Thursday, December 23, 2010

Packing

The Gills are moving in 4 days.
Which means we are packing.....which means I'm getting really distracted by all the things I'm finding that I had once lost so long ago or just things I want to play with and now....not packing. 
Example #1 of distraction: I found my veil-DRESS UP!
But we're super excited to get to Boise and start our new adventure and re-unite with our friends that are already there.
It has been a rough couple of days though around here, trying to get everything wrapped up to move across the country, finding time to pack and get Christmas stuff together....and saying good-bye or see you laters to all the ones we love. 
Indianapolis has been a beautiful place for us and we love all the wonderful friends and our amazing families that have been a huge part of our lives here. And, we know that these relationships may look different once we move but will still be important part of our lives as we're kickin' it in Idaho! Please continue to pray for us as we move and get settled-specifically that we'll find a great house/apartment to live in, and that jobs work out  well. Keep checking the blog because we are excited to post as Idaho-ians! We love you all and truly will look forward to our continued friendship! 

The next post will *most likely* be from the other side of the Rockies! 

Love, 
Jenny and Michael

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

In Honor of Thanksgiving

So, in honor of thanksgiving I'd like to share a story of traditional thanksgiving food.

Pumpkins.
I kind of love the little sugar pumpkins-they are so cute and little and full of squashy goodness ready for harvest. I bought two of these lovelies and decided after a couple of days to set them on our stoop the day before Halloween thinking they'd make us look festive and hopefully get some children to come and ask for the candy we'd purchased to give them.....yea-well, they were cute pumpkins but we had a big bowl full of candy and only 1 family of trick-or-treaters come to our door.
But anyway, as I was setting out our  pumpkins-Michael objected saying, something is going to eat them! Eat Them?!? No-wild things do not just come up and eat pumpkins! Plus, we live in the middle of the city-what on earth would munch on a raw pumpkin....a cat? That never happens-look at all our neighbors and their cute pumpkins on their steps-we'll be fine.
And we set them up on the stoop.









And then, a few days later......
Something
ate
them.

Moral of the story?


Michael is always right.


and the chipmunk that lives under the house is on his side.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Just a little crazy

So in an attempt to become healthier Michael and I have signed up to do a half marathon. We've done one together a little over a year and a half ago, so we were very much like-we totally know how to train for this, we'll be golden.
And then....
we didn't train.
At all.
Maybe we ran once a week.
For three miles.
Six at the most.

Our half marathon is tomorrow.


And we might just die.




Ok-so I'm being a little over dramatic.....like always. But honestly.
I can feel the blisters now.


But we can't quit.
Well-really...the motivation is not finishing something we (kinda sorta) started but it's because we've already paid for it.
lol-so it might be just a little crazy to do it because you've shelled out $60 a pop to run and be sore but, I hear there is free food at the end AND a t-shirt involved ;)







Pray for us.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The IMA

The aliens have called him to the mother ship
So one beautiful fall morning Mr. Gill and I took a little visit to the 100 Acres. It's a new outside art/park area from the IMA. I had been stressing out about life because, well-because sometimes I don't trust that God is good and He's got our backs. Which, by the way-He's ALWAYS had our backs.....I could tell you like a million different ways just last week He's been amazing and provider. I just forget sometimes. 
Anyway-I had been stressing out and so we took the morning off and slept in, got coffee and the most amazing pumpkiny iced thing ever! 
So we wandered through the museum/park and enjoyed the sunshine.



Standing on the knee cap and pointing at my knee cap....get it?
It was nice to connect outside too. I think Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons. All the going back to school (I LOVED SCHOOL), and new friends, new adventures, football games and bonfires and chili....and leaves. It is like the trees decide its time to put on the last show. 
He's being EATEN!!
So one last thing before I get to cleaning my jewelry (I'm a dork and using my night off to watch tv on the computer and clean my jewelry and jewelry box that hasn't been cleaned in like....3 years. Don't judge). 
JOHN MARK MCMILLAN
He will blow your mind. I promise! Ok, well-I guess I don't really know what will blow your mind-maybe your skull is a little  bit thicker than mine BUT this is amazing. 

oh and this one too :)

Love, 
Jenny 

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Marching Band

So this past weekend Michael and I went to the District Marching Band competition for some of the Indianapolis high school bands.
Avon High School Marching Band

I LOVED IT! Seriously I almost started crying it reminded me so much of all that was good and beautiful for me in high school.
Yes, I was a band geek. I wasn't any good-for real-I think I pretended to know what was going on most of the time, but I made beautiful friendships there that continue on today. AND I learned what is was like to work hard for a common goal-what teamwork and community looks like, if only in baby-form because we were after all only high schoolers.
It was freezing!

We would both tell you though, that Avon had the best show of the bands we saw....which we were late to the Class A competition because Michael was applying for a job in Boise-(YAY!!!) and, well we are late for almost everything in our lives that doesn't result in a direct punishment-like being fired.
Anyway-Avon was great. The show was a mix of Beethoven, Led Zeppelin and REM. It was fun and exciting and moving.
Michael specifically was really impressed by the xylophones, and how many there were-and told me if he was ever in marching band he would have played those. Um-right....have you ever seen Michael play on the drum kit? No way-he might be off the field for one season...you could bet your bottom dollar he'd want to be in the line asap! He is -for those of you who know marching band-a line drummer through and through. He wouldn't want to miss out on all that loud sound making. 
lol. ok-maybe I'm going over the top a little bit here BUT we had fun talking about all that and watching the show. Next up for us-a month of a million weddings :)
ok-not a million but 5. That's more than I went to the last 2 years combined! We have good luck at weddings though-Michael and I met was at Richard and Feanne's wedding. Now-we're looking for jobs in Boise people-invite all your friends who leave west of the mississippi and introduce us! :) Just kidding. 




But really.....

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

New York!



Kestelle in Central Park
So I went to NYC not too long ago and seriously-it was awesome. 
Really-it was AWESOME!
This is Kestelle, my good friend of many years that invited me to New York with her. She has been to NYC several times so she kind of showed me the ropes.
We went to SoHo and bought jewelry from vendors on the side walk, went into flagship stores of some of the high end clothing designers and almost had heart attacks at how much a cardigan could cost.




We also ran into some yarn bombing in Little Italy! I love it! I think if I have lots of free time in Boise this will become my new hobby. Jenny-the one that knits.
Street sign wears a sweater
Seriously though-this is cool, people take the normal everyday and make it into art and beauty w/textile knits and dollies. Fabric for goodness sake is now becoming a subversive statement of bucking the authority. Ok-so, maybe I wouldn't go that far....but maybe the tree outside my work looks cold in the winter and I could give it a cozy little tree warmer-it would be its very own little sweater.
Notice the little bee? ADORABLE! In the middle of NYC just hanging out-a guy on a street was asking me why I was taking pictures of a street sign, like he didn't even notice it was wearing a sweater!


We also spent time shopping and going to see the Brooklyn Bridge (wonderful) and going to an old statuesque cathedral in the middle of the city. It was during mass and completely overwhelmingly large and old and you just felt like you had walked into a mix of history and the urgency of today.
Saying a Prayer 






And the Empire State Building-which was great and amazing views but I learned a new appreciation of waiting in line-which is....if I am not waiting in line for TWO HOURS, then it's cool. Yes-that is right people-I spent TWO HOURS of my 48 in NYC waiting in line for the Empire State Building. But-it was at sunset. The pictures are worth it!




The sunset over NYC

So, it was a great trip. I never want to live in New York. Maybe it's now that I've been to Boise and know that I'm going to be living there for a season at least-that God is changing my heart more towards a calm vs. chaotic place to dwell? I don't know, but as my heart grows more toward Him the more it changes-this is truth.

Love ya,
Jenny

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Jenny discovers thermal camera option
I seriously JUST discovered that my home computer can take THERMAL IMAGES!
I know, I apparently don't really spend much time researching before I buy but WHOA-look at the table. Yup people: That's a candle. You can tell it's burning because of the ORANGE part of the picture. I feel like I'm in some police investigation show-CSI Indy anyone? That's more of a task for my brother-in-law who by the way, is going to be a police officer.
Michael and I went to Boise ID in August to check it out since we'll be moving there in WHOA-almost 3 months!

The Gills on Bogus Basin

We went hiking, spent time with family and had an overall awesome experience. Mr. Gill was able to make some contacts for job prospects and I pretty much fell in love with the neighborhood we're going to live in. Some of our group has already moved out there and we're ready to go. 
I miss those sunglasses. I lost them when we were floating down the Boise River (yes, it was awesome)....Mr. Gill told me to take them off but I laughed and said-oh it's fine I won't lose them and if I do, they are only a couple of bucks. Psha! Little did I know that YES indeed I would lose them....Mr. Gill is always right....AND even though they were only a couple of dollars-they were perfect. Nice weight, not to heavy but they didn't feel like they were going to fly away and the perfect amount of shadiness. Also-I tend to be a little dramatic about things but really-my replacement pair is just not as nice. 
Mr. Gill's luscious curls
I love this hair. 

Serious!

So we are going to blog.
FOR REAL!

I'm serious.
We're really going to make an effort to post regularly.
And add pictures, because seriously-that's my favorite part!
So check, check, check the blog and hopefully you'll leave satisfied w/quirky humor and awesome pictures....and maybe a little bit of insight to the life of the Gills.

Love.
Jenny

Friday, June 18, 2010

Photo Review

So here is a photo rundown of just SOME of the things we've been up to lately

Camping in Southern Indiana:
The First trail we hiked































Set-up the tent

My Birthday @ West Baden
The beautiful hotel in the background (yes it is that huge)















The Atrium or dome

























The awesome porch:lovely coffee and homemade granola bar breakfast out here the morning we left...sigh....it was wonderful.

























Everyone hanging out in Baltimore when we road-tripped for Ian's High School Graduation

























465 to Eden's First Concert!


We'd really like to fill you in on all the lovely details of the last 2 months but, there is way too much to say. Know that we are moving forward with where we feel like the Lord is calling us, learning a lot and really just having a lot of fun! 
Love
The Gills

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

We're Still Here

Hello again!
We haven't forgotten about you blog-land.
We'll be returning soon....I promise. Life has been busy and fun and we'll have lots of fun pictures and updates about all the wonderful things we've been doing....including:
Camping
Weddings
Fantastic Hotels
Road Trips
and the GARDEN!
Hold tight we're coming back!

The Gills

Friday, May 7, 2010

It's Friday!

So it's been Finals Week around here and we've been living under the shadow of long lists and stacks of unwashed dishes, ready for that final presentation to be in our past.
Yes I understand that I could have easily lived life as normal, while Michael finished his semester up but....what fun is that? I pushed aside my normal householdly tasks to join w/him in his last push of the semester, supporting and encouraging him.
By cooking.
I can't help it.
When someone is stressed out or things aren't going right I try to stuff their face.
It's just who I am today.

But now we have FREEDOM!!! The semester is over, I have my husband back and now we can stuff our faces for the joy of freedom, not from the oppressive power-point presentations lurking around the corner. Woo Hoo!!!!
I don't know about you, but I'm jumping for joy.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Love the Law

If the end of the law is Christ, what then is the purpose of the law now that we have Christ?

We see David, a man after God's own heart, himself a prophet, testifying of the Messiah in his writings about the Lord and His Anointed One, speaking very highly of the Law of the Lord. "More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold."(Psalm 19)

We know that the Scriptures are given by inspiration and are able to make us wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." The scripture is also there for completeness and equipping of the people of God. (2 Timothy 3)

Throughout scripture we see the term, "word of God". This word is the logos of God. Logos is a Greek word which may be used to mean various kinds of communication, including: language, talk, statement, story, prose, thought, reason, account, analogy, and many others. I will use logos to mean God's message to us. This logos cannot merely be contained in a book, but Scripture is there to help us see what His logos has been over the ages.

The logos of God was given primarily to the Jews, but at one time, the Logos of God became flesh. Jesus is that ultimate communication to us from the Father. This Logos(Jesus) is now preached to all people and all nations. And so Jesus is the key to and the end result of the law, all of scripture, giftings, miracles, marriage, teaching, and all of creation. He is the source of it, and the end of it all. Literally the Alpha and Omega.

We as Christians should take full advantage of both the Logos that is near to our hearts and our mouths(Rom. 10:8), which comes by the Spirit through faith, and the form of His logos that is written down. So we should learn to love and meditate on the law, not because the works of the law make us righteous, but because it contains the logos of our King throughout. The shadows and types in the Law and Prophets are a reflection of the kingdom in which we now live. When we study the written logos with a true knowledge and faith in the living and active Logos made flesh, we will be equipped and ready in and out of season to speak the gospel(logos) to all that they may hear and believe. Also this is for reminding each other to turn to God's continual message and voice.

Study, ask the Spirit to show you where to act, and have fun. :)

The Goal of the Law

In Romans chapter 9 and 10, Paul talks some about the law of righteousness. Read Rom. 9:30-33; 10:1-4.

In particular, Rom 10:14 says, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."

Israel didn't pursue the law of righteousness by faith in a salvation of the heart. Instead, the end of their pursuit of the law of righteousness was a belief that the works of the law brought salvation. So it is with many today.

So when Jesus shows up and says that the kingdom is here and He is the promise (Luke 4:18-19; 20:9-18), the Pharisees and religious leaders stumbled over that stone. Those whose hearts weren't turned toward God, not having faith in Him for their salvation but rather having faith in their own ability to fulfill God's law, weren't able to see the salvation offered to them in the Word made flesh.

The end goal of the law of righteousness is always Jesus.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Citrus!


So Michael and I have made a commitment to try to spend $50 a week or less on food.
Today I splurged over budget.


On citrus.

:)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Flour Mill Adventures

My mother-in-law (M-I-L) is pretty much awesome, for more than several reasons....one of them being that she and her husband gave Michael and I their old flour mill.
So, it goes like this....I have wanted to be a frontier girl since I was like, maybe 11. Seriously...Kirsten from American Girl was my favorite, I wanted to be her and have a little indian friend I brought bread to down by the creek and have warm stones at the foot of my bed to keep my toes from freezing. Or Frontier House anyone? I LOVE PBS...but that is for another time. And now that I have a little time on my hands I have started making homemade bread.
My MIL asked me how that was going and after talking about what it would look like to get locally milled flour, she offered their old flour mill. She used to make homemade bread all the time and even made some 'dough' by selling it (hehe), and they ground their own flour. She sent us home w/the mill, some wheatberries and instructions.

The Mill

When I turned the mill on it sort of sounded like a jet trying to take off in my dining room....and there was a big puff of flour-it was so awesome.
The basic idea of grinding wheatberries into flour is you put them through the mill and the end result is nicely ground flour. This mill has varying settings from coarse (cracked wheat-ish) to fine (pastry flour). I followed my MIL recommendations for medium fine ground.

The Berries

Into The Mill

And The Finished Product

So, now we grind our own wheat! Hurray for lots of healthy, freshly baked bread! Now I just need that little indian friend. ;)

~Jenny

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Our First Post

Mike: So, this is our first post.
Jen: And we're super psyched but, a little not sure what to do. Mmm...but we think we'll get the hang of it soon.
Mike: Really-we just want to get started
Jen: Melting your face off w/our awesomeness
Mike: Or telling you a little bit about our lives and the things we're excited about.
Jen: Yea, or that too.
Mike: So, come back and check out the things we've been reading and listening to-We want to share w/you guys what has been impacting us.
Jen: Plus, there will be fun pictures :)
Mike: You always have to have the last word don't you?
Jen: Yup!