1.26.2011

four.


















Anyone else love to check off an item on the to-do list? Me too. Especially some "necessary" crafting. If only LSU let you major in DIY projects. Completion is a beautiful thing, don't you think?

Abooout a month ago, I decided to make a few Save the Dates for some long distant friends [and also for an excuse to break out the new alphabet stamps]. Well, they took a little longer than expected - per usual. I guess homework had to be the priority. But today I finally finished. And it felt good.

The project consisted of tea staining post cards, stamping, and embossing. Has anyone else ever used embossing powder and a heat gun? That stuff is like magic.

Here's how Martha does it...
embossing directions

And here's the finished product!

1.25.2011

three.


Currently dwelling on the beauty of this passage:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:25-33

and this one too:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:29-32

When reading the second group of verses, does anyone else picture Lauren Hill and Tanya Blount singing "His Eye is on the Sparrow" in Sister Act 2? No? Just me? Great.

Let's be honest, the list of Necessities for Life as Married Adults is getting longer as we speak. And it is, of course, just added on to our normal I'm a College Student With a Busy Life list. I, a lover of to-do lists, keep all those daunting and unchecked items hidden between the pages of my planner, expecting us to get to them one day. Though my goal is to not allow stress to ruin anything about this process, we are definitely not in freak-out zone yet.

All of a sudden, the Lord provides. And I'm surprised. Again. Because I did nothing. And, again, I am humbled by a sovereign, loving God. And I wonder if the process had been different if I had shown confidence in the Lord all along. The details are not necessary, but they range from catering to future housing. And God provided. I'm definitely not preaching the prosperity gospel - a God who gives us all we need for a comfortable life. Comfort is not what we're seeking. The problem is, I realized I wasn't really seeking anything. I was just waiting until I found the time to take care of it myself. I'm thankful for His grace and provision to a I'll-do-it-myself [aka stubborn] kind of girl.

1.24.2011

two.


















For my four years of college, the LSU BCM has been my home away from home. It is where I met my future mister and four of my beloved bridesmaids. This year has definitely been...different. This big girl job has meant less time for hanging around the B, less time working on projects, less, well, people-time. Some of us seniors have talked about the bittersweetness that comes when we realize our time there is nearing its end and the young faces are out-numbering the familiar ones. In this case, the sweetness of those youngins greatly shadow any hint of bitterness because we know that we were a part of God's plan for that ministry. Because of a sovereign and busy God, we've gotten to see this ministry grow and develop, and we will leave it better than we found it [praise the Lord].

On a side note, it is pretty fabulous to think that, almost four years ago, it all started right here:



So thank you, Lord, for this post-Christmas break reunion time at the B. And for the reminder to finish strong. Our time there is not yet up!

1.23.2011

one


















Here it goes. Day numero uno.

The day was indeed filled with beautiful - a morning with our church family, lunch with friends, some errands, and lots of blue skies in between. Since all those deep, meaningful words aren't exactly coming at this time, we'll start this off with a light-hearted experience.

This afternoon consisted of some study time with D. The beautiful part was the unexpected study break. Resulting in this...



Just obeying my Papaw Sam when he says, "Remember that life is a big bundle of little things. Have a little fun each day."

1.22.2011

hello, stranger

It's been a while.

Remember that blog-a-thon I mentioned way back when? Well, here it comes!

I've found myself being able to claim the "my life is a vapor" outlook on life pretty easily, but I get to the end of days [or sometimes weeks] and wonder what made that day different from all the rest, what difference did I make in the life of another, and what glory did the Lord receive from this life He created.

What if you walk so deep in a rut that you are unable to see all things new and beautiful?

My dentist always told me to floss my teeth twenty-one days in row - that being the number of days it takes to make a habit. While flossing was a bust, I'm hoping that this will prove permanent.


















For three weeks, I vow to make a daily, conscious effort to open my eyes to the beauty in this life. Now I know it may not be all flowers and sunshine [or hay bales and sunshine in this case], so I'm keeping in mind that the Lord moves in ways we wouldn't choose or don't understand, and I'm praying He continues to open my eyes to His work.

And maybe there will be a day where nothing seems to go right. At the end of that day, I will still have a reason to proclaim it beautiful. Because no 24-hour period of time can take away the fact that the Lord chose to save my life!

So, here's to redefining beautiful.

Care to join? Feel free to comment and/or leave a link to your beauty-seeking efforts. Life is more exciting when shared, don't you think?

Because of the Lords’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

1.04.2011

to my favorite

A very happy twenty-third birthday to my Dustin.

Here's to the blessing of getting to watch your story unfold and to taking on the role of your leading lady.

Here's to acts that will cause laughter, and acts that will cause tears.

Here's to a script with [Lord willing] seventy-seven or more of these birthday celebrations.

And here's to anticipating that standing ovation when the curtains close - an uninterrupted applause for what the Lord has done in you and through you.

I love you!

1.01.2011

anticipation


I've never looked forward to a year as I do 2011. Anticipating exciting changes!