Living in Beautiful: 12 Miles, 12 Beers & 12 Hours in line

This weekend was our town's biggest fest: SANDKERWA!! Which really just means our town gets ridiculously crowded with people waiting in line for beer for the weekend. My mom was here last year for the fest, and she could probably give you a good idea of how crazy it was.

Jonathan took me to a romantic dinner b/c I had requested quality time, and then we went out to the join the party Friday evening. Both Jonathan and I were pretty beat after our full week of work, so we decided to turn in relatively early.

Saturday, Jonathan told me he wanted to go on walk (which mean a march in Jonathan terms). He wears his 70lb rucksack and I just try to keep up. When he said he wanted to go 6 miles, I said, "sounds good" & we headed off. We kept up a pretty good pace speed walking b/c Jonathan has time goals, and I was proud of how we were doing when we hit our 3-mile-turnaround-point. When we kept going, I questioned Jonathan when we would turn around. His reply was: "I meant 6 miles out, then 6 miles back, obviously." OBVIOUSLY?! I said. You crazy....So that's how he tricked me into doing a 12 mile, speed walk/run that left me with all of my joints aching and a nice farmer's tan as mementos.

After our "walk" we relaxed a bit to recuperate and prepare for another evening at the fest. We got downtown just around dinner time and enjoyed some bratwurst & beer with our friends. The night before I had really wanted to get some popcorn, because this one place has this delicious smell that fills the street & the line goes around the corner. So, I know it's gotta be good. That stand was there last year too, and I had never gotten my popcorn, so I was ready for it now. When we got to that spot the line was around the corner again, but I committed myself to waiting so I could partake in what was creating that heavenly aroma. After about 20 minutes of going NOWHERE in that huge line, I gave up and found the group. I went back to the stand a few times throughout the evening and the line was still ridiculously long. After complaing that I was so ticked about that line a few times, I just kind of gave up. Another year of Sandkerwa without my popcorn.

Then...magic happened. I was sitting at our fest table enjoying a drink with our friends, when Jonathan came back with popcorn for me!!!! Our good friend Stan had smelled the pleasing aroma & decided to stand in the line, and when Jonathan saw him midway through, he waited with him to get me some! If that's not true love, I don't know what is ;).

So the fest ended well, and we have had a nice, rainy Sunday. I made peanut butter cookies, Jonathan and Stan put up some light fixtures (finally!!) and we had dinner together...there might have also been Christmas music in the background while I was baking.....and right now too.....don't judge me.

And now it's off to bed! If I can leave you with one thought, it's what the sermon was about this morning: In Luke 13, Jesus healed a crippled woman. She was transformed from a miserable, dejected disabled woman to one with an upright body and heart. She left glorifying God. In what ways has Christ transformed you to the person you are today, and in what areas do you still need changing? What sins and miseries do you hold onto and thereby reject the transforming grace of God? I was thinking about myself & I am terribly judgmental & selfish & lazy...and those are just the obvious ones. I suggest you (and I) do the following: "by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable & perfect." (romans 12:2).

Have a great week!