Tuesday, August 28

a few of my favorite things - august

first, thanks for all the kind words after my last post. i really appreciate all the support! and, apparently my favorite things are only going to come at the end of each month. i promise i'll try to be better...

ok, i saw these bracelets at a boutique recently, and i'm in love. you can switch out the plaques onto different leather cuffs to fit your mood. i think i might need... | this bible app works on any phone, ipad, kindle, etc., and it's pretty cool. there are devotionals, you can highlight and bookmark scriptures and you can connect with friends. | baby sister's invites (i'll show ya soon!) went out last week, and middle sissy has a hand cramp from using this cutey-cute punch on 175+ invites.

a local brewery mixes hefeweizen and this framboise lambic, and calls it a framba-weizen. it's my favorite, and i've started making it at home. try it in a blue moon. yum! | how cool are these nails? not sure i'd want to hang anything on them, 'cause they're so cool! | have you grabbed these almond toffee bits at costco? go, i tell you, go! they.are.heaven. | i keep meaning to pick up a decanter to let the ol' vino breathe, and i think this might be just the one. i love that it's called rainman, too.

so, what was on your radar for august? any good beach reads, apps, snacks to tell me about before the last shred of summer is gone? do tell. do tell.

Wednesday, August 22

finding my spirit

around here, there's been some strugglin'. some kickin' and screamin'. definitely some tears. and lots'a questions...

is this what i should be doing? am i fostering my extrovert by sitting alone inside all day? what am i doing with my life? WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE?

maybe it's my age. maybe it's the various crudola life's thrown at me (so not any worse than anyone else's crudola). maybe it's cause my sissies live nowhere near me. 

whatever it is, it's got me looking - SEARCHING - for my spirit. yes, i'm getting 'spirit'ual up in here. i know we've never chatted about that holy higher power, the man upstairs, you know, God, but here we are. because i struggle. every day.

and, really and truly, through the shoulders he's provided me to cry on, through the powerful words of scripture he's laid at my fingertips, through people who've shared similar experiences at the right moment, through the family and man he's given to love me unconditionally, even when i doubt and doubt and doubt, i know he's got my back.

a wise man told me the holy spirit talks oh so softly, and sometimes we have to be so, so quiet to hear. um, being quiet? not my forté. well, i'm working on it. the stillness. the listening. the HEARING. the BEing instead of the DOing.

so, i wrote this today in case any of you are struggling; if any of you are looking for your spirit. i read a blog pretty frequently, and that girl is all about shouting her faith from the rooftops. she's a serious inspiration. with really good taste in music! check her out. today, she had these words to say (her words come to my eyes and ears at THE most perfect times):
God is bigger than your biggest mess and your impossible dreams and your heartache and your pain. your broken marriage and your severed relationships. He's bigger than your depression and He's bigger than your troubled background. He's bigger than that hidden sin in your heart and your secret relationships. He's bigger than your breakup and He's bigger than your abuser. He is bigger than your perspective and your unbelief.
our God is called Redeemer for a reason.
let me say that one more time.
our God is called Redeemer for a reason.
the Hope of this God is free to everyone who believes.
believe that there is hope in your situation because God says there is.
He is enough for you.
i Hope. because God says to. and, i Hope these words bring light to any darkness you might be experiencing. love to you all!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.      ~romans 15:13

Tuesday, August 7

the sounds of summer

i know you, my three readers, look to me and me only for the lastest, hip music. *snort* if you do, i daresay, i'm sorry, because yes, yes, i did put damn, i wish i was your lover on this playlist. you see i was rockin' the belinda carlisle pandora station a few weeks ago, and it came on. and, just like smelling honeysuckle can, that song...it took me back. wayyyy back. i'm sorry if your ears bleed. anyhoodle...

what are you jammin' to? what should i be listening to so i don't embarrass myself with early 90s girly music?!! promise, soon, i'll show you some stuff that's been flying outta the workshop.