-Prep Week

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:25:16 GMT

So many things going on....

... so little time to blog about it all...

... perhaps after Easter I'll get better at posting.

(I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you ).

My Brother, Joe...

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 04:45:25 GMT

I am amazed by this kid.

Just 3 years ago, we were spending weeks in the NICU unit after he was born a premie (7 weeks, 5 days early) & then after being home for a couple of weeks, going back into NICU for a month with RSV.

... We nearly lost him so many times....

This evening, I had dinner with my parents & brother. Having never lived under the same roof as Joe, it is really amazing how every time I see him, he is doing something different - saying more words, knowing the alphabet, greater imagination... in short, developing his personality.

We were able to play together at dinner - with his favorite things: small "Thomas & Friends" trains & my camera...

I am just so pleased with what a sweet kid he's becoming.

I know this probably is not at all something you ACTUALLY want to read about - but, HEY!!, this is my blog & since I haven't my own kids: I get to dote on, brag about, and unashamedly show off pics of my siblings, niece, and nephew.

Sports & Snow Week...

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:04:21 GMT

So, I called last week "Party Week" because of all the b-days I celebrated last week.

Well, this week is "Sports [and Snow] Week".

It all started Monday, when we had a "Snow Day" (ok, Ice Day), and I didn't have to work.

I was dog-sitting earlier this week, so I got to spend the day with Rusty & Daisy:

DAISY WANTING A TREAT

RUSTY LOOKING DISTINGUISHED

WE REALLY DIDN'T DO MUCH BEYOND NAPPING

LATER MONDAY AFTERNOON, I WENT TO A STARS GAME
[GO STARS!! WE WON, OF COURSE]

I WAS VERY HAPPY

Then, I got a call from my Dad on Tuesday & he had a couple of tickets for the Mavs game Tuesday night. He gave them to Tiff & I.

TIFF'S FIRST MAVS GAME

I WAS AGAIN HAPPY
[WE WON, OF COURSE]

Then, today we had ANOTHER "Snow" Day.

Tiff & I have been lazy all day. Watching a bunch of Alias Season 5. Drinking LOTS of coffee.

About the time we were getting claustrophobic, we went to have dinner with her fam.

THE GREAT LOOKIN HARTLEY FAM @TGI FRIDAY'S

I WASN'T QUITE SO GREAT LOOKIN

It's been a pretty great week thus far... And there's still a few days left of the week - who knows what kind of adventures await!!!

Party Week

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 02:27:20 GMT

WOW!!

I had QUITE a week!! It all started Monday when I celebrated Geoff's 9th b-day with him. [CHECK OUT PHOTOS OF THE FUN HERE]

           - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tuesday was my brother's 3rd birthday - we celebrated at Chuck E. Cheese.
Here are some highlights from that party:

JOE SHOWING OFF THE TRAIN THAT WAS ON TOP OF HIS CAKE.

ME AND MY SWEET NIECE AUBREY

JOE ENJOYING HIS CAKE (YES, HE WAS EATING DIRECTLY OFF THE CAKE)

Joe had a blast at Chuck E. Cheese. He & Issaiah (my nephew) were game-machines, running around everywhere to play all sorts of games & ride all sorts of rides.

           - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Wednesday, was Robyn's birthday - so, we had a birthday lunch at Luigi's with her.

           - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thursday, I was able to celebrate my birthday (yes, over 3 weeks late) with some amazing friends.
Here are just some of the pics from the night:

THOMAS PLAYING SKEEBALL

NATE & LAYNE & THEIR MANY, MANY TICKETS

ME & MY 4 TICKETS

JJ & TIFF & THE BIG-RIG GAME

CHRISTY & HER MANY TICKETS

KEVIN & I AT DINNER

WES, CHRISTY, & I

MATT & EMILIE SHOWIN US THEIR MAD DDR MOVES

KEVIN & I WONDERING WHAT WE WERE THINKIN WHEN WE DECIDED TO DDR

THE DDR AUDIENCE (ANNE, RIVER-LIKE-THE-JORDAN, CLINT)

I had SUCH a blast!! I am so very thankful for all of the great folks who came out to celebrate my birthday with me!!

(FURTHER UPDATE: As of last week, Nigeria Well Fund has $3,111 - THAT'S SO FANTASTIC!! )