He Loves Us

03.31.10

Music can move us in a way that reaches in and touches the innermost parts of our soul. Music can make us remember, can make us forget, and can make us think. Sometimes I will listen to music because I like the beat or the melody not paying any attention to the lyrics, and sometimes I will listen to the lyrics though it may be the worst composed song ever.

But when I listen to worship music I try to let it be a time of communion with God, allowing Him to speak to me and me desperately trying to tell Him how I feel. When our youth band sang the song "How He loves" for the first time I just listened and took in the beautiful images that came to my mind and tried to embrace God's love. I love love this song and wanted to share with you a piece of what I felt.

How He loves
by: David Crowder

He is jealous for me,
Loves like I hurricane I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me
And oh, how He loves us so,

Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how he loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace were an ocean, we're all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way...

He loves us!
Happy Wednesday! (ps. all photos were found on the web only one is mine, guess which one )

Competition

03.30.10

I have always been competitive. The type of competitive where I would end up throwing up I wanted to win a race so bad. The type of competitive where I would be one of the first at practice and last to leave. The type of competitive where I took a drawing class in college, for the first time ever, with people who were art majors, who had been drawing for years, and when my first drawing ever, didn't make the top two I spent hours, seriously hours, perfecting my next drawing so it would. The type of competitive that ends up getting a deck of cards thrown at me on my honeymoon. The type of competitive that pulls out my laptop, looks up, and quotes facts when arguing with my brother. It can get ugly (though I feel I have improved on the ugliness rearing its head) and yet competition drives me. It sparks a passion in me to push myself and extend my thinking, abilities, or to-do list.

I read Epiphanie bags was having a contest to win a Canon 5D Mark 11, oh my gosh, I love contests, and I want that camera, I could feel my competitive nature rising up, what do I have to do...rack up some points. I won't say everything I did to earn but lets just say out of a list of 12 things I completed 10 of them, even opening a twitter account to fulfill two of the tasks =). One of the things they asked was to make an Epiphanie card, which they put in their bag pockets and send to customers. Epiphanie cards are picture notecards that have quotes, thoughts, or epiphanies on them so I thought I would share what I came up with.

Another part of the contest was to take a funny photograph to show how much you love Epiphanie. So here it is...

Winning the contest is a long shot but you never know when you may be showered with a little luck and I had fun doing it so thank you Epiphanie!

Kisses

march 25. 2010

I woke up to little hands reaching up over the bed and when I turned over was met with giggles and a kiss and another kiss and another kiss!

It's going to be a good day!

Getting out of Funkytown

march 18. 2010

My alarm went off this morning, I wasn't ready to get out of bed. So, I hit snooze. One minute later I heard Corbyn cry...darn it, I'm not ready to get up buddy, don't you remember screaming for an hour and a half in the middle of the night. I lay there for a few minutes pleading with him, in my mind, from across the house, trying to will him back to sleep. Didn't work. So I got up. Saw his little face and smiled as he wrapped his little arms around my neck. Ok...ok getting out of bed is worth it for this.

However, my day continued on and I was in Funkytown. Everything was frustrating to me, stress felt heightened, I felt discontentment, and I was super annoyed at everything and anything. I felt like Alexander from The Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day, I really don't like feeling this way!

I decided to step away from my computer and my desk, that looked like a tornado passed over it, and run some errands for work. I get into my car...its hot in the car, ugh I hate being hot. So I turned on the air. Too cold (those who know me know I am very temperature picky). So I rolled down the windows. Beautiful! Turned up the music, to a volume I don't believe I ever have before (my husband would have been proud). Wonderful! And decided to sing. Loud. Like really loud. I even pulled into the parking lot, where people were walking around, knowing my music was too loud and my singing was way too loud and didn't care. Awesome!

I thanked God for the beautiful sunshine and cool air, being able to feel it on my skin, for just feeling alive. I thanked Him for music. I thanked Him for emotions. And I thanked Him for the many, many blessings in my life!

It is a good day and I will continue to try and make it a good day!


ps. I saw two adults wearing denim overalls today, like the kind from 10 years ago, this was not ok. I hope overalls arn't trying to make a come back.

Sunday Slowdown

february 21. 2010

God is huge. He is massive. He put every star into place and not only breathed life into us but continues to sustain life. He put us at the most perfect distance from the sun, a few degrees further away we'd freeze, a few degrees closer we'd burn up...crazy. He made plants do this astounding thing called photosynthesis so we could you know, breathe! Amazing! He is so mind boggling, unable to comprehend humungo and yet He is intimate with me knowing my every lame thought, fear, joys, what brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. We serve an AWE-some God! I believe this and know this as truth, so why is it so hard to trust Him (creator,sustainer, giver, Father, friend) with everything sometimes?

Love,

Learning to trust

And because this little guy helps me believe in His goodness!

Currently Loving

february 17. 2010

Some of the things I am loving right now...

Smell- Dolce and Gabbana's Light Blue. I've had it for awhile but when I was pregnant any smelly things made me feel ill =( I recently found it under my cabinet, gave myself a little spritz and I am loving it.
Taste- Cantaloupe and vanilla bean ice cream. Sounds weird, I know, but my mother-in-law made me try it and it is one of my new favs so with cantelope coming back into season I am definitely loving it.
Hearing- Owl City. The one man band of Adam Young is awesome as he mixes synthpop, alternative, and electronica music. Check Owl City out at www.owlcitymusic.com. My favs are Fireflies and On the Wing (thx Danae), I am loving it.
Seeing- www.jumpdavidjump.com. I not only like to blog myself but I love reading other people's blogs. Jumping from blog to blog I landed on David's blog. As he writes about his life, his love, his fight with brain cancer, and his company's projects I admire his faithfulness, strength, and honesty. If you check it out be prepared to cry and giggle.

Touching- A comfy couch blanket. Doesn't it make you want to curl up by the fireplace and watch a movie. This one is from www.wrappedinrosebuds.com I am loving it.
Happy Wednesday!

Little J 4 Years Old

february 16. 2010

I first met little J when she was learning to walk and would sit at my desk searching for the tape dispenser and now, though tape dispensers are still so cool, she just turned four years old and is totally into barbies and princesses. J is full of life, energy, adorableness, and a little of momma's sassiness ;). She is so much fun to be around as she loves to make people laugh. J is so beautiful with her head full of blonde ringlets and blue eyes that I know her daddy will be holding her closer and closer to him as she gets older.

J, I had so much fun with you and love watching you grow up and become quite the big girl! Oh, and you will make a fantastic big sister in October, congratulations! Love you guys!