Gizmo {Now}

As requested, here are some recent pictures of the Giz... isn't he just the cutest?! :)

Gizmo {Then}

Today marks one year since we brought home the cutest puppy in the world! He has brought so much joy and spunk to our lives... I can't believe how much a little dog can change your life :)

Here are some pics from a year ago! He looks so little!

Tonight he is keeping me company as I am battling a cold - he's been like my shadow! Dogs really are the best :)

August in Texas

Oh blog, how I've neglected you! Guess studying has really taken over! I don't really even have time for a post now, but {confession} I didn't want August to be a completely blog-free month. So, I thought I'd comment on this Texas heat... (sidenote: does talking about the weather on a blog have the same sort of awkward-nothingtotalkabout-boring connotation as having a conversation with someone about the weather?!)

Anyway, it has been HOT and DRY. This week we broke the record (set in 1925) for highest number of 100+ degree days in a year... and it's still only August! The record was 69, by the way. And so far, this has been the worst one-year drought in Texas history (there have been worse ones based solely on longevity). In general, this doesn't really affect me on a day to day basis since I'm inside working during the week and inside studying on the weekends - plus I have no yard to water. But it is definitely affecting many many people every day, and has severe long-term implications.

And in the mean time, I have been ready for fall to arrive for about a month now. The weather, the clothes, the decor... I'm just ready for change. I crave the change of seasons! Especially from summer into fall and winter into spring, which, in Texas, happen in the blink of an eye. Actually, we usually skip straight from summer in to winter and vice versa. So I have told myself that if I can just make it through August, then I will let myself pretend that it's fall come September - at least the decor and yummy fall scents. The heat may be around well into November.

Let's leave it at that. Enough talk of weather - and enough to suffice as an August post. Keep cool, pray for thunderstorms, and see you in September!

Over the Wall

I love Holley's blog... she is amazing with words and she always seems to be speaking directly to me. Or rather, God speaks directly to me through her words. Today was no different. My wall = my exam. No, I didn't pass on the first try... or the second. But I will not give up until I do. And with God, it WILL happen :)

You're going to make it over that wall...

Hey you,

staring at that wall, wondering, "Is there a way over this thing?"

Oh, yes.

With God all things are possible. Matthew 9:26

He'll make a way.

And He'll help you climb, jump, knock-down, whatever it takes.

It may not happen in the timing you want. Or how you imagine.

But it will happen.

In the meantime, don't let that wall fool you.

It can't hold you back, keep you down, make you stuck.

Nope, walls don't have that much power.

And it's just a matter of time before your Jericho happens--

when the trumpet sounds and deliverance is yours.

There's no wall too tall.

No situation too difficult.

No challenge too great.

So press in, press on, and never give up

until that wall comes tumbling down.

Birthday Quiz

Quiz:

Question 1: When taking a big intimidating exam on Tuesday, November 8th, which day is the worst possible day for your birthday to fall?

Answer 1: Monday, November 7th

You may have been tricked into answering "November 8th", but you would have been wrong. Though the exam may fall on the 8th, it's at 8:30 in the morning, over by 1, and therefore, celebration can commence immediately following. Especially if you decide to take the rest of the day off work due to "brain fatigue" :)

So November 7th is the correct answer. It will consist of work, frantic studying, and panic. No time for birthdays on this day.

Question 2: What day does my birthday NORMALLY fall on?

Answer 2: November 7th.

Yep, that's right. Answer 1 and Answer 2 are the same. Yay. Which leads to...

Question 3: What day will my birthday fall on this year?

Answer 3: Friday, November 11th (unless you believe in celebrating a week-long birthday, in which case, mine will begin around 1:00pm on November 8th and end at 12:59pm on November 15th)

Trixy, huh? I have decided to change by birthday this year. Why did I choose November 11th? Well, the obvious reasons include: (1) it's AFTER my exam, not before or during (2) it's on a FRIDAY! (3) it's still pretty close to my actual birthday. The dorkier reasons include: (4) I have a thing for primes (my favorites being 7 and 11, go figure!) and (5) 11-11-11. enough said. coolest day ever!


So... 11-11-11, happy birthday to me.

Day 1 = Success

Studying was extremely successful this morning! I set up an area to study in our office, where I wouldn't be distracted. Then I made myself a homemade caramel latte and got to work! Take that, Starbucks! I even got a load of laundry done, too. I averaged a short break (less than 2 minutes) every half hour and a long break (5-10 minutes) every hour. I tried using the stop-watch feature on my phone to keep time and it really kept me accountable to the actual amount of time spent studying. Oh, and the fun supplies really helped!

This afternoon, I have a fun outing with a good friend planned :) And I won't be feeling guilty, because I met my quota for the day!

I'm hoping day one's success is an indication of how the next 4 months will go! Yay!

Time of my Life

I think back to 3 years ago all. the. time. And especially lately, with so many of my friends getting married. I just think back to how perfect it was for me. July 5th, 2008 was absolutely, hands-down, the best day of my life. And I'm not just saying that because it sounds good or because you're supposed to say that about your wedding day. It really was.

And the weeks surrounding it are right up there too. The week before the big day was full of hanging out with friends and family. Literally, just hanging out on our back porch.

And the week after was my first week as Brad's wife. Our honeymoon was our first big adventure as husband and wife.

It was all so sweet and I find myself thinking back to that time so often - wishing I could go back and do it all over again.

Unlike many brides I know, I absolutely LOVED planning my wedding. Sure, it was stressful at times, but only because I was trying to juggle wedding planning, working, going to school and graduating, finding a full time job, and finding a place to live all at the same time. But really... REALLY... I loved the planning. I'd do it all again and again if I could (back up career choice, maybe?!).

Also unlike many brides, I don't remember feeling stressed or nervous leading up to the wedding. I only remember a little bit of family drama, but what family doesn't have that surround something like a wedding?! All I can remember is having fun! Maybe 5 and a half years coming helped a little with that?!

And then the wedding day came. And it was all I had hoped for!

We had a little rain shower scare right before the ceremony, but I think it was just good luck! The ceremony was beautiful! The perfect representation of Brad and I coming together as best friends, husband and wife, one before God. I love that man. I really do. I love him more now than I did then. And I'm sure it will just get better.

And after we were pronounced man and wife, it was time for the party to begin. And begin, it did. It was the best party I can ever remember attending. And again, I'm serious. It's not just because it was my party or because I'm supposed to say that. It really was amazing having all of my friends and family there dancing, eating, and having a splendid time. I didn't want it to end!

  

So here's to memories. The good kind. The BEST kind. And to making many more with him :)

Hibernation

I decided on "hibernation" as the title of my time of studying this summer/fall. Originally I was calling it death (as in... death is coming) but decided that was a little too harsh and may end up setting a negative tone on the whole studying thing. And I need all the positive I can get!

So hibernation it is. And it is coming. I have a week left to prepare and then my nose will be stuck in the books until November. And prepare, I have. Preparations have included:

• gathering study materials
• picking a new color scheme for materials (the last 2 attempts have been green, but that obviously wasn't working out, so I picked PASSING PINK this time around. I think it is a winning color)
• setting up a study schedule
• purchasing pink & white polka dot notebook
• ordering pink Japanese pens (theirs are better) and pink pencil lead
• borrowing (or taking) colored notebook paper from a lovely friend
• cleaning the apartment, as it will be neglected once hibernation sets in
• saying farewell to friends - or at least warning them of my hibernation
• stepping down from unnecessary activities (yay for saying no to things!)
• trying to get my "creativity fix" in and most of all...
• praying... lots and lots of praying that God would prepare my heart for this.

Because, if you haven't noticed, I am determined to PASS this exam now. I didn't give it my all the last 2 attempts and pretty much wasted 6-8 months on studying and stressing. But not this time. God has set out this task in front of me and He has given me everything I need to pass it. I just need to rely on Him for perserverance, motivation, energy and sanity. Because it is going to be hard.

I'm not quite sure what the effect of hibernation on blogging will look like. I don't feel comfortable in saying that I will be cutting out blogging completely. It may turn out that I need this as an outlet. But I'm guessing it's fair to say that I won't be blogging daily (have I ever?!)

Things that will not cease due to studying (in fact, MUST NOT cease BECAUSE I'm studying) include:

• exercise! every morning, I hope
• sleep! I need it
• work... the reason I'm doing all this!
• food - hopefully not too much of it
• time with Brad and Gizmo - they help keep me sane
• church on Sundays
• Bible study on Wednesdays (shout out to PROOF!)
• time with God
• a one week vacation half-way through
• occasional, necessary breaks to come up for air :)

So... here we go! T-minus seven days (or less, if I so choose). Will you pray for me?

REPOST about why I neglect to post...

Is it saying something that I'm resorting to REposting old blog posts about not posting? It just so happens that this is still how I feel:

So it's been awhile since my last post. And that's been bothering me. Not that I think I could be one of those people who posts daily (at least not right now in my life) but it is a goal of mine to make time to post what's on my mind.

Sometimes I neglect to post because of lack of words. literally. sometimes I just have nothing to say.

Sometimes I neglect to post because I'm just way too busy. which is often. but if I didn't post for the simple reason that I'm too busy, then I would never post...

Sometimes I neglect to post because I have way too many things to say and I can't narrow my train of thought {this is the most common reason}. I mean seriously. sometimes I just can't make sense of everything going on in this mind of mine. I get ideas for blog posts all. the. time. but it's hard for me to focus on one at a time. I get overwhelmed. kinda like lorelai.

Sometimes I neglect to post because my words/ideas seem insignificant. I'll come up with something I want to say, but by the time I sit down at the computer to type, it seems ridiculous. it seems silly, because this is my blog. my space. and it should reflect me - no matter how insignificant I may feel. yet the self critic inside of me finds a way to talk me out of posting things that in no way stand up to the kinds of posts I read from others.

So there it is. That's what's on my mind right now. :)

Boston - Gilmore Girls Style

Okay, so I know I promised I would write a blog post for every day of our trip, but the couple weeks following our trip have been busy with catching up with, well... life! And now that I've waited so long, I've sort of run out of steam.

Since I'm currently watching Gilmore Girls (and am obviously obsessed) I thought a Gilmore Girls Boston post would suffice. I had some lovely Lorelai/Rory moments on our trip that I'd love to share:

(1) CHILTON

As we were walking through Newton (the suburb of Boston we stayed in) we passed this school and I decided that it was Chilton... what do you think? Could be, huh?

Actual Chilton in Gilmore Girls

(2) HARVARD

Under the Johnston Gate! Not the prettiest weather :)

Harvard Squirrel! (Lorelai and Rory take a picture of one too... theirs is probably similar in quality)

(3) THE RENOIR GIRL

Dance at Bougival, 1883
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Boston Museum of Fine Arts

Lorelai playing "Renoir Girl" in the Festival of Living Pictures



(4) B&B

Our room at our B&B in Provincetown. Not as over the top as Lorelai and Rory's room in the Cheshire Cat :)

(5) CAPE COD

We didn't actually make it to Martha's Vineyard like Lorelai and Rory, but we did experience the Cape, which still reminded me of the Gilmore trip. I can't embed this clip for some reason, but click here if you want Lorelai's lovely dialogue involving lighthouses, ferries, spermaceti and gay head: YouTube

And to conclude, here's a picture of Brad and I at a lighthouse!

For TONS more pictures, visit our Shutterfly account: Bevil Adventures

BOSTON

This year, Brad and I decided to take a trip to Boston - just for fun. This was the first trip we've taken where we have been tourists. And we planned it ALL ourselves - flights, rental car, hotels, itinerary. We had an absolute blast. We did about as much as you can do in the amount of time we were there!

Here was our basic itinerary:

Saturday - Travel (got to Boston around midnight)
Sunday - Freedom Trail, Boston sites
Monday - Fenway Park Tour, Harvard/Cambridge, Red Sox Game
Tuesday - Museum Day: Aquarium, Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts
Wednesday - Sam Adams Brewery, Plymouth, travel to Provincetown (tip of the cape)
Thursday - Provincetown, bike trails on the Cape
Friday - Lighthouse, more of the Cape, back to Boston, Prudential Tower
Saturday - return to Texas!

We did a lot... and I took TONS of pictures (over 700! no exaggeration!) So, I am going to devote a blog post for each day of our trip. Obviously, I won't put all 700 pictures on here - but most of them are on our Shutterfly account: Bevil Adventures


Here are a few pics from last Saturday (our travel day):

Waiting at the airport - our flight was delayed 30 minutes

We got to the rental car place and the guy helping us was so nice - knowing it was our first trip to Beantown, he let us pick any car on the lot! Brad chose a 2011 Dodge Charger!! Talk about sweet!

Our view from our hotel room (sorry kinda blurry!) - we stayed in Newton, a suburb of Boston

Stay tuned for Day 1: Freedom Trail!

Blessings

Umm... heard this song by Laura Story for the first time this morning as I was driving to work through the {wanna be} rain. With so many friends around me going through some tough stuff, it just really made my heart smile. PS- I made my favorite parts blue :)




We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Oh Glorious Day!

I meant to post this yesterday, but I got busy celebrating EASTER and the resurrected JESUS! But the Gospel is just as much a celebration today! It's the most beautiful, important story of all time!

This video is a little longer than most, but it is so unbelievably powerful. We must not forget why we are here and what God has commissioned us for! Take ten to watch... I promise, it is worth it!


Lord, I pray that I would become less and that You would become more. Help me not to get in the way. Jesus, live through me!

And now for a little Casting Crowns...

Death could not hold Him! The grave could not keep Him from rising again! Oh Glorious Day!!
I hope your Easter was glorious!

The Beauty of the Cross

It was planned ahead of time. Jesus was there - before the creation of the world. God planned it perfectly. Jesus went willingly. He's known all along how it would end. He did it for us. He suffered for us. He loves us.

Isaiah 53 

Who has believed our message
   and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
   and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
   a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
   he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain
   and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
   stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
   and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
   each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
   the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed and afflicted,
   yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
   and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
   so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
   Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
   for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
   and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
   nor was any deceit in his mouth. 

Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
   and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
   and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
   he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
   and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
   and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
   and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
   and made intercession for the transgressors.

Far Greater Truths

There's a lot of hurt out there right now. A lot of sadness. A lot of difficulty and tough situations. So many people I know are angry, worried, stressed, exhausted.

But we have to remember... GOD IS GOOD.

He is good and He is in control. No matter what it looks like from our perspective, that's the Truth. And we can choose to dwell on the facts of our situation and the way it makes us feel (far lessor truths, as Pastor Kyle would say) or we can shift to dwelling on far greater Truths: God is good. God is in control. God loves me. God is sovereign. Oh how many there are! And oh how much greater they are!

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures forever!  -Psalm 107:1 

We may not understand. And His ways may not seem right or good. BUT THEY ARE. The Bible says they are and we have to believe that. God is infinitely greater than me. I have to trust that He knows better than I do what is good.

A great many things in God's divine providences do not look like goodness to the eye...  But faith sits down before mysteries such as these, and says, "The Lord is good, therefore all that He does must be good, no matter how it looks, and  I can wait for His explanations." - Hannah Whitall Smith

Beautiful

The days will come when you don't have the strength 
When all you hear is you're not worth anything 
Wondering if you ever could be loved 
And if they truly saw your heart they'd see too much 


You're beautiful, You're beautiful 
You are made so much more than all of this 
You're beautiful, You're beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His 
You're beautiful 


I'm praying that you have the heart to find 
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight 
For all the lies you've held inside so long 
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross 


You're beautiful, You're beautiful 
You are made so much more than all of this 
You're beautiful, You're beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His 
You're beautiful 


Before you ever took a breath 
Long before the world began 
Of all the wonders He possessed 
There was one more precious 
Of all the earth and skys above 
You're the one He madly loves 
Enough to die 


You're beautiful, You're beautiful 
In His eyes 


You're beautiful 
You were meant for so much more than all of this 
You're beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His 
You're beautiful, You're beautiful 
You're meant for so much more than all of this 
You're beautiful, You're beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His

That Sweet Aroma!

{warning: this is a re-post!... I just love the Mountain Laurel so much!}

"See! The winter is past;

the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit;

the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come, my darling;

my beautiful one, come with me."

-Song of Solomon 2:11-13

In the midst of all the hustle bustle busy-ness of life, a wonderfully poignant aroma catches my attention and reminds me to appreciate the gift of spring. How many days have I been down or frustrated or tired and then this amazing little flower has turned my entire day around? I can't tell you how often God uses the Mountain Laurel to get my attention. It never fails to get capture my senses and shift my attention to the beauty of creation. This scent says, "Look how simple and beautiful I am. None of that other stuff matters. You make things too hard. Just come away with me. Follow me and I will show you what it means to live."

Thank you, Lord, for the Mountain Laurel.

I Arise Today

In honor of Saint Patrick, here is a prayer, often referred to as The Breastplate of Saint Patrick because of its shielding lyrics - for protection on a journey.

 

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the threeness,



Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,

Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.



Legend says that Saint Patrick would teach the
Irish about the Trinity through the Shamrock.
He would use the shape to help illustrate the
concept of God being three persons in one.



I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,



Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

Temporary Home

Some Scripture pertaining to Lent...

Joel 2:12-17

"Yet even now," declares the LORD,
   "return to me with all your heart,
 with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
   and rend your hearts and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
   for he is gracious and merciful,
 slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
   and he relents over disaster.
 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
   and leave a blessing behind him,
 a grain offering and a drink offering
   for the LORD your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion;
   consecrate a fast;
 call a solemn assembly;
   gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
   assemble the elders;
 gather the children,
   even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
   and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar
   let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep
 and say, "Spare your people, O LORD,
   and make not your heritage a reproach,
   a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
   'Where is their God?'
                        
Matthew 6:16-21

"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Remember... we are sojourners in this land. It is our temporary home.

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Shedding

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Years ago, I dreaded Lent. All I got from it when I was younger was that I had to give up something I loved and fast from eating meat on Fridays. And for a girl who hated fish, it was not much fun.

As I got older and my relationship with the Lord grew, I came to understand the sacrifice a little more.
{click here to learn more about what wiki says about Lent}

But now, after not having really celebrated the season of Lent in a few years (besides the general reflection on my sin and Jesus's sacrifice during Sunday services), I am choosing to celebrate it this year. I don't even know if celebrate is the right term, though Jesus's resurrection is definitely something to celebrate! I have a different outlook on it this year...

We are strangers here on this earth. This is not our eternal home - it's where God has us for now. But sometimes we get so entwined, even enslaved, to it that we absolutely forget who we are and why we are here. And I think the Lenten season is the perfect time to reflect on that and allow God to strip us back down to the creation He intended us to be. And, layer by layer, as He frees us from this world, we see more and more the depravity of our sin and, by comparison, the greatness of our God.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 12:1-2

I have some shedding to do. I have grown so astoundingly dependent on the things of this world, and it's time for repentance, renewal, and some good quality time with my Father. I am going to take a break from social networking (namely, facebook) and spend much more time digging through His Word and letting Him dig through my heart.

Faithful

This week's song is a little more serious... a true expression of the heart.




Faithful - Brooke Fraser


There's distance in the air and I cannot make it leave
I wave my arms round about me and blow with all my might
I cannot sense you close, though I know you're always here
But the comfort of you near is what I long for

When I can't feel you, I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can't hear you, I know you still hear every word I pray
And I want you more than I want to live another day
And as I wait for you maybe I'm made more faithful

All the folly of the past, though I know it is undone
I still feel the guilty one, still trying to make it right
So I whisper soft your name, let it roll around my tounge,
knowing you're the only one who knows me
You know me

When I can't feel you, I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can't hear you, I know you still hear every word I pray
And I want you more than I want to live another day
And as I wait for you maybe I'm made more faithful

Show me how I should live this
Show me where I should walk
I count this world as loss to me
You are all I want
You are all I want

Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?!

This is my current favorite song... it hasn't failed to make me smile yet :) Enjoy!

Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not - Thompson Square - Thompson Square Videos

I Smell Snow...

Snow is a pretty gutsy word to come out of a weatherman's mouth when forecasting in Texas... if you're going to promise snow to Texans, you better come through. That said, there is a 60% chance of snow tonight and everyone is pretty excited. All this cold weather will not be in vain!

This might be my favorite Lorelai clip.... enjoy!

(if you're a hard core follower, you may remember that I posted this same clip a couple years ago)

Love Reminder

When I got to work this morning, I turned over my calendar on my desk to January 31. The verse for today is Ephesians 3:17-19. What a wonderful reminder of all the beautiful things I learned this weekend at the retreat! And I should not leave what I learned and how I felt at the retreat - it's meant to change the way I live, even if in the smallest way. Thanks, Lord, for giving me that little bit of encouragement I needed to start off this week in love!

{photo taken by LB at Canyon of the Eagles Resort 1/28/11}

Blessings and Conviction

I attended a retreat this weekend put on by the women's ministry of Terranova (my church!). Besides the fact that I was not feeling 100% (I had no voice, in fact! which made for lovely worship singing!) the weekend could not have gone better! The weather was gorgeous, the location was breathtaking, and the women were absolutely amazing! We really shared our hearts and got to know one another on a genuine level - something many people can be scared of doing. It can be messy. But it's real. It's beautiful.

God has been really reminding me lately of two things, which He pointed out again to me specifically this weekend.

First of all, He has been showing me what a wonderful thing community is in my life. I'm not talking about just being a part of a community (geographically, culturally, spiritually). I'm talking about having people in my life that really KNOW me for me. Who are brave enough to share their real selves with me. Who I can lean on, encourage, hold accountable, and really do life with. I have been unbelievably blessed with people with whom I do just that. And God has shown me that is something that I need - that all believers need, for that matter.

The second thing is more of a conviction that I feel I need to share. God has really been calling me out on my relationship with Him. Do I put Him first? Do I love Him first? I am an extremely relational person. And so I need community in my life. But sometimes I lean too much on that community and too little on God. Do you know what I mean? When I'm going through something difficult and could really use prayer and encouragement, who is the first one I turn to? Is it God? It should be. Yet it's not always, especially lately. I yearn for love and approval from those who know me best. And that's not necessarily wrong. It's natural for me to want affirmation from my close friends and family. Affirmation is one of my love languages, after all. But is that where I'm getting my sense of worth? I feel I need to spend some time really letting my Father love me. Do I deserve His love? Absolutely not - that's a whole nother story for a whole nother blog post :) But I need to accept His love and His approval of me before anyone else's. He is the only One who can fully know me and fully love me. I am undeserving, yet He, the Creator of the universe, has chosen to call me His child! Why isn't He the one I run to when something exciting is going on and I just can't wait to tell someone? He, after all, is my biggest fan. He made me me :)

Sanctity of Life

Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday. What an amazing gift God has given each of us - the gift of life. Today's message at church was so moving. I have always been against abortion, but I wouldn't say I've been great at voicing that or that I have ever been that passionate about it. But why shouldn't I be? It is such a core Biblical issue and central to my beliefs as a Christian. I'd like to share a couple of verses related to God's creation of us, even before conception. And then there are 2 video clips (one long one split in two) that are unbelievably moving. Take the time to watch them if you can.

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you;I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
- Jeremiah 1:4-5 (ESV)

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
   and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
   Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
   as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
   Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
   before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
   They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
   they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
   you are still with me!
-Psalm 139:13-18 (NLT)

Scentsy!

I am hosting a Scentsy Basket Party through January 10th! There will not be an official "party" date and time, but I will have catalogs and some products (including samples of all the scents) with me through the 10th! If you already have a warmer (or recently received one as a gift), this is the perfect time to order some new scents to go in it! Just get in touch with me and I can get your order set up!

Never heard of Scentsy? Well... Scentsy is a company that sells wickless candles and home fragrance systems. They are safe and easy to use. I am absolutely in LOVE with this product! If I had more time, I would sell it myself! They have all kinds of products, including warmers, plug-ins, travel tins, room spray and much more. They just started selling Scentsy Buddy, a fragrant stuffed animal, which is adorable if you have kids (or if you're like me and just love to revert to your childhood every now and then! I have my eye on Lenny the Lamb since my college sorority mascot was a lamb)

Here are a couple things you should take a look at:

- 2010 Fall/Winter Catalog (click here!): this has everything you need to know inside it - including explanations of all the products.

- Alternatively, you can browse online at my consultant's website: shannonsparks.scentsy.us Just don't put your order in online - I can get you free shipping if you order directly through me!

- Bring Back My Bar (click here!): For January only, Scentsy is bringing back 20 popular scents that have been discontinued! I personally am going to get the Lavendar Vanilla!

- Monthly Specials (click here!): This shows the discounted warmer and scent of the month... very cute!

- Hugs and Kisses (click here!): This is another special deal just for January - just in time for Valentine's Day!

If you have any questions or would like to get together to check stuff out let me know!