Everything You Need to Know About Moving

I think this could become the new highly anticipated title on The New York Times Best-Seller List. My family has moved so many times that we could write a “how-to book” on moving.

The Back Cover would say: “We never planned to move so many times. But whether it’s flooding problems, crazy neighbors, or stubborn landlords; no matter how much we grow attach to each house; the Lord seems to have a different location in mind.”


The Table of Contents would look something like this:

How to Move & Keep Your Friends
Two Weeks Notice: moving in record time
Organize Your Life
The Better Boxes
Save on Bubble Wrap: use your clothes instead
Helpful Taping Tips
Household Nightmares
Home Is Where You Hang Your Hat

This “How-to” book not only provides you with helpful hints about moving, but it is also an encouragement to families everywhere who have moved countless times.

And yes, its true folks we are moving again this weekend…

Jane Austen Ruined My Life

"Professor Emma Grant has always had faith in the happily-ever-after depicted by her favorite author, Jane Austen. But where's Emma's happy ending when she discovers that, instead of a Darcy, she's married a Wickham who both breaks her heart and destroys her career? Emma sets off for England on a quest to reestablish her academic credibility by tracking down the lost letters of Jane Austen and finds a romantic adventure of her own." --Library Journal


The title of this book is a bit silly, but it was actually very entertaining. I was a little disappointed with how corny it got…still; it made several good points about Jane Austen’s writings. Many of us devotees are absorbed with the romance depicted in these novels; the language, the culture, even the clothes. And like the character Emma Grant in Jane Austen Ruined My Life, Austen fans are disappointed when they don’t end up in a happily-ever-after relationship.

I can never watch a romantic movie without either of my parents commenting how “men don’t really talk that way!” It’s true that in order to get a man like Mr. Darcy or Knightly, you have to make him up. Girls my age fanaticize over these characters. After watching the movies and reading the books, I admit I dreamed about romantic proposals and fervent courtships. But setting the standards high in hopes of getting a man like Mr. Darcy, is perhaps a bit unrealistic. I can’t honestly expect a guy from the 21st century to speak, act, and think like an Austen man.

Jane Austen’s characters are timeless and there is wisdom in her writings. She believed in marrying for love. But if you expect romance to be exactly like something out of a novel, then you are sure to be disappointed. Whether or not a man behaves romantically is not the issue, Jane Austen urges her readers to look past charm and wit and focus on good character. But I won’t analyze her novels too much… after all “the person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”~Jane Austen

Matchmaker, matchmaker

This past Sunday I saw Topol in the "Fiddler on the Roof" goodbye tour. The music was amazing, oh and the story! It was a wonderful. Afterward I was inspired to write this poem...I hope you all like it.

“Matchmaker, Matchmaker,
Send me a man of good character,

A strong leader,
In good times and bad.
A man who loves the Lord (above all else),
Yes, that would make me glad.

If he were gentle and kind,
And passionate in faith.
I hope one day I’ll find,
He’ll love me always.

And by heavens design,
Be forever true.”

~Brianna Anderson


♪So bring me no ring, groom me no groom, find me no find, catch me no catch, unless he's a matchless match♫

Music in the Park

Tonight the Spokane Symphony played in the park. Our family packed up a few blankets and treats and sat amongst a couple hundred people gathered to hear the orchestra. As the familiar notes rose in the air I closed my eyes as the music flowed around me. I love classical music because it tells a story even without words. Each note has something to say. Each instrument adds its own voice to the song. I love watching the musicians faces as they close their eyes, giving themselves up to the music. Others stare hard in concentration at the intricate sheet music in front of them. The conductor of course is the best because he is so passionate. The conductor seemed more and more out of breath as he introduced each song before it was played. All in all it was a most pleasant evening.

The famous Empiricist David Hume once asked: “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? When then is evil.”

Charles Spurgeon commented that: “It is contrary to every promise of God’s precious Word that you would ever be forgotten or left to perish.” (i) But many would argue that God’s promises account for nothing because of the evil that takes place in this world. Why do terrible things happen to innocent people? Why are they not protected by God? The best answer to this question is found in the book of Job.

Job was “blameless and upright”(ii) in God’s sight. He was unlike any man because of his unshakable faith. But God allowed Satan to test Job by causing him to suffer. Job experienced unimaginable pain but he did not accuse God of wrongdoing. God allowed Job’s torment to increase to the point where his children were killed.

The hardest thing to comprehend in this story is that there is no justifiable reason for Job’s suffering. When he cried out for an explanation and God replied: “Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand (iii)… Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place?(iv) …Everything under heaven belongs to me.(v)”

God is all knowing and he understands ultimate suffering. There was nothing that Job experienced that He did not know about. In the end Job declares: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted…. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (vi)

“Things too wonderful to know”…these are the words of a man who had suffered so much, physically, mentally and emotionally, and yet he was in wonder of God’s sovereignty. Job finally realized that nothing was outside of God’s control. And that no matter how much he suffered God was there throughout it all. Herein lies our hope! God is the only solution to afflictions. There is a day coming when God will wipe away all our tears and bring us to a better place. And that will be the day when ALL suffering will cease.
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The unemployment rate in the United States is 9.7%. (vii) Nearly 87,000 Californians lost their jobs in July, 2009. (viii) The 11.9% unemployment rate in California is the highest ever recorded. Twenty-five United States banks have failed this year alone, including Washington Mutual. (ix) The United States’ failing economy is affecting everyone. Recently my dad lost his job. Suffering can visit us in many forms, even financially; but I know that God is Sovereign and therefore my hope is in Him.

“…you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
~1 Peter 1:6-9

(i)Morning & Evening June 16th
(ii)Job 1:8
(iii)Job 38:4
(iv)Job 41:11
(v)Job 42:2,3
(vii)Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(viii)http://www.examiner.com/x-4577-Milwaukee-Unemployment-Examiner~y2009m8d26-Jobless-rate-climbs-over-10-in-15-states
(ix)http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html