1000 Gifts: 1-12

My 1000 Gifts!

1. Raspberries-Ripe and Juicy

2. The feel of a hardcover book in your hands

3. A comfortable chair that feels like a hug

4. The faint gray marks of a pencil

5. When Michael plays with my hair

6. Waiting in line to donate items to charity

7. Chubby Toddler Hands

8. The flavor of mint

9. The sound of laughing children while I'm reading them a good book

10. That the timing belt didn't break while I was driving

11.Watching guys buy flowers

12. Hot fudge

Flashback: Glamour Shots

 Me: 1995

I was a Freshman in High School. My choir was earning money for a trip to a national choir competition in Washington DC. One of the many fabulous items we hocked sold were Entertainment Books! There was  a coupon for 50% off a glamor photoshoot. Just what every fifteen year old needs is a dash of feathers and a string of pearls! Ha!

Growing up in a very rural area, we didn't have a large shopping mall. We most certainly did not have the actual Glamour Shots store. No, what we had was a sketchy guy and his wife who set up in a shabby local motel room that smelled of stale cigarette smoke. Not the glamorous setting that I had envisioned. Thankfully my mother came along to supervise.

I was so proud of this photograph. Not only did I look far older than my fifteen years, but I also looked sophisticated. 

Sixteen years later, this photo makes me smile! I can laugh at the horrible feathers, pearls, and fan. There is more to it. I can see my deep inner desire to be seen as pretty. A struggle most girls and woman go through. It wasn't until 4 years later that I really began to cultivate my inner beauty and see beyond my exterior. A continuous process of looking past my physical flaws and working towards a gentle and quiet spirit. 

Thanks 15 year old Emily for reminding me to seek beauty outside of my looks!

1 Peter 3:3-4 (New International Version) 

³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ 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.

Psalm 139:14 (New International Version) 

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Reading Now: One Thousand Gifts

One Thousand Gifts

by Ann Voskamp 

A few weeks ago, out in blogland there was a huge buzz about this book. I had to read it. In fact, I purchased it the day it was released in stores. That night I mowed through the first seventy-five pages. I found it all lovely. Yet, I couldn't help notice that I was rushing through it. This is not a book to rush through. 


Ann has a very unique writing style that takes a bit to get used to. I took the time to go back and reread the chapters that I had so hastily plowed through. So glad I did. This is not a light, fluffy, and easy book. It is challenging. It will have you squirming on the inside. You will connect with the stories. You will nod your head in agreement. Have a pen or pencil ready to underline those passages that will jump at you.


The (in)courage blog is hosting an online bookclub of this book! Check out the video book discussions featuring Ann Voskamp.


Get ready to have your faith walk challenged!

Just a Wife and Mom? Just put down the pitchfork!

The New Year is always a good time for a little self evaluation. A fresh start! I have really been thinking and praying about God's direction in my life. Am I doing what I was made to do?

To be honest, my deepest desire and longing is to be a wife and a mother. I think that is a pretty bold statement. My generation was told that you can be anything you want to be! Hearing that over and over has really caused me a lot of confusion. The idea of picking just one career was just so overwhelming. What if I want to be just a wife and a mother? Is that O.K?

Lately, there has been a firestorm  of debate over the Stay-at-home Mom vs. Working Out of the Home Mom. This has been a issue for a very long time. Yet, it seems to be getting quite a bit of press lately. It is a decision that each family has to make. The two extreme sides of the debate seem to get most of the press. It can at times become a nasty debate.

Right now I am in a season of my life where I must work outside of the home. I have been extremely blessed to have a wonderful job! I really find a great deal of joy in what I do. I am very thankful for my job! I am blessed!

Michael and I do not have children at this time. While we both deeply want to be parents, it is just not what God has for us right now. That is a mighty hard pill to swallow sometimes, I have faith. I have faith that someday we will be parents. It could be from natural birth, adoption, foster care or by some other means.

Back to the debate! Each family has to make the decision on what works best for their families. I don't think it is fair for either side to look down at the other. We have all been called to do different things. Some have been called to be doctors. Some have been called to be teachers or writers. Some are called to stay at home. Isn't it wonderful that each of us is called to a different purpose?! 

In our church small group I have been learning a pretty important lesson. Each of us has a story. You never know what another person's story is.  Yesterday, I heard some pretty powerful testimonies. I never would have thought that these amazing people have gone through such struggles.

You don't know what paths their lives have taken.

So lets put down our pitch forks and agree to encourage one another. Let's agree to lift each other up. Let's agree to seek out the plan for our lives, whatever path that may be.

Scripture References:

“The Lord will guide you continually …” (Isaiah 58:11)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass … Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” 

(Psalm 37:4,7)

Breakfast Trifle and Women's Ministry Brunch

On Saturday my church had their annual Women's Ministry Holiday Brunch. I brought this amazingly simple breakfast Trifle. I layered yogurt, raspberries, and granola in a trifle dish. A beautiful dish can make even simple foods look fancy! 

 

 Of course I made a tag to tie around the dish!

Two lovely ladies from my small group!

 

 Another wonderful lady from my small group. She just recently became a Grandma! She doesn't look a day over 35 to me!

Our church is very big on Small Groups! While I have only been part of the group for about five weeks, everyone has been very welcoming! I love how open and honest everyone has been!

Have a good night!

Life Lessons

A lesson that I needed to hear today!