Tidbits.

- First off, thanks so much to anyone who commented/texted/messaged me about Kallie's engagement pictures I took... you know the feeling when you really doubt yourself and someone tells you the complete opposite and really encourages you?  That's exactly how I felt, so thank you so much.

- Meredith is hosting an online bible study that I joined and am loving!  We're going through this book ... feel free to join in each Friday if you'd like to!  I love any Beth Moore studies.

- It's been such a long time coming, but Jaxon has finally figured out how to pedal and ride his bike!  I could have sworn he'd be in kindergarten still not able to pedal, but one day it finally clicked.  It's been lots of fun going on bike rides (up and down the driveway) lately.

- Driving to Iowa is starting to feel like a 2nd job for me with all of the wedding events I've attended lately.  Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining.  If we still lived in Waco I know I wouldn't be able to attend any of it, so I'm extremely thankful.  This past weekend was Kallie's bachelorette party... here's what we did  :)

Salsa dance lessons were so fun and definitely out of the norm for a bachelorette party which made it even more fun.  Afterwards we went out for Mexican food and we had so much fun there that I felt bad for anyone else in the restaurant that wasn't apart of our group... haha!  We closed out the night by hanging out at my cousin's house, watching the movie Bridesmaids, and getting just a few hours of sleep.  Such a fun night!

- I was able to Skype last week with my friend Susan from Waco.  She was instrumental in helping me get back up on my feet after our crazy 2010 year.  We were able to catch up and do a mini-discipleship session.  I am so grateful for her and keep praying for the Lord to bring another person like her into my life here.  Currently accepting applications for a mentor... ha!

- I am IN LOVE with the fall weather we've had lately... 70's here all week and I know it's only going to continue to cool down.  Reason #72 that I'm glad we're not in Texas any more.  :)  Can't wait to take the boys to a pumpkin patch and make my first batch of pumpkin bars soon!

- If you have any ideas on how to get smells out of your house, please pass them on!  I'm fairly confident the previous tenant smoked... it also smells very musty (like standing water) in our basement and I need to get rid of the smell.  Candles do a GREAT job but it's always temporary.

- It's been a fun last couple of weeks... breakfast/coffee/shopping with my best friend, taking Jaxon to the Lion King (love that one-on-one time), and girls night with my friends.

- Speaking of fall, I've also loved the return of good TV!  Parenthood and Grey's Anatomy are my favorites... Parenthood may even take the #1 spot in my heart soon, especially since my husbands boss lets him leave early Tuesday nights so we can have Parenthood dates.  Love it!

- I love the smell of banana bread coming out of the oven.... get excited for snacks tonight, small group!

- We spend so much time each week at the park next to our house that neighbors probably wonder if we do anything else.

- We were finally referred to an allergist for Cohen's hives.  If you remember this post, I talked about how he breaks out at random times.  We went to the doctor and found out he had an ear infection, so the doctor thought that was the cause... and sure enough, he didn't have any hive breakouts while he was on the antibiotic for 10 days.  However, less than 24 hours after his final dose, he broke out again.  We'll see an allergist soon and hopefully the little guy will be better soon.

- Lots of little updates around the house will be posted soon... and once I get around to painting our upstairs I promise to post house pictures, for all of you that have asked for them.  

Have an amazing week! 

Dream Big Today.

I have determined that I am going to live in the high expectation zone when it comes to the purposes of God in my life.

God is a big God

He is big in favor

He is big in grace

He is big in love

He is big in mercy

He is big in forgiveness

He is big in goodness

He is big into doing the impossible

He is big into using the unlikely

He is big into doing the unimaginable

There is no problem He cannot solve

There is no sickness He cannot heal

There is heart He cannot mend

There is no need He cannot meet

There is no mountain He cannot move

There is nothing my God cannot do - that's true! 

Don't shrink God in your life.

Don't expect less than what He wants to do in and through you.

Whatever it is you think God wants to do, remember that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond anything you can ask, hope, or think.

So...

Think big.

Dream big.

Expect big.

Hope big.

Ask big.

Pray big.

{words from Christine Caine}

It's all in the details.

I have gotten a few emails lately asking for a post on details from specific letters on my alphabet wall, so here we go!

The letter B was a simple curly letter found from Hobby Lobby.  I wrapped it in a satin ribbon, and attached a flower that I had from my scrapbooking days, with a hot glue gun.

The letter E was my arch nemesis.  Seriously, dumbest idea ever to pick up a small thread and try to wrap it around such a "funky" letter.  My husband kept asking me why I didn't pick a simpler letter or at least a more basic font.  Thanks, captain obvious!  After days of frustration, I returned the small thread and picked up a thicker thread, which made it a little easier.  I wrapped and wrapped and wrapped, and used my hot glue gun to secure the corners.

Completed:

"H" was a fun one... I took pieces of scrapbook paper, rolled them in the same size, and hot glued them on!

Completed:

The letter "P" is my favorite on the entire wall.  Originally inspired by Pinterest, I glued Crayola crayons onto a basic letter P.  I cut them by using a sharp knife all the way around each crayon (but not completely through), and then snapped it where I had cut to make the final break.  I found if I tried to cut it all the way through, it did not leave a clean break.  A little time consuming, but my favorite! 

Completed:

The "X" was made with small circle stickers.  I applied the stickers, then used the yellow paint from my bench project to paint over top of them.  I removed the stickers, and wa-la... a polka dot X.

The "U" is actually a horseshoe from my favorite soon to be brother-in-law (Sister's fiance), which turns out is really important to him... so it meant even more that he gave it to me!  

The "V" I cut out burlap and hot glued it over top.

"K" already needs a little work as a few of the buttons have fallen off... and in retrospect I wish I would have painted it prior to gluing and layering buttons on it.  

"L" was a plain white letter... I covered it in painters tape and used leftover red paint from my kitchen cart project to paint over top.  A fun little striped addition!

The completed wall:

If you'd like any more specifics on any of the letters please feel free to ask!

Servant hood.

This morning as I finished off my last sip of coffee, I suddenly got the urge to look through my old scrapbooks.  It got me thinking about the person who I am today versus the person I was 5...10... years ago.  Finding captions under pictures such as "a night I'll never forget" (that I've completely forgotten about) or "best friends forever" (pictured with people I haven't talked to in years).

10 years ago I was in high school.  Spending each day trying to fit in, trying to be accepted.  For the most part, I was, but it didn't come natural for me.  I was rude, I was selfish, I was seriously immature.  The one good thing that did come from those years: my boyfriend, who is now my husband, who is my rock.

5 years ago we were living in California.  Just a year into marriage we were still figuring out each other's quirks.  Weekends were spent staying out way too late and sleeping in till 10am.  I would clean the house well enough to eat off the floors, I took pride in the way our lives and marriage had unfolded.  We had peaceful and quiet dinners together, we could spend our evenings doing what we choose.  We missed our family each day, but I'd never trade those first couple years of marriage for anything.  We needed to live away from our families.  We needed to become our own family, just the two of us.

And now, here I am today.  A Mom of 2 boys.  I didn't imagine it this way... but before I go any further, lets pause to clarify: I wouldn't have my life any other way.  However, if you would have asked me 10 years ago where I'd be today, I would have clearly told you without hesitation: a career lady.  Definitely in ministry somewhere, as a music pastor or serving in worship ministry in some way.  I would have never guessed I'd be a stay-at-home Mom, who clips coupons, pushes that obnoxious huge truck cart through the grocery store, buying juice and string cheese, and managing melt downs on aisle 6.  A Mom who can never shut her brain off, worried whether or not the boys had enough fruits/veggies with their meal that day, or thinking about the future and who they'll become... of course praying that they serve the Lord and become men of character.  Someone who spends her days singing, reading books, playing with trains, breastfeeding, babywearing, cloth diapering... someone who sweeps her kitchen at least twice a day to clean up cheerios, someone who goes to bed more often than not without a perfectly clean house.  

These days are filled with servant hood.  I think of 3 other people before I think of myself.  I feed 3 other people before I even wonder what I'll have to eat.  I dress and provide for 2 boys, who don't know any different.  People have commented about the way I serve my husband, and all can think about as they tease me is Jesus, as he washed his disciples feet, and how He served them in that moment.  During my quiet time as I was reflecting on this, I clearly heard the Lord minister to me.  "You are serving me, by serving your family."

Nope, this isn't the exact life that I would have pictured for myself.  But it's better than I could have ever imagined.  I'm grateful.  Yes, I can look back on those days and reminisce about the girl I used to be, all the while thanking Him for the life I have now.  No, I may not be in front of a church congregation in ministry.  But I am in ministry to my kids and husband.  His plan is ALWAYS better than our own, yes?

I am blessed indeed. 

Kallie + Shane

I had the honor of taking some engagement pictures for my Sister and her fiance this past weekend, and I'm so excited to share some of my favorites with y'all!

 

I have found the one my soul loves... 

Song of Soloman 3:4