Monday, May 23, 2011
Happy Monday :)
I wish I could figure out an appropriate way to convey this message to certain clients of mine...
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Sunday, May 22, 2011
See Ya Next Winter
Well, I think our summer weather has finally arrived! We enjoyed temps in the eighties all day today, and it was glorious! So long winter, and good riddance!
I am officially putting my winter clothes away until next year... and I feel so glad!
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I recently discovered Pinterest... That may help explain the recent photo-heavy posts!
I am officially putting my winter clothes away until next year... and I feel so glad!
I recently discovered Pinterest... That may help explain the recent photo-heavy posts!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Pretty for Your Saturday!
This would be so pretty in an entryway/foyer!
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I feel certain that there is an easy, do-able version of this wreath! It is definitely going on my "try doing it yourself" list.
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For someone (me) with the bad habit of tossing cupcake papers in the cupboard where they inevitable get SMOOSHED, this is a great solution! And a pretty one!
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I am in love with the bright, happy colors in the bathroom. It isn't a large room but the abundance of white opens it right up.
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It is impossible to point out just one awesome thing about this room. I LOVE the "love" pillow, and the fun ottoman with colorful, dangling pom-poms. And the bookshelf that consumes the whole wall= to die for. And a striped ceiling? Yes, please.
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"...Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring one another." Romans 12:9,10
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This is such a neat quote, and I love that it is displayed plainly. There is nothing extra to distract from the text.
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I feel certain that there is an easy, do-able version of this wreath! It is definitely going on my "try doing it yourself" list.
For someone (me) with the bad habit of tossing cupcake papers in the cupboard where they inevitable get SMOOSHED, this is a great solution! And a pretty one!
I am in love with the bright, happy colors in the bathroom. It isn't a large room but the abundance of white opens it right up.
It is impossible to point out just one awesome thing about this room. I LOVE the "love" pillow, and the fun ottoman with colorful, dangling pom-poms. And the bookshelf that consumes the whole wall= to die for. And a striped ceiling? Yes, please.
"...Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring one another." Romans 12:9,10
This is such a neat quote, and I love that it is displayed plainly. There is nothing extra to distract from the text.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Healthy (and Necessary) Reminder
"To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization I can't control another.
To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning through natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another, it's to make the most of myself.
To let to go is not to care for, but to care about.
To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their destinies.
To let go is not to be protective, it's to let another face reality.
To let go is not to deny, but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.
To let go is to fear less and love more.
To let go and let God is to find peace."
Sometimes my naturally controlling self needs a friendly reminder...
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Penguins and People
1 Peter 3:3-4
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
Apparently, this penguin began suffering from feathers molting about a year ago. Not only did Belle's loss of feathers make her unable to swim and keep warm, but the condition also caused her to be ostracized by the other penguins. This is interesting to me. People do the same thing; we tend to ostracize those who look, act, live, differently than we do. We determine who we think fits into our lives, and we tend to look differently at everyone else. I have always known that we do this as humans, though it may be wrong. I would never have thought that birds... let alone penguins... would be guilty of the same thing!
Finally in April, Singapore's Bird park avian keepers put a wet suit on the penguin. The wet suit was made especially for Belle, and I think it looks great on her! It will help her grow feathers again, and in the meantime, it helps her swimming ability!
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| Full story and photos from here |
1 Samuel 16:7
"...Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Monday, May 16, 2011
First Time for Everything
As of about three hours ago, Andrew and I are officially homeowners! I can hardly believe it! I need a few days to let the reality of it sink in before I can adequately describe how it feels. I guess that is the thing right now: it doesn't even feel real. I know NOTHING about real, grown-up life. I call my mom daily asking questions that I should probably know: questions about bills, work, life... everything! Surely I am not qualified to own a house! :)
Since we are not moving in for a few more weeks, we stopped by the house after closing this afternoon just to say hello. Lady was with us during the whole process today; we wanted her to be a part since it's her home too! Okay, I wanted her to be a part; Andrew could not have cared less.
When we let her walk around the yard, she seemed beside herself... like she did not know what to do! I bet she has never had such a big yard!
Man's Best Friend
The following photos are of dogs that have been used in war. They are incredibly touching, and even though they are so cute, some of the pictures touch me so deeply that they almost make me tear up!
All these pictures are from here
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Happy Sunday! :)
1Peter 3:8
" Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."
In Nashville, we have a newspaper (The Contributor) about homelessness, put out by the homeless. People who are homeless stand on the street corners and sell the paper. Every now and then, if I really feel led, or if someone particularly pulls at my heartstrings, I take it as a God-thing, and buy a paper from them. But more often than not, I simply smile and drive by. And as ashamed as I am to say it, I often think to myself, "I don't need to give them anything today. I spend all day trying to help people; it's my job."
I cannot believe that I just admitted that, but it's true. The truth is, we can all make a difference regardless of what we "officially" spend each day doing. Take the following story for example. You may have read it before, but it's a good reminder. When I read it, I felt embarrassed, ashamed of my horrible, selfish attitude, and INCREDIBLY humbled. I also feel inspired to be a better social worker tomorrow! Truly investing in someone's life, regardless of what that may mean for me personally.
Caution: You may want to have tissue close at hand!
Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living.
It was a cowboy’s life, a life for someone who wanted no boss.
What I didn’t realize was that it was also a ministry.
Because I drove the night shift, my cab became a moving confessional. Passengers climbed in, sat behind me in total anonymity, and told me about their lives. I encountered people whose lives amazed me, ennobled me, and made me laugh and weep.
But none touched me more than a woman I picked up late one August night. I was responding to a call from a small brick fourplex in a quiet part of town. I assumed I was being sent to pick up some partyers, or someone who had just had a fight with a lover, or a worker heading to an early shift at some factory for the industrial part of town.
When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away.
But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation.
Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.
So I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute”, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80′s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knick-knacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
“Would you carry my bag out to the car?” she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.
“It’s nothing”, I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good boy”, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.”
I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.
“I don’t have any family left,” she continued. “The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. “What route would you like me to take?” I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked, reaching into her purse.
“Nothing,” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered.
“There are other passengers”.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
“You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,” she said. “Thank you.”
I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware – beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
The story you just read is from here.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
You'll Never Guess
Well, we are off to prom. No, you did not misread that. Andrew and I are chaperoning the prom for the high school where he teaches. The girl who hated every moment of her high school experience (me) married someone who loved every second of his (Andrew), and who still loves every second of his high school experience, although he is now a teacher rather than a student!
It is funny the way God works sometimes. He seems to have a way of somehow, very sneakily, making us do things we always said we never do. I think maybe He likes to see us out of our comfort zones. And maybe that is the case even more so with me. I do tend to be controlling, and maybe God placing me in situations where I am not comfortable is His way of getting me out of the boat; making me understand that I DO NOT have everything (or anything) in control in my own right. I would be totally lost, alone, and confused without Him.
As Christians, we should do something every day that pushes our own personal envelopes. Hence, Logan going to a high school prom (granted, I am not going willingly), even though I would rather veg on the couch all night with a good movie, or maybe snuggle with Lady (our dog) and a good magazine. Or maybe get together with a few good friends and have a nice, quiet dinner. The list of things I would rather be doing could go on and on and on.
That being said, I am determined to have a good time tonight! At least Andrew and I will get to spend some time together! :)
It is funny the way God works sometimes. He seems to have a way of somehow, very sneakily, making us do things we always said we never do. I think maybe He likes to see us out of our comfort zones. And maybe that is the case even more so with me. I do tend to be controlling, and maybe God placing me in situations where I am not comfortable is His way of getting me out of the boat; making me understand that I DO NOT have everything (or anything) in control in my own right. I would be totally lost, alone, and confused without Him.
As Christians, we should do something every day that pushes our own personal envelopes. Hence, Logan going to a high school prom (granted, I am not going willingly), even though I would rather veg on the couch all night with a good movie, or maybe snuggle with Lady (our dog) and a good magazine. Or maybe get together with a few good friends and have a nice, quiet dinner. The list of things I would rather be doing could go on and on and on.
That being said, I am determined to have a good time tonight! At least Andrew and I will get to spend some time together! :)
Batter Up!
In case you were wondering, 9 months is how many months of marriage it took for Andrew and me to stop saying, "happy anniversary" each month. We let May 8th slip right on by without even mentioning it! That's the first time we have NOT mentioned monthly anniversaries to one another! It was Mothers' Day that day, so maybe that can be our excuse. I think I will try to pick it back up next month... just got away from us this time!
But that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of this post! So... moving on! :)
Baseball season is finally OVER!!! I thought there was no better way to celebrate than with cookies.
I used this recipe, except that instead of all-purpose flour I used wheat flour. I did not actually want to use wheat flour but that is what we happened to have in the pantry... and I was too lazy to make a late-night grocery run just for flour!
And I used this method, from Brown Eyed Baker, for the frosting.
But that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of this post! So... moving on! :)
Baseball season is finally OVER!!! I thought there was no better way to celebrate than with cookies.
I used this recipe, except that instead of all-purpose flour I used wheat flour. I did not actually want to use wheat flour but that is what we happened to have in the pantry... and I was too lazy to make a late-night grocery run just for flour!
And I used this method, from Brown Eyed Baker, for the frosting.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mothers' Day
"God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day." - Psalm 46:5
I
Love
My
MOM
Happy Mothers' Day!!!
"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." " - Proverbs 31:28, 29
Friday, May 6, 2011
Fashion Friday: Chic Workwear
My job does not really call for dressing up most days. But every now and then, it sure is nice to feel nice.... even if there is no specific reason for it.
And I would feel VERY nice in any of these outfits!
It always helps to shake the Monday blues if you have a nice outfit to conquer the day in!
And I would feel VERY nice in any of these outfits!
It always helps to shake the Monday blues if you have a nice outfit to conquer the day in!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
As you may know, I am on a bit of a smoothie kick. Yesterday I wanted my morning coffee, but I was torn because I also wanted a smoothie. Toughie. I decided to combine the two via a coffee smoothie recipe I found online. I followed the recipe exactly, and the result was sub-par. Actually, it was downright icky. I forced a few gulps down, because I hated to toss the whole thing. But I ended up tossing the whole thing.
Knowing that the smoothie had potential, I made a few modifications, per my taste preference, and tried again this morning. Let's just say, I am glad I gave it a second chance!
Pour the following ingredients into a blender. (Adjust amounts according to personal taste and size preference):
(Next time, I may try using a bit of chocolate in lieu of cinnamon)
I need to start training myself to take blog-worthy photos. But in the meantime, I will keep borrowing the blog-worthy pictures that others take!
Think I will take a little breather from the smoothies over the weekend, and pick them back up again on Monday! :) Don't want to get smoothie-d out!
Knowing that the smoothie had potential, I made a few modifications, per my taste preference, and tried again this morning. Let's just say, I am glad I gave it a second chance!
Easy Peasy Coffee Smoothie (makes one large size smoothie, or two reasonably sized smoothies)
Pour the following ingredients into a blender. (Adjust amounts according to personal taste and size preference):
- 1/2 cup of STRONGLY brewed coffee, cooled
- 1/2 cup of milk (I used skim, but I don't think it matters what kind you use)
- 1 heaping tablespoon of instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 heaping tablespoon of sugar, sugar substitute, or honey (I used Splenda... just happened to be what was in the cupboard.)
- 1-1 1/2 cups of ice
- Dash of cinnamon
(Next time, I may try using a bit of chocolate in lieu of cinnamon)
Photo from here
I need to start training myself to take blog-worthy photos. But in the meantime, I will keep borrowing the blog-worthy pictures that others take!
Think I will take a little breather from the smoothies over the weekend, and pick them back up again on Monday! :) Don't want to get smoothie-d out!
As You Wish
I think young love is a beautiful, special thing. When you are so newly in love that you still get giddy when your phone rings and you see that it is your special someone calling you. Or when you first get married and your heart skips a beat when you hear your husbands keys rattling the front door, signaling that he is home for the evening. When making dinner is still a fun adventure for the two of you to undertake together. When you still learn new things about each other with every passing conversation.
But there is a totally different kind of love too. And that is old love. Old love is special in a completely different way. And I think it is even sweeter than young love. I think it is deeper and more overpowering, even if it displays itself more softly. We learn to love with time. The kind of love displayed in this video clip is a kind of love that I, a young person, have not learned to love with yet.
Close your eyes as you listen to this interview between Danny and his wife Annie, so that you are not distracted by the silly video. Because the subject matter, and their lives stories are not silly at all. What you will hear is something truly personal, profound, and tear jerking.
Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.
But there is a totally different kind of love too. And that is old love. Old love is special in a completely different way. And I think it is even sweeter than young love. I think it is deeper and more overpowering, even if it displays itself more softly. We learn to love with time. The kind of love displayed in this video clip is a kind of love that I, a young person, have not learned to love with yet.
Close your eyes as you listen to this interview between Danny and his wife Annie, so that you are not distracted by the silly video. Because the subject matter, and their lives stories are not silly at all. What you will hear is something truly personal, profound, and tear jerking.
Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.
Day of Prayer
Today, Thursday, May 5, 2011 is National Day of Prayer. Here are the steps of prayer that I am going to take today!
Thanks for all He has done.
Honor for all that He is.
Be Ushered into His presence.
Request on behalf of others.
Silence to listen.
Death to self.
Ask for strength for the day.
Yield control to Him.
Thanks for all He has done.
Honor for all that He is.
Be Ushered into His presence.
Request on behalf of others.
Silence to listen.
Death to self.
Ask for strength for the day.
Yield control to Him.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Smooth Move, Slick.
My mom made a smoothie for me over the weekend. It was KILLER. And it made me think to myself, "Man, I should make these more often. Like, every day." Actually, I guess I probably said that thought out loud to my mom, because less than 24 hours later she presented to me a brand spanking new blender. I have never owned a blender; nor have I ever used a blender.
So, commence the excitement. Because I made a smoothie. A bright green smoothie... with spinach in it. I adapted the recipe from here. Although the spinach made me a bit apprehensive, I figured that if Annie's two year old boy liked it, surely I could handle it. It was worth the risk to say the least!
And though the smoothie my mom made me Saturday was delicious, this one gave it a run for its money. I halved the recipe since I only needed one smoothie. But after I finished the first one, I wished I had made more! :) In addition to halving the recipe, I also used slightly less orange juice than the original called for. I like orange juice, but only in moderation. To make up for skimping on the orange juice, I added a little extra honey. That's something you can never have to much of in my opinion!
GREEN MONSTER SMOOTHIE (original recipe here)
Here is what I did:
1/2 of a frozen banana
1/2 cup of pineapple chunks (I used canned pineapple chunks)
1/2 pear sliced (We almost never buy pears, but they were on sale a week or two ago when I was doing grocery shopping, so I bought two. And after nibbling the second half of the pair that I did not need for the smoothie, I began to wonder why I don't eat pears more often. It was so yummy!)
2/4 cup of orange juice plus 1/8 cup of orange juice
1 1/4 cup baby spinach leaves
1 1/2 tablespoon honey
I tossed all the ingredients into the blender, turned that sucker on, waited about one minute, and it was done!
So, commence the excitement. Because I made a smoothie. A bright green smoothie... with spinach in it. I adapted the recipe from here. Although the spinach made me a bit apprehensive, I figured that if Annie's two year old boy liked it, surely I could handle it. It was worth the risk to say the least!
And though the smoothie my mom made me Saturday was delicious, this one gave it a run for its money. I halved the recipe since I only needed one smoothie. But after I finished the first one, I wished I had made more! :) In addition to halving the recipe, I also used slightly less orange juice than the original called for. I like orange juice, but only in moderation. To make up for skimping on the orange juice, I added a little extra honey. That's something you can never have to much of in my opinion!
GREEN MONSTER SMOOTHIE (original recipe here)
Here is what I did:
1/2 of a frozen banana
1/2 cup of pineapple chunks (I used canned pineapple chunks)
1/2 pear sliced (We almost never buy pears, but they were on sale a week or two ago when I was doing grocery shopping, so I bought two. And after nibbling the second half of the pair that I did not need for the smoothie, I began to wonder why I don't eat pears more often. It was so yummy!)
2/4 cup of orange juice plus 1/8 cup of orange juice
1 1/4 cup baby spinach leaves
1 1/2 tablespoon honey
I tossed all the ingredients into the blender, turned that sucker on, waited about one minute, and it was done!
Black and White
In my Bible, the third chapter of Colossians is entitled, "Rules for Holy Living."
God does still give us rules. This is something that has been on my heart lately. As a whole, we (by "we" I am referring to Christians) have become so lax about right and wrong. We have become so liberal in our thinking. We have the mentality that God loves us; therefore, He exists for the purpose of blessing us. I do believe that God wants to bless us, but I also believe that there are stipulations. There are rules we must follow. We seem to leave this part of the puzzle out of our lives. We have adapted the Word of God to fit into our lives and our world. It DOES NOT fit into our lives or our world. And WE should adapt to IT. I recently posted about Ruth. Ruth had to die to her own desires, and be willing to change. She had to leave Moab, her homeland, her comfort zone, in order to receive all that God had in store for her. Once we have encountered Christ, we should change to adapt to HIS world, and HIS standards. Scripture says that we USED to walk in the ways of the world but now we must GET RID of those ways. We were not created for this world, but for another; therefore, our lives should not look like the lives of those around us. Even in this day and age, there are things that are NOT okay for Christians to participate in; there are things it is okay for us to disagree with. There are things we SHOULD disagree with. And there are things we SHOULD stand for.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God... Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips....
As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity... Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... Let the world of Christ dwell in you richly..."
Now, those things... compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness... Those things are NOT of this world. They do not come naturally in our busy paced world, where we are focused on productivity instead of people, and instead of Christ. Patience is not in our natural vocabulary. And neither is forgiveness. It is natural, in our own power, for us to walk around bitter and angry rather than as children who forgive, and therefore can forgive others in return.
Christ's standards are not of this world. They look unfamiliar to those who are of this world. But let us familiarize ourselves with them, as we are children of a powerful God, a God of love, but also a God of wrath. We have been called to live as His children.
My prayer for myself today is that I will live as His child, focused on Him and on nothing else. When our focus is on Him, everything else somehow works itself out.
I heard this song, by DC talk on the radio while I was driving to work this morning. And it ties in perfectly to what I read in Colossians today.
Philippians 2:15,16- "...So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a wharped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of Live."
God does still give us rules. This is something that has been on my heart lately. As a whole, we (by "we" I am referring to Christians) have become so lax about right and wrong. We have become so liberal in our thinking. We have the mentality that God loves us; therefore, He exists for the purpose of blessing us. I do believe that God wants to bless us, but I also believe that there are stipulations. There are rules we must follow. We seem to leave this part of the puzzle out of our lives. We have adapted the Word of God to fit into our lives and our world. It DOES NOT fit into our lives or our world. And WE should adapt to IT. I recently posted about Ruth. Ruth had to die to her own desires, and be willing to change. She had to leave Moab, her homeland, her comfort zone, in order to receive all that God had in store for her. Once we have encountered Christ, we should change to adapt to HIS world, and HIS standards. Scripture says that we USED to walk in the ways of the world but now we must GET RID of those ways. We were not created for this world, but for another; therefore, our lives should not look like the lives of those around us. Even in this day and age, there are things that are NOT okay for Christians to participate in; there are things it is okay for us to disagree with. There are things we SHOULD disagree with. And there are things we SHOULD stand for.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God... Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips....
As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity... Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... Let the world of Christ dwell in you richly..."
Now, those things... compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness... Those things are NOT of this world. They do not come naturally in our busy paced world, where we are focused on productivity instead of people, and instead of Christ. Patience is not in our natural vocabulary. And neither is forgiveness. It is natural, in our own power, for us to walk around bitter and angry rather than as children who forgive, and therefore can forgive others in return.
Christ's standards are not of this world. They look unfamiliar to those who are of this world. But let us familiarize ourselves with them, as we are children of a powerful God, a God of love, but also a God of wrath. We have been called to live as His children.
My prayer for myself today is that I will live as His child, focused on Him and on nothing else. When our focus is on Him, everything else somehow works itself out.
I heard this song, by DC talk on the radio while I was driving to work this morning. And it ties in perfectly to what I read in Colossians today.
Philippians 2:15,16- "...So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a wharped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of Live."
Monday, May 2, 2011
Movie Monday
Today was a good Monday. Generally, Mondays are really hectic days at work, but today was a perfect blend of hustle and bustle and downtime. I started the day off right...With a Beth Moore devotional CD my mom gave me for Easter. And.... with a cup of coffee that tasted extra good for some reason. :)
After getting some coffee into my system, I felt mentally and emotionally prepared for a day of ringing phones, full inboxes, and normal life. I expected to walk into the office this morning and have a totally full voicemailbox after being gone all week. Nope. Not one message. I breathed a sigh of relief to see that they dreaded red message light was not blinking. I relished the moment.
I fit some schoolwork in. Then, I felt guilty for doing schoolwork while I was at real work. So I stopped.
Then I had a banana.
During my lunchtime, I purchased $103 worth of groceries for $64. Thank you, Kroger. I combined several coupons with their 10 item mix n' match mega event, and it was worth the extra planning and effort! Granted, I am nothing like some of the extreme couponers that have been on The Learning Channel lately, but I am learning! The whole process was rather exhausting (in kind of a fun way), and I am happy to say it should be at least a few weeks before I have to return to the grocery store... at least for any major shopping.
With some of the savings from grocery coupons, I purchased some of Trader Joe's chilli spiced dried mango. SO GOOD. I also bought banana chips for Andrew. He LOVES them.
Mental note: Trader Joe's is the best place for dried fruit... not only do they have an extensive selection, but they are also cheaper than anywhere else I have seen.
To top off an already fabulous day, my sister and I went to see Something Borrowed. It is not in theaters until Friday, but Avery's boyfriend had two free preview passes. Unfortunately (unfortunate for him, not for me), he had to work, so Avery had to take her second choice of a date: ME! We had to stand in line FOREVER, but that was actually a good thing! It gave us a little quality sister time. I have missed that recently.
Today was an exceptional Monday. I feel alive, ready to face and conquer tomorrow.
God is good... In the storm, and in the sunshine. He is powerful, and He is good. Let us not forget that!
After getting some coffee into my system, I felt mentally and emotionally prepared for a day of ringing phones, full inboxes, and normal life. I expected to walk into the office this morning and have a totally full voicemailbox after being gone all week. Nope. Not one message. I breathed a sigh of relief to see that they dreaded red message light was not blinking. I relished the moment.
I fit some schoolwork in. Then, I felt guilty for doing schoolwork while I was at real work. So I stopped.
Then I had a banana.
During my lunchtime, I purchased $103 worth of groceries for $64. Thank you, Kroger. I combined several coupons with their 10 item mix n' match mega event, and it was worth the extra planning and effort! Granted, I am nothing like some of the extreme couponers that have been on The Learning Channel lately, but I am learning! The whole process was rather exhausting (in kind of a fun way), and I am happy to say it should be at least a few weeks before I have to return to the grocery store... at least for any major shopping.
With some of the savings from grocery coupons, I purchased some of Trader Joe's chilli spiced dried mango. SO GOOD. I also bought banana chips for Andrew. He LOVES them.
Mental note: Trader Joe's is the best place for dried fruit... not only do they have an extensive selection, but they are also cheaper than anywhere else I have seen.
To top off an already fabulous day, my sister and I went to see Something Borrowed. It is not in theaters until Friday, but Avery's boyfriend had two free preview passes. Unfortunately (unfortunate for him, not for me), he had to work, so Avery had to take her second choice of a date: ME! We had to stand in line FOREVER, but that was actually a good thing! It gave us a little quality sister time. I have missed that recently.
Today was an exceptional Monday. I feel alive, ready to face and conquer tomorrow.
God is good... In the storm, and in the sunshine. He is powerful, and He is good. Let us not forget that!
Project Priorities
Andrew and I made our first major purchase as a married couple over the weekend. We purchased a washer and a dryer! And I must say, it felt AWFUL spending so much money once. But I CANNOT WAIT to wash everything we own! I realized today that I have never had my own washer and dryer!
Here are three very do-able and cute crafts that I would love to incorporate into our new home!
This key rack would be a great addition to any laundry room. Thank you, Martha Stewart!
Here are the step-by-step instructions you will need for this project.
Here is an adorable wipe off weekly menu board. Unfortunately, I do not plan out weekly menus (though I probably should), so I would probably just use the board as a place to leave daily notes for Andrew, or reminders for myself. Step-by-step instructions are provided, but you don't really need them. All you really need is a 12x12 frame, a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper, and a dry erase marker! It doesn't get much easier than that!
I LOVE mason jars! And this is a great idea. This project is a little more complicated than the previous two, but the instructions are understandable, and break the project down into manageable pieces. I think this rack would be perfect for the entry way in our new house! :)
Here are three very do-able and cute crafts that I would love to incorporate into our new home!
This key rack would be a great addition to any laundry room. Thank you, Martha Stewart!
Here are the step-by-step instructions you will need for this project.
Here is an adorable wipe off weekly menu board. Unfortunately, I do not plan out weekly menus (though I probably should), so I would probably just use the board as a place to leave daily notes for Andrew, or reminders for myself. Step-by-step instructions are provided, but you don't really need them. All you really need is a 12x12 frame, a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper, and a dry erase marker! It doesn't get much easier than that!
I LOVE mason jars! And this is a great idea. This project is a little more complicated than the previous two, but the instructions are understandable, and break the project down into manageable pieces. I think this rack would be perfect for the entry way in our new house! :)
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