Younus: KATIE'S BLOG

Bittersweet

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010

A few years ago, my friend Lindsay introduced me to the first book I've ever read in one sitting: Cold Tangerines. I think I've probably read this book a good five times. Shauna Niequist is a brilliant writer--raw and encouraging. She recently came out with another book- Bittersweet:thoughts on change, grace, and learning the hard way. I practically grabbed it out of the UPS man's hands when he came to the door. I can't put it down. My bible study is going through this book, discussing a few chapters at a time. I feel like I'm cheating, but I can't help myself. I have to finish the whole thing.

A few things I'm learning/loving so far:

"Change is not a function of life's cruelty but instead a function of God's graciousness"
"Grace is when you finally stop keeping score and when you realize that God never was, that his game is a different one entirely."

thankful: understatement of the year

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2010

I was clinging tightly to this promise last year:

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." Lamentations 3:21-26

I have a hard time writing about this. I think it's because there is SO much to be said and I feel like my words just don't do justice…

Around this time last year, the world revolved around me as I anticipated the beginning of graduate school. Little did I know, graduate school would be the last thing on my mind. A year ago today, my mom's hospital journey began. It was also the day that I would start to trust in the Lord more than I ever had. My family and friends were shown miracles (plural) that would lead to a deeper faith and understanding in God than I ever knew possible.

I remember one early morning, when the intensivist’s first words encumbered some muttering of ‘Terri Schiavo’ and ‘vegetable.’ I don't even know what he said for sure. Those were the two words that stuck out. I stood up before he had finished. "You can't say that," I said. "It's only been a couple of hours! You can't say that!" I walked out of the tiny little room. My dad followed me. He hugged me tightly and said, “Katie, our God is a BIG God. That man is just a man. He is knowledgeable, but our faith is in the Lord.” I’ll never forget those words. I wonder sometimes how my mom impacted that intensivist. I would like to think that when he sits down with a distraught family, he’s not so quick to name-drop ‘Terri Schiavo’- because he too, witnessed miracles.

Not only was I shown the amazing power of Christ, but I was reminded of the intense love of our friends and family. I always knew my mom was loved, but WOW. Friends and family stepped in and cared for her/us in extraordinary ways… sitting with us at the hospital, bringing meals, researching doctors, painting my mom’s room at our house because they knew she was planning to do it that summer, mowing my grandma’s lawn because my dad typically did, checking on our dogs, cleaning my parents house, taking care of my mom’s classroom, helping Megan move into the dorms…. a list that could go on forever. What a great community my parents have.

My mom’s journey has revealed my desperate need for the Lord. It also reminded me that God intends for us to do life together. We can’t do it on our own.

The start of graduate school will be much different this year…

Wedding

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010

My cute sister-in-law is getting married in 2 months and it's been super fun looking at wedding ideas. Some inspiration...

[Jill Thomas photography]

[Twigs and Honey via Pretty Little Things]

[via Rifle Paper Co.]

[via Grey Likes Weddings]

What's in a Name?

THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2010

Andrew is student teaching this semester. His freshman class is reading 'The House on Mango Street' (one of my favorite books). There is a chapter where the narrator talks about her name--what it means, what she likes about it, what she doesn't. The assignment for the class was to create a short essay about their name. This was the example Andrew gave them:

I don’t know what my last name means in any language. Sometimes I think it has a cool meaning, like “Maker of fine German automobiles,” but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t mean that. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t mean anything at all.

My last name, which is ‘Sterbenz’, fits nicely with the first two, Andrew and Stephen- my friends like to have some fun putting all three of my initials together. Sometimes they say something like “Your parents really must have known what kind of child they were gonna have, eh?” I usually just play along and sometimes tell old ladies that my initials are A.S.S.

It’s fun telling people how to spell my last name over the phone. I say “ ‘S’ as in scorpion, ‘T’ as in tarantula, ‘E’ as in endoscopy, ‘R’ as in reptilian, and ‘Benz’ like Mercedes.” Hopefully they are laughing at this point and they decide to give me the latest phone or upgrade me to 100 megabytes of turbo speed Internet service for free. This usually doesn’t happen, but it’s better if they like you.

My wife doesn’t like our last name. She says it’s too difficult to explain to people. I’ve tried to tell her how much fun she can have with it, but she just wants to switch back to Bryant. She used to say “Katie Bryant. You know, like Kobe.” Who wants to share a name with that guy? If I had been named Andrew Bryant and her maiden name was Sterbenz, I would have taken her last name because Andrew Sterbenz is a much better name.