Friday, February 26, 2010

Fill in the blank Friday

Lots of blogs that I read do this. I want to fit in. =)
And I wasn't inspired for Artsy Fartsy Friday today so this works.
Check out Lauren's blog, The Little Things We Do,  here.  Link up and follow along!

Try it. It's fun. All the cool kids are doing it!



1.  When I'm nervous I   alternate between being irritable and giggly.

2.  My favorite item in my closet are my hangers at the moment. I just purged over half of my clothes and am not too psyched about any one item. Soon it will be a new pair of TOMS though.. look here

3.     Doing something artistic i.e.: sewing, painting, drawing, redecorating..       is my favorite thing to do when I need to relax.

4.  My favorite childhood memory is      going on my first cruise with my family. My mom bought us all entirely new wardrobes a few weeks ahead of time and the anticipation to (a. get to sport a sweet 'jean purse' and wear a neon bathing suit and JAMS was almost too much to handle. (b. i got to go on a huge boat and party with Mickey Mouse. (c. laying on the Bahamian beach getting slammed by waves was heaven to me. Ahh the good life at 7!



5.  Something you may not know about me is     I dream of playing in a sypmphony or philharmonic... i love, love, love classical music and it usually makes me cry.

6.  A true friend     won't ditch you EVER. 

7.  Something I hope people think of when they think of me is     my uncanny way of communicating with cats. OR my silliness.



Have a  B E A UTIFUL weekend!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Let Them Eat Cake!

I am in Cake [ala] Mode.
John's birthday is on Tuesday and I am looking into what tasty deliciousness I can make for his day.
Upon my searching I have found some inspirations and am currently drooling while typing.
I LOVE CAKE! 
Thank you, John my love, for being born so I have a reason to eat it!
Indulge along with me..

Colorful cakes!







Get-a- root -canal- after- you- eat -this cakes




HOO loves Cake?






I could bathe in this..
and I would.



So sweet..and tricky??



Oh, Mondrian cakes, You WIN!



LOVE THIS ONE!

 side note: Got an idea for my Cats birthdays in September and October



this is pretty but it creeps me out
California roll flavored cake, anyone??



 Babycakes 






So pretty





At last..

Perfection.


all pictures from weheartit.com

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

 waiting. resting. being renewed. ready to fly.



Friday, February 19, 2010

All the difference in the world




About 8 months ago I felt an intense desire to be a part of something bigger.

I craved depth in relationships and needed more godly friendships in my life.
After much thought and a lot of 
"are you sure, God. I don't think I will be able to do this"
"Just do it, Missy" conversations with my Jesus, I started a home study and invited a few of my closest friends, some promising acquaintances and some strangers to start in a journey of growth through friendship and Bible study. 

YAY! I am so glad I listened to God. 
WHAT A BLESSING THESE WOMEN ARE TO ME!
Holy Cow. 
Mondays are never ever dreaded again to me!

Through silly ice breaker games and topical questions we have gone from superficial and guarded to deep and vulnerable. What a transformation I have seen in so many of these girls and in my own heart!

Don't friends make all of the difference in the world while getting through your day? 
Don't friends make all of the difference in the world when you have a crisis?
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." 
Don't friends make all the difference in the world when you have someone to rejoice with you about the blessings that are given?

 Don't friends make all of the difference in the world when you struggle and need a prayer or a hand to help?
"Let love of the brethren continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."

The answer is... 
a thousand times, YES!

Two are better than one, 



because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down, 
his friend can help him up. 
But pity the man who falls 
and has no one to help him up!



Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

I venture to say  10 -12 are better than one too (wink, wink)

My life has been enriched these past few months. It's not a temporary  or convenient social circle that is elite or exclusive.
It's a web of friendship that is proving to be quite  strong and intricate. Each woman contributing to the strength of our group, adding beautiful perspectives,  cherished encouragement, and faithful support to each other. There are a few quiet and gentle spirits in our group and there are a few bolder women. We all are learning from each other.
While it may take a long while to grow an old friend, I think we are doing pretty well at making the most of each Monday together. I'm in this for the long-haul!

I have seen girls serve when it wasn't convenient, give when it wasn't affordable, sacrifice when it wasn't easy and grow when the enemy was pressing them down on every side. Our God is wonderful. That's all there is to it. 

We are 6 weeks into "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George and it's kicking our butts into high gear! Wow.
Together we are learning to be the women God designed each of us to be. We are learning to embrace our differences and  lay our insecurities at His feet. Serving our husband's and families to better serve our God...TOGETHER.
  We are learning that God is ready to show us and provide "exceedingly abundantly above all that we [dare] to think or ask."  The list of answered prayer and praises continues to grow! 

So, while friendships can sometimes be awkward and tricky, I am finding that the awkward and tricky phase is definitely worth getting past to finding the deep connection that is true friendship. 

I am so grateful to have deepened my friendships and to now have other women who are passionately pursuing their God along side of me. To lift my arms when I am tired, to urge me to finish the race when I don't see the end in site, to share in my joy and to just laugh and be silly with.

(girls, I'd say we are all headed to level 5   :o )

And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit. For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend. If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also. For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill? Seek him always with hours to live. For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness. And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."
-The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran



Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Once you get past the cheesiness...







As I watched the opening ceremonies to the winter Olympics this past Friday I was impressed by the crazy ammount of Native American dancing, Wowed by Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now guy flying through the air, I really liked the torch lighting but to my suprise my favorite thing was the new We Are the World. The close ups of the singers are cheesy for sure. And I had written it off in my mind because of this cheesiness... until I saw it.


As I saw the Haitian boy at the beginning dancing on a pile of rocks I couldn't fight my tears and I just cried my brains out even as Justin Beiber sang his little hear out and Lil' Wayne (gag) sang in his weird robot voice. 

Anyway. It's worth a watch. And it may just re-stir your heart in a big way for this precious little country. It did mine.
 Keep going with those prayers for Haiti!



see more about Haiti here and here!


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Confessions of a Sale-aholic


I DO.
sometimes this is a problem
I am trying to set my sights on things unseen.
Today, I am a bit distracted in this area.
Bidding like a crazy person on E-bay items, shopping Charlotte Russe's 50% off sale,
buying maternity clothes (note to self: not even pregnant), looking for presents for other people. Planning John's graduation party, planning his birthday gifts. Buying ahead for Christmas 2010. Mostly today though, let be honest- I am just shopping and looking for me.

Today I bought this and this.
The latter was bought in good faith at a good price on E-bay.  
(I justified by telling myself this was my way of "setting my eyes on things unseen"..out of context? perhaps. probably.  yes.)

NOW...

something I discovered via
are these precious things from Downstairs Design 
called The In Touch Clutch.
ADORB!! 






They are made with the sweetest of fabrics. I want to purchase one but I can't even decide which fabric I love the most! 

ALSO...
I would also like to purchase this today:
the auction ends in a little over an hour.. is it worth it!?! AHHHH!

 BEAUTIFUL

THEN..
John mentioned wanting to buy me these a few weeks ago..


.. but then he realized how much they were.
I think I may settle for an off-brand...that's quite alright with me! I can't justify spending $140 for sweaters that go on my legs and feet.

Lastly (but not really)..
We want this for our room. When John saw this he was all about it. I think it's precious that he has quite the little shabby chic design eye. He gushed about how wonderfully this would compliment our bedroom. What a precious!

So anyway. Today. I am THINGS minded but am reminded by the still ,small ever-so -loud voice in my heart
that I am to keep my eyes on things unseen and not make my treasures these things.


I still want them though.

Friday, February 12, 2010
























Have an Artsy Fartsy Friday and a Fantastic Valentines weekend. 
Be blissful while developing the art of your own romance!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I wanna grow old with you



Growing old is not so bad When it comes 
to push or shove, As long as you're beside me 
We will always be in love.




I wanna make you smile

Whenever you're sad

Carry you around when your arthritis is bad

All I wanna do, is grow old with you

I'll get you medicine when your tummy aches

Build you a fire if the furnace breaks

So, it could be so nice growing old with you,....



I'll miss you


Kiss you


Give you my coat when you are cold


Need you


Feed you


Even let you hold the remote control.

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink

Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink

Oh I could be the man that grows old with you

I wanna grow old with you
.





Read this!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

I love these guys!



How can you not love something back that shares it's love and fur so freely?











Monday, February 8, 2010

Get excited about your fairy tale!

It's the week of love. 
It should be nothing less than celebrated!

Don't use the excuse , "it's a dumb greeting card holiday. I love my _______all of the time. I don't need a day to tell me to love them."
Heck yes! Be excited about a day a week of 
concentrated, pure, ooshy -gooshy, romantic, sweep- me- off- of -my- feet- and- make- my- toes- tingle LOVE!  
Show them that you love them a little extra a whole lot this week.
 I know I will be relishing the extra X's and O's I get! 

XOXOXOX!

Now a preview of my own personal Fairy Tale!




{this.was.just.the.begining..}




{the.best.thing.that.ever.happened.to.me.}


{i.heart.him.}




{always}