Kellum

[amberkellum]

2 years later

I think it has been about two years since i’ve had the time to clear my mind and just let words flow. During the time of silence, i’ve moved twice, switched jobs/picked up jobs, started and completed a masters degree + student teaching/practicum, celebrated two anniversaries, fully entered into life as a pastor’s wife, survived 5 months of military separation, went on three international, and several domestic adventures, and in 6 days I get to enter into the role as “Aunt Amber.” Its been an exciting, challenging, wild, and memory saturated ride.

Life has finally slowed back down; I want to capitalize on this time by making room for stillness and reflectivity. I am by nature a workaholic, and desperately need seasons like the one that I am about to enter. Almost all of my spiritual/emotional/mental/physical breakthroughs have come out of seasons of a lighter pace.

Cheers to living life in a deeper and more awakened state of being!

[amberkellum]

I love my husband.

[amberkellum]

Over the past 7 months I have slowly began to learn not strain so far into the future that I consequently miss the joys of the present. There are so many milestones I want to reach, experiences I want to live, and adventures I want to take. I've come to accept that I am only 22, and have so much life ahead of me. Milestones will be reached, Experiences will come, and adventures will be had, in time.

In the meantime, I am taking small strides towards my dreams and enjoying the journey, knowing that time is often subject to unpredictability.

Some day, some how, I want to

Travel.

I want to view the luscious green rolling hills of supposed homeland, Ireland, with my twin brother. I want to stroll through narrow European streets abounding in breathtaking historical architecture with my husband. I want to drink strong coffee in a quant coffee shop and talk to strangers somewhere on the other side of the map. I want to visit somewhere tropical and drink an abundance of fruity mixed drinks and watch gleaming sun rays reflect off of turquoise  water. I want to visit Philly, where my twin is now a resident and PhD student. I want to visit my lovely friend and her new husband in Colorado. 

Buy a house.

I want to invest in a house, and make it a home. I want to have my own yard, where I can nurture a tiny garden, grill out with my husband, and entertain guests around a cozy bon fire. 

Go to Grad school.

Somewhere, I want to study something. Thats about as much as I know. Okay, so maybe i'm leaning towards English/ English education.

Find a job that I love.

I have to admit, that my job now really is much better than I originally expected it to be. I work for a great company that pays much more than I was expecting to make right out of college. But, I just do not want to spend my life as an assistant manger of a high volume gas station. I want to find a career that is more academic and that makes a difference in the lives of others, and even myself/family.

Learn more and more about cooking.

Cooking has become one of my favorite ways to pass time. I love every aspect of cooking -even grocery shopping and cleaning up afterwards. I love food and the way particular flavors mingle together to form taste bud explosions. I want to learn more and more recipes, and methods.

Pursue Photography.

I doubt i'll ever bring myself to open my own Facebook photography business, but I do want to learn more about equipment, lighting, etc.  I want to continue to develop this hobby, and allow it to benefit others as opportunities arise.

Have a family.

I love kids, and one day, hopefully not in the near future, I want to begin having kids and raise a family with my best friend and love, Gage.

Some of these milestones/adventures may be reached within this new year, and some may not be reached until im 76 -assuming I live that long. I'm okay waiting, in fact, I'm enjoying it.

[cokeinaglassbottle-deactivated2]

nothing will ruin your 20s more than thinking you should have your life together already.

I need to write this on every wall of my room. (via thisyearsgirls)

[amberkellum]

Yesterday was wonderful

[amberkellum]

Celebrating 5 months of marriage today!!

Other than salvation, I cannot fathom any greater gift than the gift of marriage. I love my husband.

Here's some snap shots from some of my favorite adventures of the last couple of months.

[simplici-tea]

[rainbowtwo]

'All theology is a doomed but necessary attempt to express the inexpressible. God is the elusive mystery we try to capture and convey in language, but how can that ever be done? If the word water is not in itself drinkable, how can the words we use to express the mystery of God be themselves...

[gospelofthekingdom]

I honestly am astounded by the fact that the gospel became an escape-hell, go-to-heaven legal transaction by mentally accepting a formula of beliefs. It is bewildering to me. The gospels, the epistles, are majestic revelations of who God is and the eternal purpose. The cross was the full summary of the Abba-revealing ministry of Jesus, and is the central means by which Christ casts down the powers exalted against love, frees the oppressed, identifies himself with human suffering, heals and transforms our natures, reveals forgiveness by purifying our conscience, and reconciles us to God and each other by revealing the non-retributive, non-violent, alluring, transforming, self-giving reality of who the Father is. This world-transforming power is realized by us going forth and exhibiting the same cross-like love and revealing God as the Lamb who was slain. This is how the kingdom comes. The resurrection was the vindication and confirmation of all of this, and the outrageous good news that the new creation, the restoration of all things, has indeed begun and its triumph was irreversible. The message is “Change your way of thinking and turn towards the Father, for we no longer have to be lost, Abba has been revealed in the Son, death is no longer the final word, and his kingdom that makes all things new is approaching!”

Jacob Wright (via gospelofthekingdom)

[amberkellum]

Visit Original Link

"When words fail, music speaks"

Tonight, words failed to communicate. So this is my amateur attempt at communicating thoughts & feelings in a brief riff. 

[amberkellum]

"Forgiveness requires that you absorb certain effects of another person’s sins and you release that person from liability to punishment. This is precisely what Christ accomplished on Calvary."

-Dave Harvey

When Sinners Say I Do

[gagegovero]

Relationships are drastically changed when you exchange competing with each other on who can give the greatest blow, for competing with each other on who can give grace the quickest. You want a relationship with “Christ at the center?” Then live out the cycle of failing each other and offering...

[amberkellum]

Latest experimentation: Homemade Thai Curry Added bonus: The beginning preparation looks like and tastes how Autumn feels.

[amberkellum]

Memory Lane.

3 + years ago, this handsome guy from my Old Testament class invited me to join him for a spontaneous trip to Waffle House (which, now that I think about it, that might have been my first WAHO experience). We drank coffee, and talked late into the night.

We talked about our backgrounds: family, sports, high school etc. About how we got where we were, and where we thought the Lord was leading us.

I remember, and will never forget, partway into the night, Gage stopping me mid-conversation to call out the potential he saw in me -potential that I was never able to see. 

Tonight, Gage had a solid idea to take a trip down memory lane. We sat at the same table we sat at "that night." We talked about where we've been, where we are, and where we want to be. (and everything in between). As I rambled on, Gage once again stopped me in my tracks. Called out my potential and promised support. The patient, unwavering support and encouragement of Gage has carried me so far. I am so thankful for him.

It is beyond wonderful to be able to reflect on the past few years and see how far the Lord has brought us. The Lord has been faithful every step away the way. Even in our seasons of waywardness, the Lord has never relented. I simply cannot wait to see what this upcoming season of life has in store, as we enter into marriage and move to a new place.

[amberkellum]

Thursday Morning

There was a peculiar and beautiful sense of tranquility this morning 

My routine stroll from one class to the next felt different.

The air was crisper

The varying green hues in the grass were more noticeable

The world is full of ascetic beauty.It's unfortunate how busyness and routine can so easily murky up and mute the beauty of life, and all things living. 

[sodzomen-deactivated20140606]

The ontological status of the Christian over time dictates his epistemological commitments and his ethical behavior. That is, the genuine Christian is first one ontologically; or first a Christian because of his being in Christ; his being transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom...

[amberkellum]

Weapon of choice for this week: straight shots of strong expresso.