6/29/12

tgif...

Thank God it's Friday!!!!!

The beginning of the week unbearable!

today not so bad...

here's to progress!

b

6/28/12

funny responses to my hair....

i've gotten all kinds of responses to my hair. Happily all good! Well who knows they could be laughing behind my back, pointing fingers and and saying wow she's got some BLEEP...

i've actually been happily surprised by all the dramatic lovely responses! so yesterday was my most unexpected response yet!

very kind lady: WOW!!! That looks A-M-A-ZING...
me:   Thank you
very kind lady:  Do you just love it???
me:   Ya, I really do like it
very kind lady:   Looking at you is giving me goose bumps!!!!!
crickets... crickets... crickets...
me:   OH! well thank youuuuu...

hahahahaha

b

6/27/12

keep moving forward...

as i'm dealing with hard issues or "being tested" i've noticed that it brings stinky parts of my personality to the surface.

pride
anger
rebellion
self pity
complaining
self righteousness... just to name a few... ugh


could this be one of the reasons that I'm being tested in this particular way... Of course!


i'm still focusing on James 1:2-4 the amplified version of the bible says it like this:

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of you faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. (with no defects), lacking in nothing.


I've also gone back and read the trials vs consequences post that i wrote quite a while back. Remembering what God was showing me back then has been helpful.

keep moving forward no matter how small the step...

b





6/26/12

forgivness

the cost of forgiveness is high. look what Jesus did for us on the cross. i'm being called to forgive... and the cost feels impossible. Not that my suffering could ever compare to His. I'm not saying that at all!

Father's word to me in my life and my struggle today:
It's not my place to judge it's my place to forgive. My choice to forgive is what will allow Me (God) to continue the healing and for things to get back on His (God's) track.


the two scripture God gave me for today...


James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.


James 1:22-25
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.


I love you Lord! Give me your strength to do what you have called me to. amen


b

6/25/12

the new hairdo...

top 5 facts i've learned with my new hairdo...

1. always wear makeup
2. earrings are a must!! in fact the more accessories the better (i forgot how much i LOVE accessories!!!)
3. shampoo will last a long time
4. palm aid is my new best friend
5. tweezing my eyebrows on a regular basis is an absolute must!!!!!!!!!

6/23/12

back on facebook and twitter...

pretty sad... i only lasted 3 days

the purge!

has God ever taken you through a time of purging? I mean PURGING!!!!!!! Like binging and purging finger down your throat and violent vomiting totally included in this visual picture...

that's my life at this very moment. It's painful and gross and stinky, violent and unpleasant.

life is not always a bowl of cherries...

here is the hope... God NEVER purges us for nothing!!!! I take heart in knowing i'm being purged with purpose... and He does it so that by the end we have become more like Him.

And isn't that what it's all about?

It is for me...

b

mini cakes...

Look what i made last night!


Only one thing i would do differently. I left them in the oven for about 18 min. however they needed about 5 more. after my mini cakes were out for a bit the cherry's sank to the bottom.


They still tasted fabulous but you had to eat around the center where the cherry was (a very small portion of the cake) because it wasn't quite cooked.

I will definitely make these again. The fam loved them!

6/22/12

it's funny...

i closed my facebook account... i won't tell you why in fear of sounding "judgmental" but i'm happy about it and feel good.

i was going to stop blogging in fear of being hypocritical but i've decided...

Whatever!

i like to blog... people will read it or they wont and i'm good with that...

i will be changing the face of my blog over time... it doesn't fit anymore. You may not understand that but that's okay.

i'm feeling very free and liberated. it's funny, you'de think the opposite would be true. after my latest post about "tests" i a'm going through one of the  biggest in my life, and not in a good way. nothing i will ever talk about here... other than these few words... it's just funny that's all.

oh and by the way i cut my hair...

i decided i love it!

6/19/12

character developed and revealed...

something i read today...

"Character is both developed and revealed by tests. You will be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible  problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies".


This has been true in my life and as I watch others around me it's true for them too. This past year I've been tested time and time again on what seems to be the same things in many different ways. As my character has been developed and revealed more times than not I have been disappointed by my weakness and response to the tests I've been faced with.  But that isn't the end... I will have many opportunities to pass these tests. The important thing is NEVER throw in the towel. Remember God NEVER gives up on us so don't give up on yourself. Keep on fighting, responding better, loving more. With God ALL things are possible (Matt 19:26)


James 1:12 

Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

6/18/12

bring on the gray!

so this weekend big daddy and i were having the "going gray wont be so bad" discussion and i explained to him how lately me going gray is like being pregnant for the first time...  at first you're afraid to give birth and you're like... hey this is all fine and dandy but lets not talk about squeezing a living, breathing little human out of my... well you get the picture. however by the 8th month your like get this thing out of me i'm ready to get this party started!!!   ya that's how I'm feeling about the gray!!! lets get this party started!!!!


This morning I decided to cut a little patch of my hair down to gray to help gauge when I can finally cut this mop! It's also kinda nice to get an idea of what i'll look like.


i'm thinking mid July out with the old in with the new...

6/16/12

a sweet little sewing project...

this is a little project i've been working on for a cute little girl... I bought the sweater and jeans from old navy. I embellished the sweater and jeans with lace... i love the way they turned out...


it was a snap to machine sew the lace on to the sweater...

next i used no-sew to attach the lace to the front pockets of the jeans and then hand sewed  the lace on to the pockets...

this is after sewing the lace onto the sweater...

this is after sewing the lace on to the jeans...
now i'll wash both items to soften the lace and to loosen the lace from the edges of the pockets as well as get rid of the left over no-sew on the jeans...

a very simple "DIY" project that will work on any sweater or pair of jeans for little girls or grown up girls...  

b

lovely i must say...

steady footing
deep breaths
1000 pounds lifted
peaceful rest
easy laughter
bounce in my step

all things describing me today

lovely i must say...

6/11/12

being me...

spend life being you...

one thing i have tried and am trying to instill in my children is, being "them" is exactly who they are supposed to be.

i know in my life i have wasted time trying to be less than who i am... thinking this can't be right! i should be more like that... of course this isn't to say that we don't grow and evolve and allow ourselves to change. No... but  when we are allowing ourselves to be shaped by things and people we are still becoming who God created "us" to be.

do you know that you are the ONLY you that God has created. there is not one other person in this world that can do things exactly like you? it says in Isaiah 44:2 (CEV or contemporary english version) I am your Creator. you were in my care even before you were born. 
You are not an accident or a mistake. You need to be you! God needs you to be you.

a time when i struggle in this area the most is when i'm leading worship at church. i begin to feel insecure and i stumble in my mind and think of everyone else who does it so much better. but then i'm reminded of these things and i pray... okay Lord i'm doin me and i know that's why i'm here in this moment because for some crazy reason, that only You know, i'm the one who is supposed to be right here at this church doing this right now...

this is true for us all! so i encourage you... do you, be you, bless us with who God has created YOU to be! or we WILL be missing something in this world.

with so many changes going on in my life i have been somewhat out of sorts struggling to figure out what in the world my problem is! i believe i've figured out that in the midst of change i'm not sure who i am... NOW??? but in true God fashion He has reminded me that i'm supposed to be me. that i'm here in this moment because for some crazy reason, that only He knows, i'm exactly who I'm supposed to be for this time in my life...

i'm re-reading a book that i highly recommend and am sure many of you have heard about and have even read called "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. it's an amazing, life changing book on this very subject.

thank you God for hearing my cries... thank you for reminding me that i am exactly who i'm supposed to be for this time in my life... amen

b


we made it home...

made it home from vegas... what a super time we had with the girls :) had some interesting people watching entertainment thanks to the EDC vegas 2012! however i do feel a bit like i should wash my eyeballs with soap. (if you don't know what EDC vegas 2012 is click here (EDC vegas 2012) to see what i mean, click at your own risk)

it is such a mind boggling thought when my brain fills up with the fact that my first born is now a college student. it seems just yesterday i was smashing up organic carrots and making my own baby wipes (what was i thinking)

here's to new beginnings and looking back to enjoy the beautiful life we've shared so far...

b

6/7/12

the beginning of something beautiful...

quite a while back I posted this picture on facebook with this caption...

saw these in an antique store today... i want them
this weekend my mother and father-in-law came for a visit to celebrate Colton's birthday and Brittani's graduation. They had a gift for each one of us and I was soooooo surprised and tickled when I opened these!

it's the beginning of something beautiful!!! my vintage thermos collection :)



Thank you to my FAVORITE mother and father-in-law... I love them!


6/6/12

Viva Las Vegas...


Heading to Vegas this weekend! Brittani and Ciara decided on Vegas for their senior gift. "Big Daddy" and I surprised them with concert tickets to see their favorite band "One Direction" who just so happened to be playing at Planet Hollywood while we are there... I know two teenage girlies who are very excited :)

Viva Las Vegas!!!!!!

6/4/12

lots going on...

on second thought i decided to post...