Last But Not Least....

....My mom and sisters!!!

Mom:
Proverbs 31:11, 12, 25-31- “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life…Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongues. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

The scripture above pretty much sums up my mom. Just watching her go about her daily tasks spurs me on to grow in godliness. Her example of trusting God in all situations gives me the desire to do the same. She’s kind and uplifting and has been faithful to teach her daughters the ways of a Titus 2 woman. I don’t know where I’d be without her in my life!

Amber:
1 Corinthians 4:-7- “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Amber is a loving person! She is patient and kind (especially with me!). She walks with humility and rejoices with the truth at all times. Amber has shown me time and time again what it means/is to be a loving and kind person.

Victoria:
Habakkuk 3:18-19- “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord is my strength!”

Victoria is definitely the witty sister…. She’s always making someone laugh! With laughter comes joy and she brings it out of a lot of people, especially her family!

Karah:
Romans 12:9- “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection."

Karah is caring and loving towards all of God’s creation (like having a lizard for a pet!!!). She’ll give you a hug when you need it! When someone has a need, she is the first person to go get it… I’ve lately been noticing a servant’s heart in her.

All the single ladies, all the single ladies...

all the single ladies, all the single ladies, now put your hands
up! ;-)... Ok, now onto more serious things! :-p

Courtney Conrad:
Philippians 2:3- “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

Courtney is an unselfish and others oriented person. She always looks for ways to serve others and do what’s best for them, not herself.


Damaris Wells:
1 Corinthians 15:58- “…Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Damaris is steadfast in her relationship with God during the good and bad times. She is a steadfast friend!


Jenn Romanski:
Hebrews 12:1- 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.”

Jenn is passionate to serve our Savior, worship and bring glory to His name. Jenn runs with endurance!

Sarah Jenkins:
Nehemiah 8:10- “For this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Sarah is always full of laughter and joy! It's contagious to people around her.



Lana Calabello:
Ephesians 4:29- “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Lana is such an encouraging friend. I’m spured on to grow in my relationship with God when I interact with her. Lana ALWAYS speaks kind and uplifting words!


Shyla Norful:
Psalm 27:4- “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

Shyla has faith to follow God’s will for her life and faith through difficult times.

Annsley Edwards:
Habakkuk 3:18-19- “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord is my strength!”

Annsley always has a smile on her face and lives with the joy of the Lord as her strength.


Girls, I am so very grateful to God for bringing each and every one of you into my life. God has used all of you to speak into my life, each in different ways. I pray that as we continue to walk side by side in our relationships with God and explore all He has in store for our futures that our relationships with each other will continue to grow in new ways that bring much glory to God! I love you all and count each and every one of you as a blessing!

Wives of Noble Character...

Shawna Crotsley:

1 Thessalonians 5:11- “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

An evidence of grace I’ve always noticed in Shawna is her encouraging and uplifting spirit, especially when someone is struggling with a particular sin issue and she notices them fighting to defeat it. She has always been faithful to ask her dear friends challenging questions. As an accountability partner, she speaks the truth and speaks it in love. Time and time again Shawna has opened up her home to my little sisters when my parents have gone out of town or just to give my mom a break. Shawna is constantly seeking ways to serve her husband and children.

Christine Edwards:

Psalm 28:7- “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped….”

Christine is someone I’ve always admired. I’ve watched her walk through some very challenging circumstances and through them she always had her trust in our Father and remembered His faithfulness. Something I’ve greatly appreciated about Christine is the way she’s always reached out to the single girls at Church. She has been a HUGE source of encouragement to us all! Christine is a blast to hang out with! She constantly makes people laugh and is always laughing at herself. She is a woman of humility!

Colleen Moore:

Psalm 96:9- “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness, tremble before him, all the earth!”

Over the past two years my relationship with Colleen has grown quite a bit. She’s another person I’ve watched walk through some very difficult circumstances and remembered God’s faithfulness through them. Colleen has always been faithful to ask how she can be praying for me. She’s been a huge encouragement to me through some recent circumstances I’ve gone through and am still walking through. She gives me honest opinions when I ask her for them! I absolutely LOVE to watch Colleen worship, whether it be in a home group setting or on a Sunday morning, she glistens with the joy of the Lord expressed in her worship and on her face. Colleen is a woman of passion!

Jean Glick:

Proverbs 31:30- “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Jean has been a steadfast example to me for many years now. One thing I’ve noticed in her is her faithful submission to her husband in and through everything. She has been a portrait of a godly wife and mother to me. Our families have always been very close and one thing I’ve greatly appreciated about her is not only how she’s reached out to Amber and I, but how she’s been a steadfast friend to my mom. She constantly encourages me to keep pursuing Christ and live for an audience of One. Jean is a beautiful example of a woman who fear’s the Lord!

Allie Olsen:

Ephesians 4:32- “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Allie is a kind, caring, and loving person. She is a mother of five kids all under the age of 10! She’s always joyful and never complains about the season of life she’s in. Her caring and kindred spirit overflows into all her children. Allie is always serving in some way! Whether it’s doing something for her husband or kids, being a home group leader’s wife, or serving at a Church event, she does it joyfully. Allie is a woman who extends much grace to others!

Ladies, thank you all for the examples you are of godly wives and mother’s and for selflessly serving your families and the Church. You all display examples of quiet and gentle spirits and spur me on to grow in godliness! It is a blessing to know each and every one of you!

Encouraging Others

Romans 12:10- “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Ephesians 4:29- “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

This week I’m going to take some time each day to encourage/honor the high school, single, and married ladies that have all been instruments of God’s grace working in and through my life. Today, here are two young ladies named, Lauren Eddy and Laura Watt:

Psalm 25:1- "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust..."

It is evident that Lauren is a young lady that trusts in the Sovereignty of God. I’ve watched her grow over the years and I’ve seen this evidence of grace more and more on display in her life, especially while her dad was deployed in Iraq. I can’t imagine how difficult that time must have been for her! Instead of complaining during the time her dad was away she chose to run into the arms of her Daddy in Heaven for comfort. During that trial I know there were many times she wanted to give up, but stayed strong and that was a wonderful example to those around her! Another thing I’ve noticed in Lauren is her servant’s heart specifically in the way she’s serves the Broka family time and time again by babysitting their kids or just going over to their house to help in whatever way she can. We need more girls like Lauren that have the heart she has to serve on a daily basis! She is an example to many!

Psalm 149:3- "Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!"

At a very young age I saw Laura as someone that had a passion for God, specifically through dance. There were many year’s that I had the privilege of dancing with her. Through those years and still today it has been a joy to watch her in class and on stage worshiping our Savior. The teachers at the studio have told me numerous times how grateful they are for Laura and the example she is to all the other girls in the dance company. It has been evident that she has a heart to reach out to these girls in the way she initiated and made an effort to put together a Bible study with her mom to invite these girls to. Having Laura in my home group I’ve noticed that she’s always been one who’s quick to confess sin to others and ask for prayer and accountability. She lives a life of humility! Laura has sacrificed many times to help her mom take care of her handicap sister Lindsay. She has been an example to many and I’m sure Lindsay see’s her heart for our Savior as well!

Lauren and Laura, It has been a joy to watch you girls grow in your relationships with the Lord. You’re both turning into beautiful God fearing young ladies and will be rewarded one day for the sacrifices you’re making in laying down your lives to serve in the Church and your families. Thanks for being so much fun to be around! You both have a special place in my heart and I pray for you daily! Keep pressing on in your relationships with God....you’re doing an outstanding job!

Fun at Bruster's!

This past Friday I took Victoria to work with me. It’s always a big deal when Victoria and Karah get to go to Bruster’s for a day. I don’t think there’s a better place on earth to do school! There’s unlimited ice cream to eat (well to some degree, some times I have to put my foot down :)) and Nathan’s food for lunch. This time I took Victoria because one, Karah went the time before and two, she was having a Birthday party and wanted to help me make her cake. It’s always fun having them down there with me. We usually have some fun music blasting in the back room and pretty much just goof off the whole time (while working that is ;) ). It gets kind of lonely when I’m down there all day by my self. And some times they even help me! Gasp!

This time we had a little more fun than normal. As you will see in the pictures below, we made and decorated Victoria’s cake, THEN while she was washing a few dishes from our cake decorating mess, I decided to go in our walk-in cooler and pull out a can of whipped cream. I squirted about half the can on my hand and snuck up behind her while she was doing dishes and smeared it all over her face (we had already wiped some off before we took the pictures). Of course I knew ahead of time if I did it to her she would immediately retaliate. We had a whipped cream war! Luckily it was one of the coldest and slowest days we’ve had in a while and there weren’t any customers…. :-/ We even discovered a turtle out side the store trying to climb up a curb and Victoria helped it over. To all you moms out there who are probably wondering, we made sure it wasn’t a snapping turtle before I let her pick it up! =)

True Beauty Part 3: Adorned in Modesty

1 Timothy 2:9-10- “Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”

Here Paul is addressing that women in the church should not look exactly like the ungodly women in the world. Women in the church are to be different: a light to unbelievers. They should stand out not because of their revealing clothing, but because of their modest heart and dress. As women we are called to dress in a way that is not “distracting” to men in their pursuit to grow in godliness.

Here are some wise words from John MacArthur:

“How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood? It is to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshipping God? Or is it to call attention to herself and flaunt her beauty? Or worse, to attempt to lure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshipping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance.”

“Good works” are to be what’s most noticeable about a woman who professes godliness. Not our wardrobes, but our good works—an observable lifestyle of serving others. This I believe is the appropriate adornment for women who profess to be Christians. And it is an evidence of the transforming effect of the gospel. It may mean more time sacrificing on behalf of our families and local church.

All respectable apparel is the result of a godly heart, where modesty and self-control originate. Our wardrobes are a public statement of our personal and private motivation and convictions. If we have a desire to profess godliness, we should be concerned with cultivating the virtues of modesty and self-control. Our adorning should be: “the hidden person of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. (1 Peter 3:4)”

“Self-control is, in a word, restraint. Restraint for the purpose of purity; restraint for the purpose of exalting God and not ourselves. Together, these attitudes of modesty and self-control should be the hallmark of the godly woman’s dress. What is the intent of your heart in purchasing clothes to wear? Does a humble heart and a servant’s heart dictate your wardrobe and appearance? Is your shopping informed and governed by modesty and restraint? Or is your dress motivated by a desire for attention and approval from others? Does your style reflect a lack of self-control? There’s an inseparable link between your heart and your clothes. Your clothes say something about your attitude. If they don’t express a heart that is humble, that desires to please God, that longs to serve others, that’s modest, that exercises self-control, then change must begin in the heart.” –C.J. Mahaney

Let’s be one’s that are constantly evaluating our hearts and motives. Let me encourage you to find someone in your life to ask about your wardrobe. If you aren't married with a husband to ask or don’t have a dad or brother you feel would be helpful to you, then find a trustworthy lady in your Church that will give you an honest assessment of your wardrobe. If we truly want to change we will invite others to help us! Modesty is a statement of humility expressed in our wardrobes!

Today let’s ask:

1. What is most eye catching about me, my stylish clothes or my character?

2. Does my life reflect an observable lifestyle of serving others?

I pray you found this little series to be helpful and encouraging. That was my desire in doing these posts! Because we live in a fallen world and temptations arise daily, I am not an "expert" at anything I shared. Just like every other woman in the world, I need to check my heart motives daily.

True Beauty Part 2: A Heart Check

1 Peter 3-4- “Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

“A gentle and quiet spirit is an inner disposition of humble contentment and quiet tranquility rooted in an unwavering trust in God and His purpose.” –Jeff Purswell

Carolyn Mahaney has summed up a gentle and quiet spirit as “a steadfast peace because of a steadfast trust in God.”

“With God at the center- like the ‘sun,’ satisfying a woman’s longing for beauty and greatness and truth and love- all the ‘planets’ of food and dress and exercise and cosmetics and posture and countenance will stay in their proper orbit.” –John Piper

To all my dear single friends, we have only ONE person to please: The Lord should be the ONLY object of our pursuit for beauty. (1 Cor. 7:34) All our thoughts, motives, and actions related to beauty should be for the eyes of ONE and ONE only. Of course this will change once married, then we will have two to please: God and our husbands. Right married ladies? =)

“Pure devotion to God will produce an appropriate concern for physical appearance. A godly woman will seek to present an outward appearance that honors God and attracts others to her character. The woman who trusts God with her looks, makes her “look” more beautiful” -Carolyn Mahaney

The question I would ask today is are you dwelling on the looks of your outward appearance in a complaining and ungrateful way or are you trusting and thanking God for the body He has given to you (as a gift) for your good and His glory? We have been bought with a price…so let us glorify God through our bodies! (1 Cor. 6:20)

The woman who follows God’s beauty regimen will truly become beautiful!

True Beauty Part 1: God's Definition of Beauty

Over the next couple days I’m going to share some on the topic of beauty, what it should look like in God’s eyes. Before I begin I'd like to share about someone who has greatly effected my life in the area of cultivating a gentle and quiet spirit. Over many years my mom has taught numerous women on Biblical feminity, in particular her daughters. She has not only taught what true beauty should look like, but displays it daily inside our home. Anything I've shared below is all a result of her teaching. Mom, thank you for the example you are of a Titus 2 woman and for having a heart that displays the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. I can’t imagine where I’d be in my relationship with the Lord if it wasn’t for you! Thank you!

Proverbs 31:30- “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

“Physical beauty does not deliver as advertised. It does not produce the happiness and success that the beguiling voices in our society promise. Our culture puts forth a false standard of beauty and a false message about beauty, but ultimately the wickedness already resident in the human heart is what motivates us to believe such lies and pursue them.” -Carolyn Mahaney

We are instructed out of Romans 12:2 not to be conformed to the fallen world we live in. We need to ask ourselves, have we been prone to cultivate the world’s portrait of beauty or God’s portrait of beauty? “Nowhere in the Bible are women instructed to wish for, ask for, or strive for physical beauty. Instead, God’s Word warns us of the futility and deceitfulness of such a portrait.”- CM

1 Peter 3:3-5 tells us that our beauty “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. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.”

God’s definition of beauty stands out much greater than how our culture defines beauty. Our culture defines beauty by how we look on the outside. God defines beauty by how we look on the inside. God’s agenda for beauty is one that we can all attain if we respond to His work on the cross for us and then notice His grace in our lives. This beauty is one of great worth! God encourages women to cultivate a beauty that will NEVER fade and will only grow more attractive with the passing of time, a beauty that is only attractive in His eyes.

“A woman who cultivates inner beauty; who fears God and lives to serve others makes a difference in people’s lives. Her inner beauty makes a lasting impact on the lives she touches. Godly, inner beauty makes an indelible mark on the lives of others and glorifies God. The way we think about and attend to our personal appearance is really a mirror of our hearts. By reflecting either godly motivations or selfish motivations, we reveal whether our priority is to cultivate inner beauty or outer beauty.” -CM

Here are some questions I‘ve asked myself and would challenge you to do the same today:

1. Do I spend more time daily caring for my personal appearance than I do in my Bible study, prayer, and worship?
2. Do I dress immodestly or with the intent of drawing attention to myself, or do I always dress in a manner that pleases God? (The first two questions are provided from Carolyn Mahaney)
3. When people look at me do they see someone that makes a lasting impact on others?
4. Do I worry more about my outward appearance or serving others?
5. Do I make an indelible mark on the lives of others?
6. Is my outward appearance an idol in my life?

Mission: X is Back!

Over the past few days I’ve been overwhelmed with excitement about Mission: X 2009. For about the past six months I’ve had a strong desire to go on another mission’s trip and when I heard Mission: X will be back this summer I was over joyed! I’m excited about the opportunity to serve in a different Country and for another opportunity to preach the gospel into different lives.

In the summer of 2007 I was privileged to go on the Mission: X trip to Haiti. Just seeing Haiti in and of itself was a life changing experience. Seeing the poverty in that Country was quite a reality check! The most amazing thing to me about the trip was witnessing young and old people that had an inexpressible joy in the Lord even though they had close to absolutely nothing. I saw a joy that I’d never seen before! Through the trip, I built relationships with different individuals that I’m very grateful for and experienced God’s love in a way I never had before. Though the trip to Haiti was a life changing experience and one that I’ll never forget and am very grateful for, I believe the Lord is calling me to go to a different location this time around.

As I’ve shared before, over the past year the Lord has given me an extra passion to reach out to children, youth, and high school girls. I’ve really sensed the Lord calling me to go on a mission’s trip some where Spanish speaking that I can do just that, preach the gospel into the lives of the up and coming generation. With that said, I’ve been in prayer about two locations: Dominican Republic and Cuba. Even though those are the two locations I feel strongly about right now, it could very well be that God wants me to go back to Haiti or He could have a completely different location planned.

I desire to do only the Lord’s will and I wouldn’t want to go some where different than that. I would greatly appreciate it if you could be in prayer that the Lord would make it clear to me where it is He would have me go. Thanks!

If you haven’t seen the Mission: X website yet, click here to check it out!

Just for fun, here are some pictures of the Haiti trip in 2007:

P.S. Colleen, I know ahead of time these pictues will probably make you cry... tears are a good thing! ;) I love you!

Happy Birthday Amber!

Dear Amberdee,

Words cannot express how grateful I am for you! We’ve gone through many things in this past year that we’ve had to lean whole heartedly on God and each other for support and encouragement. There have been times of laughter, times of pain and tears, we’ve made many memories that we’ll never forget, and have drawn much closer to each other as sisters.

Proverbs 31:30- “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” You truly are a God fearing woman. In this past year, I’ve watched you walk through many circumstances that I’ve never seen any one else walk through the way you have. Your constant fight for joy and desire to draw closer to God and be in His Word has spurred me on to do the same! The inward beauty you display of a gentle and quiet spirit has always been provoking to me!

Victoria, Karah, and I could not ask for a better “big sister” than you! Thanks for being a fun (and a little crazy at times :-p) person to hang out with! My prayer is that as we’re both growing older and have no idea what our future holds, that we can continue to grow in our relationship with each other, not just as sisters, but as best friends!

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Candace

Happy Birthday Victoria Joy!

Dear Toydy Be Doydy, :-p

When I think of you, I think of someone that’s fun, smart, witty, and energetic! Thanks so much for your joyful fun loving attitude you have daily and most of all for always making me laugh!
You‘re becoming one beautiful and godly young lady! I can’t wait to see all that God has in store for you in this coming year. Remember to ALWAYS listen to dad and mom… they know you best and they’re never wrong!

Happy Birthday little sis! Hope you’re having fun in Orlando and congratulations for going on your first upside down roller coaster!

I love you!

Love,
Your big sis

P.S. Your cake will be ready when you get home!

A Touch of Black!

Below I've listed a few links with helpful tips on adding “a touch of black” to your home:

-Southern Accents

-Arlene's Interiors

-Better Homes and Gardens

-Kathryn Weber

Remember, you don't necessarily have to go out and buy something! You can paint things you already have! =)

More On Decorating

One of the reasons I decided to do a couple posts on decorating is because I’ve received a few requests from different individuals wanting me to share some tips on decorating and how to save money in the process. I would love to know any of your thoughts and ideas that you’ve discovered when decorating on a budget!

Here are a few tips that I’ve found helpful when it comes to shopping for decorations:

Create a list: When decorating or re-decorating a room take some time to think and plan. Start with searching for a paint color for the walls then build off the color. Take the measurements of wall space and windows, write them down and keep them in your purse or wallet. Also, if you have a camera, take some pictures of the room so when you’re shopping you can pull them out and have a visual of the room with you. It’s also helpful to have a visual so you can minimize the amount of returns. Next, create a list of all the things you’d like to add to the room (pictures, curtains, bed spread, accessories, rugs, fixtures)

Things to bring with you shopping:
-Your items list
-Paint color swatch
-Measurements
-A throw pillow or sham off your bed, a piece of fabric, or something in the room that you’re basing the design off of
-Pictures of the room
-A miniature tape measure if you’re looking for exact measurements

Note: When creating a list keep in mind that pretty much everything that isn’t upholstered can be painted (Mirror frames, tables, chairs, picture frames, book shelves, cabinets, candle holders, lamp bases). This is a very cheep and easy way to spruce something up or change the color.

Create a budget: After you’ve created your list, create a budget. If you’re single, get help with this step from your mom or someone that’s been an example to you in the area of frugality that you know will help you create a wise budget. :) If you’re married then go to no one else but your husband! It will bless him to know that you’re seeking to be wise with the money God’s provided. It’s wise to create a budget simply so we don’t give into the temptation to buy something we really don’t have money for. After the budget is created you might have to take a few things off your list if they don’t fit into your budget. Even when we’re purchasing items on sale or even on clearance, they add up very quickly. When we have a budget it helps us stay focused and carefully watch how we’re spending money. Remember things always eventually go on sale!

Make time: Shopping for decorations can become overwhelming and if you spend too much time looking it can become frustrating. I’ve found that it works best when I stop at one to two stores at a time. Unless I’ve got a lot of extra time on my hands, tackling a bunch of stores all over town in one day never works. Try to plan time when running errands to make a few extra stops in the area of town you’ll already be. Doing this saves gas money and a whole lot less stress when shopping!

Be creative: There are many ways to be creative when decorating. Re-arranging furniture in a room makes a huge difference! If a couple rooms in your home have similar colors, you can always swap items out in the rooms. This adds a new look and it’s completely free! Don’t ever be afraid to paint and always make sure there is a touch of black in every room. There are oodles of web sites with creative ideas you can google!

Be patient and persistent: As Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

Maybe you’re in a season that you desire to get some projects done around the house but just don’t see it possible to even begin thinking about doing them because there’s other things that are calling you attention (family, crying baby, cleaning, laundry, work, sleep, church events) or maybe you're in a season you aren’t financially able to begin new projects… Well as I’ve been reminded lately out of Ecclesiastes 3:1 there is a season for EVERYTHING, a season even for decorating a room. Today on the Girl Talk blog they did an excellent post on different God ordained seasons that you can check out here!

Let’s try not to have a self-pity attitude about the season God has us in, but remember and be grateful that our greatest need has already been met!

Decorating On A Budget?

Sorry guys ahead of time for this girlie post! :)

As many of you know I love to decorate. I love the whole process, shopping/searching for the decorations, hanging curtains, hanging a picture on a wall, making flower arrangements, painting, etc. I love to envision how a room can look and then make it happen!

I know these days with the economy the way it's been completely decorating or re-decorating a room can be a challenge because it takes a lot of money and most items are over priced. It has become a hobby of mine to see how cheep I can decorate a room or find a specific item/items. Over the next couple days I've decided it would be fun to do a few posts with tips on how to save money when decorating on a budget. Read along if you'd like! :)

One thing I love to do besides searching for things at garage sales is to go and look around in the higher dollar stores like Pottery Barn and Pier One. I do this to check out the most recent and up to date styles and see what I like for a room I’ll be working on and then go to places like Home Goods and T.J. Maxx and find pretty much the same thing for at least ½ the price it would’ve been in any other store. Pretty much every time something is marked at full price it will eventually go on sale. It isn’t always the easiest thing to wait, but in the long run you’ll get more items for a lot less money.

One of my favorite ways to literally bring life to a room is by decorating with photos, especially with my love for taking pictures. You can usually find a cheap picture frame from Walmart, T.J. Maxx or Target (black frames always add a great touch to a room =) ) and it makes a room feel very warm and homey. Maybe you don’t like the color of the picture frames you have now; well you don’t have to go buy new ones. Go buy a cheep can of paint and paint them… It’s not hard at all and it saves money (kids can also help with this project)!

My all time favorite home décor store is Kirkland’s. Even if I’m not looking for anything I still love to go into the store and just look around for fun (ha-ha in all the spare time I have ;) ). Recently on top of their already low prices they’ve been having a pretty big sale. Everything with a green tag on it (the already marked down price) is an additional %25 off. It’s been great! I’ve been shopping around for my mom because she is re-decorating a few rooms in our house and it’s been such a blessing! Maybe you’ve been searching for the perfect picture or accessories that aren’t marked at a sky high price. If you are, then maybe you should swing on in to Kirkland’s as well and see if they’ve got what you’ve been looking for. You can also sign up here to receive e-mails from Kirkland’s pretty often with coupons and special offers.

Decorating really can be fun and easy as long as you stay motivated!

Check back tomorrow for more on decorating on a budget!

Rising Early

Something I’m trying to be more consistent in this year is rising early to spend extended time with the Lord every morning. Recently I’ve found myself to be very busy with lots of traveling, work, holidays, church activities, and keeping up with daily tasks such as laundry and cleaning. Through all of this busyness I’ve been reminded of the importance and necessity it is to spend time with the Lord FIRST thing in the morning. Mainly because if I don’t do it first thing in the morning there might not be extra time to read and pray later on in my days. Though recently I’ve been able to spend quite a bit of time with the Lord at work and at night I know soon that won’t be the case as my family is about to enter into another very busy season. There is a HUGE difference in my days when I don’t get up and have a quiet time first thing in the morning. When I say a difference in my days, I mean a difference in my attitude! I know as I get busier rising early won’t be something that will happen over night. It will probably take time to get into a different sleeping pattern, but will definitely be worth it!

I’m telling you all this because I would love for you all to ask me how I’m doing with “rising early”! =) Thanks!

Psalm 5:3-” O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.”

Mark 1:35-“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went to a very desolate place, and there he prayed.”

“I earnestly recommend that it be in the early morning, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. Entering the day without a serious meeting with God, over his word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons. The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart… We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer.” –John Piper

Here are some helpful tips from the Mahaney Women:

1. Place your alarm clock in a strategic location, preferably on the other side of the room from your bed.

2. Set your alarm for the same time every day.

3. Never, never, never hit the snooze button or lie back down to catch a few more winks. The second your alarm goes off it is the most critical moment in getting up early.

4. Proceed directly to the coffee pot of caffeinated drink of choice.

5. Be prepared to feel absolutely miserable for about ten to fifteen minutes. But the misery soon turns into pure gladness as your experience the delight of meeting with God and reap the benefits the rest of the day. Fifteen minutes of misery is certainly worth fifteen-plus hours of peace and productivity.

6. Remember that our bodies eventually respond to a standard wake-up time. In other words, it gets easier.

The Newest Addition to My Family!

My dad has always referred to our house as a zoo. A zoo simply because it isn’t very often that our house is quiet! There is always something going on. Either kids running around, people talking or laughing, pets making noise, vacuum running, etc. Just when we thought our house couldn’t get any crazier… it did!

Let me introduce you to our new pet bearded dragon, Jack! Yes, we have a pet lizard. Never in a million years would I have thought my parents (especially my mom!) would allow a lizard (a big lizard) to live in our house. Victoria and Karah have always been by far the most adventurous, out doorsy, pet loving kids in the family. They’ve always been the one’s that have BEGGED to get a bird or a pet snake (yes, I said a snake and yes there will never be one living at our house as long as I’m there =) ). One of their friend’s friends had a pet bearded dragon and they were looking for a new home for it. After much discussion with the girls my parents said they could have it. In my opinion it’s a pretty boring pet. It just sit’s in its cage most of the day under its heating light and eats a live cricket every now and then. It has been much entertainment to our other pets though. They want it so bad!

So meet Jack everyone! Maybe our house is turning into a zoo after all!

GO GATOR'S!!!!

Your Goodness Knows No End!

Last night at my home group I was reminded afresh of God’s goodness. How marvelous, majestic, and faithful He is to daily extend grace to me, a horrible wretched sinner! During worship we sang a line “your goodness knows no end.” How refreshing that was to my soul! No matter how many failures I’ve had in the past or will have in the future God will still remain good! He will be my Faithful Father to deliver me from all my fears, He will continue to convict me of my sin, and most of all will continue to extend grace upon my life that I’m so undeserving of. Oh how great is His goodness! (Zechariah 9:17)

Though troubles fall like rain
This precious truth remains,
Lord you so good to me, yes you’re so good to me!
-SG Music

Psalm 23:6- “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 31:19-“Oh how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you…”

Psalm 34:8- “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!...”

For This is The Will of The Lord

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18- "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

The verse above has been playing over and over again in my head recently. As I’ve meditated on it God has been good to show me areas I’ve been lacking in. I pray you find the following breakdown helpful. I know I’ve been convicted!

“Rejoice ALWAYS” This is a very clear command. There is no option set forth. It doesn’t say rejoice when we feel like it. It says rejoice always! Rejoice in all situations! We are to rejoice every second of our days whether we want to or not. For “this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24) As I mentioned yesterday, something I’ve been learning recently is as I delight in the Lord, I find joy in all the daily tasks of life and what a difference it makes in my days! It’s not just an “I’m in a good mood joy”, but a lasting joy from the Lord!

Philippians 4:4- Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, REJOICE!”

“Pray without ceasing” So many times I’ve been convicted of my lack of faith when praying. There have been times when praying that I’ve doubted God is really listening or that He would even want to answer my prayers, especially if it’s something I’ve been praying about for a long time. BUT God is always kind to extend grace and remind me that I am to pray without ceasing! We are to trust that God will heal, trust that He will provide, trust that all His ways and timing is perfect and have faith for the things that we cannot see. We are to walk by faith, not by sight! (2 Corinthians 5:7) Father forgive me for the times I haven’t trusted in Your Sovereignty and the times I haven’t been faithful to pray without ceasing! Thank you for the grace you extend to me over and over again every time I fail to walk by faith.

“Give thanks in ALL circumstances” This is pretty clear! We are to give thanks in every single circumstance of life; even the ones we think are bad. Something I try to remind myself of daily is even when I think something isn’t going well (Sitting in traffic, bad day at work, car breaks down, etc.) God does! He has planned out every step we take! He has ordained that we face difficult circumstances because they are for our good and His glory and we are to give thanks and rejoice through them!

“For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” It isn’t very often that I think of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks as something the Lord wills. I’ve thought/think about them quite a bit but haven’t thought much about when we don’t rejoice, pray without ceasing, and give thanks at all times it is going against the will of the Lord. Thank you Lord for revealing this to me!

Here is the last bunch of ski trip pictures... Hope you've enjoyed them!

I Want To Sing of Your Love

Psalm 37:3-7- “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act….Be still before the Lord and wait patiently got him…”

Recently I memorized the above passage and I’ve been thinking a lot about how God Sovereignly uses EVERY situation (big or small) that He places in our lives to draw our hearts closer to Him and deepen our love for Him. This passage has shown me that as we trust in our faithful never failing Father for His perfect timing and Sovereign will, He will slowly place pieces of the puzzle that represent His will for our lives together even if each piece is a trial or circumstance we need to walk through first. As we delight in the Lord He will help us desire the right things and as we find joy in Him, we will find joy in all the circumstances God has ordained (work, family, church, running errands, etc.) that we face daily. Maybe you too are waiting for the Lord to send answers to questions. Let us remember that this “waiting” time is building us up, making us stronger, and drawing us closer to Him!

To know that God is Sovereignly at work in EVERY situation of our lives to draw us closer to Him and His will has been bringing so much joy to my soul!

Here are some more pictures from the ski trip... I will post the last bunch tomorrow.

I'm Back!

Note: Sorry ahead of time if it seems like I'm rambling... I typed this really fast.

This past weekend I returned home from a ski trip in Basye Virginia. The main group that went was there for a week and throughout the week we had many people joining us from different churches and they stayed for a few days. We had a total of seven different Sovereign Grace Churches represented (Jacksonville, Orlando, West Orlando, Gainesville, Charlotte, New Charlotte Church plant, and Gaithersburg). I’ve summed up the trip in three different categories below:

Fun: Overall this trip was a ton of fun! Here a some of the things that made the trip so “fun”!
-Lots of Hiking and being adventurous
- Visited Covenant Life Church and heard an outstanding message from Josh Harris
- Went to D.C. after church on Sunday
- Met some new friends from CLC that joined our group one day
- On Tuesday the majority of the people on the trip went skiing and Jenn, Christine, Jason, Kevin, and I all stayed back. Instead of skiing we decided we were going to explore mid western northern Virginia because SURELY there had to be something fun to do there. FALSE! We started our day by cooking and eating a lovely breakfast together, and then we tried to go to the New Market Battlefield to learn something on the trip. Except they wanted $9. $9 to see an empty field. Strike one. Then we tried to go to the Luray zoo which ended up being a shack on the side of the road. Strike Two. So then we had a picnic lunch in a park where then someone (not going to mention who ;) ) dropped the football into a flowing stream. The football did end up being retrieved (after many laughs and climbing to get to it) and we finally decided “lets take a ride on the Beautiful Skyline Drive” Once we decided to do that we realized we didn’t have enough gas to make it where we wanted to exit Skyline Drive so we then drove seven miles out of the way to find a gas station and then drove seven miles back. By the end of the day we made it back to our town house safe and sound with lots of funny story’s to tell. Though the day didn’t necessarily work out as planned it ended up being a blast! (Some of this story was by Jenn Romanski. Love ya Jenn!)
- Fun games at night
- A total of 40 hours of driving and the great conversations within the cars
- Taking a hike in 19 degree weather with a wind chill of 0 degrees. That was by far the coldest I’ve ever been but definitely worth the hike to a beautiful waterfall!
- Cooking dinners with all the girls
- The traditional Cracker Barrel stop we take on every trip

Refreshing: I came out of this trip feeling very tired but refreshed. I was tired simply from all the fun we were having but at the same time refreshed with God’s love! Going into the trip there were many things laying heavy on my heart. To make a long story short, the biggest thing was contemplating whether or not God was/is calling me to continue working for my dad or to pursue something else (different job, decorating classes, teach dance etc.) My dad asked me to be in prayer about it because he didn’t want me to feel like I was “stuck” working at Bruster’s or feel guilty if I did decide I didn’t want to continue working there. My desire is to seek and follow God’s will for my life, but because of some things God has been laying on my heart lately I’ve been a little confused in seeking what to do next. I was really looking forward to spending a lot of extended time clearing my head and praying for guidance. Every morning when I would sit at His feet I sensed His presence and love pouring into my heart. Though there are still some un-answered questions, the Lord has reminded me out of Jeremiah 29 that His plans are for my good and His glory and plans that will give me a hope and a future. God has continued to remind me to seek, delight, and trust in Him during this “waiting” season. All I sensed God telling me on the trip seemed to overflow into yesterday’s church service. Everything that was said, songs we sang, words that came forth were all for me, I’m convinced! God has been faithful! It just amazes me!

Blessed by the Lord: The Lord was definitely at hand during the entire trip. He kept us safe, we didn’t have too many injuries and we only got lost a couple times… =). We all sensed the Lord’s presence on New Year’s Eve as we reflected upon His faithfulness to us in 2008. The Holy Spirit worked mightily and it was a very fruitful time for us all. Thank you Lord!
Here are some pictures! Check back over the next couple days for more! =)