Yesterday, Today, Forever

Yesterday I was taking a minute to glance through (not read.....that requires time and intention) my bible in between running(see: huffing, puffing, crying) with a good friend and going to volunteer @ The D (best nonprofit coffee shop in Boise) and I can across this story in 2 Chronicles 30.....
It's King Hezekiah and he decides that they should celebrate Passover. They haven't been because the king before didn't follow the Lord. So he gets everything ready and tells all the people to come to Jerusalem to participate in this celebration even though the actual 'time' of Passover has come and gone. So the people come and even though they hadn't 'purified' themselves, they ate the Passover which was against what was written in the Law.
Back then, what you did...how you did it....when you did it....and even who did it was a BIG deal. It was a lot of what the relationship between man and God was about....at least in action.
So, it's a big no no that these people who hadn't prepared themselves for the Passover were participating.
But Hezekiah prays saying "May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God-the Lord, the God of his fathers-even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary." And then the next verse says 'And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.' (2 Chronicles 30:18-20)
In my hurried....well the bible is sitting on my coffee table, I should glance at it while I eat my oatmeal...time of reading this story I was completely struck.
I don't particularly enjoy reading the old stories of the bible. I've never been much into history....and I find it hard to relate to stories because they don't really come w/much commentary.
And I feel like it's the list of rules we need to get to God that we are no longer under since the New covenant with Jesus-and here I am looking at this story and I'm like slapped in the face w/how God is, in the midst of law, most concerned with people's hearts.
Jesus died and we no longer have to kill animals and follow long rituals to have relationship with God. No longer is access to Him like a staircase of legalistic rules.
He wants our hearts to long after Him.
And so it was in this story!
Hezekiah knew these people hadn't gone through the process of making themselves clean....of preparing to participate in Passover, and he asked God to show up anyway because these people were seeking Him with their hearts.
And He did.
God is the same, yesterday-today-forever and I feel like this story really pointed that out to me yesterday. That He IS good-all the time and He wants our hearts.

Jenny G

A Few

Memorial Day Weekend was a fun one for us Gills here in Boise.

While we were getting ready for our Saturday evening plans...Mr. Gill discovered a new friend in our backyard....
that was actually trying to get in our house

let me in please

He performed acrobatic stunts trying to win our hearts and become part of our family.

Hello?

I think Mr. Gill would have let him in.....but, I might be allergic.


It was also wet and cold, which ruined our plans for camping.
Or so we thought! Thanks to the engineering minds of Leaman and Mr. Gill and the always enjoyable company of Lindsay, we were able to have a wonderful camp-like experience in our own backyard.....followed by a Kill Bill marathon.

Yes, that's a broom holding up the tarp. Thank you Men.

The last highlight of the weekend I'd like to share with you all, my good friends....is a photo we took while touring Lucky Peak....which is a dam that keeps the valley that the city of Boise is in from being part of the river.

yup. 

I hope you all have a wonderful first weekend of June!

Love

Jenny G

The Last Day

Today is the last day of May!

And.....I haven't posted since the first week of May.





Sorry.
Here is a quick recap of some things in May!

Mr. Gill took me to Salt Lake City for my Birthday!!
It was a surprise trip and we stayed at a fun hotel and walked around downtown.

Us in Downtown Salt Lake

Salt Lake really seemed like a nice city. People were friendly and we saw some of the remnants of the Olympics.


We also saw some the the seedy underbelly of Salt Lake.

The seedy underbelly of Salt Lake (or just an alley)

Everyone we asked about what to go see said we had to visit The Great Salt Lake.
Which, I think is kind of funny because if they had just said the Salt Lake, I'm pretty sure I would have known what they were talking about but no.....we talked to like 5 people and all of them said The Great Salt Lake.


Anyway....we drove out to Antelope Island on our way back to Idaho. It was super windy, and a little smelly....but they give you this pamphlet of information about The Great Salt Lake when you get there so that was interesting.
Did you know that there are 4 rivers that feed into the lake but no outlet? All the water is evaporated and leaves the sediments behind. They said that the salt content is ranges anywhere between 4-20%. The ocean is at a steady 3%.
Didn't think you'd ever learn something reading this blog did ya?
HA!

We also saw bison/buffalo on the island. They along w/birds and creepy bugs are about the only things that live in/around the lake.

Bison being chased by Mr. Gill in our little Saturn Ion!

They were big and kind of slow moving-but I hear they can be vicious, so I was a little nervous to chase them around in our car....but Mr. Gill lives for the thrill of adventure and so...we chased them.


All in All, it was a great weekend away.

Don't eat me, it's my birthday!

*Jenny G

Delayed Response

A few weeks ago

maybe more like a month ago


Spring was just starting to peek through, just giving us little hints of itself.


So Mr. Gill, our good friend Lindsay and myself went to the Boise Botanical Gardens to see if we could will Spring into showing herself more clearly.

Disappointing Labyrinth

We had heard there was a labyrinth and were excited to see David Bowie......or at least hedges....but no....what you see above is what we found....

walking the Labyrint

but we walked it anyway...

Watch Out Lindsay

We saw some....interesting trees

Oooomm

Took time to meditate
























And eventually saw some sure signs of spring!

Beauty

A Sickness

Our Car is sick.

photo credit











She has been very gassy lately......

and slow to start.

Some may say it's old age, but I'm not convinced.

Chloe is at the car mechanic's office today, being inspected and trying to figure out what is wrong.

On the other hand, it's SUNNY OUT and I had blueberry almond oatmeal for breakfast w/our wonderful french pressed coffee. So.....it's a good day!

Have a happy Wednesday :)

Jenny G

Two Things

EeeK!

Here I am again, neglecting you.

I'm sorry.

Jenny Gill has been working!!!

(saving lives....in case you didn't know)

But....just a quick note to let you know of two things.

#1 Mr. Gill gave an awesome performance at The District Coffeehouse last Friday. He performed most of his original songs including BOTH of the songs he's written for me (Mrs. Gill....in case you didn't know).  So many people came they had to get more chairs out of "storage" which is actually one of the dudes who volunteer's apartment next door;) But, there were a lot of people there.....woot!

Here are some photos of the event

Walking in to set up

Rockin out

The Crowd

#2 We had a tragedy at the Gill house last week. I got home from work on Monday and our French Press from IKEA had decided to spontaneously combust!

Or.....just break.

But still-it was not very nice because I really REALLY like coffee in the morning. 

um

almost I depend on my coffee in the morning. 

It may be my #3 reason to wake up....just sayin'

I did though visit my favorite people at my favorite coffee shop in Boise though to get my cuban americano! 

photo credit

anyway-we ordered and received this! 

It's not teal-but it is STILL beautiful and *hopefully* break-proof.

Mr. Gill and I have only kept a press for about a year and then something awful happens....like spontaneous combustion. 

OR the press tries to cut Mr. Gill in the sink. 

We're hopeful that polyurethane binding will keep this press in check. 

Anyway-Much love to you all this Easter weekend!

Jenny G

My First Time

It has been a while my friends.
Sorry.
I've been, well-doing other things.

But now I'm back, and I have several exciting things to share with you.

Mr. Gill and I took a trip last weekend into the Idaho wilderness! 


Or we just drove up to Stanley......but it was WONDERFUL and I saw a lot of wilderness outside of our car windows.

The sun setting behind the Sawtooth Mountains

This is where we stayed and it was fabulous. So, if you are in Idaho and need a neat place to hide away for a day or two, this super cute hotel would be the place.

The greeter at the hotel

Our road trip to Stanley is also the event I've decided to use as my first iMovie experiment!

So, after a couple of days playing around w/my Mac....here you go, wise and discerning audience.

Remember that it is my first time making a movie before you make me cry.

I hope you enjoy our movie and tell me what you think :)

Jenny G