Oh How He Loves Us

This morning {if I can get this published before midnight} our worship leader played this short video before we began our Sunday morning worship. This is a song that gets me every.single.time. Now that I have seen the video on how and why the song was written, I know why it gets me. Because it speaks directly to my brokenness. 

I'm a sinner. I'm broken. I daily seek forgiveness. I'm nowhere near perfect. I make many mistakes. I constantly let others down. I don't deserve His grace and mercy. 

Watch this. It's a short 10 minutes out of your day...you'll spend more time aimlessly scrolling through Facebook. Chances are you'll feel blessed at the end of the 10 minutes. Or, you'll be a hot mess from all of the tears. Either way, watch this.

This morning at church, as I song this song, I was overtaken with emotion more than once. I had to take a deep breath before continuing to sing. It's unfathomable, this side of Heaven, just how He can love a sinner like me, a girl so broken. But, when I listen to this song, I'm reminded that Jesus loves me, even when I sin. He loves me in my brokenness. He is an all-forgiving God. Only He is perfect, yet He loves me still. He loves me enough to let me learn from my mistakes. Even though I let Him down, He still loves me. I DON'T, we DON'T, deserve His grace and mercy, let He loves us enough to consistently give it to us. 

Goodness, I haven't spoke out about Jesus on this space in quite some time. Yet, today I was moved to share Him with you. I pray you know Him. I pray, if you don't know Him, that you'll seek Him out. Want to know more, but have no one to ask? Ask me. If I don't know the answer, I'll ask. 

How was your Sunday? I'd love to hear how you spent your day. Tell me in the comments!

Blessings and the Beach

Sometimes life has a way of putting you in places that bring you close to someone you never would've met otherwise. Really, we know it's God who does that. Read on to hear what I mean.



Last weekend we had a big weekend. It was Memorial Day weekend. Saturday was a busy day and we went to bed late. When the alarm went off on Sunday morning for us to get up and get ready for church we hit snooze. And then hit snooze again. We had decided before even getting out of bed that we weren't going to church. Enter the feeling of conviction and knowing we needed to drag our rumps out of bed and get to church...even if we were late.



On the way home from church we needed to stop and get gas. {because I'm notorious for letting my truck get to E...or, maybe below E. But, whatev.} As soon as we pull into the gas station I noticed a woman on her cell phone with a bottle of oil in her hand and her car hood up. Clearly, she wasn't just getting gas. After pumping our gas my {amazing and always helpful} husband asked if she needed any help. She was quick to say YES! Bless her heart, that car had given her more trouble than it was worth in the short months she owned it. Hubs poured the oil and the coolant into her car, closed the hood and sent her on her way.



Stick with me. I promise the story gets good.



So, we leave the gas station and head the few short blocks home. We weren't even a mile up the road and I noticed a car sitting on the side of the road. It was the same lady we just helped. Her car had over-heated and was not in any condition to be driven. Hubs stopped {because he's amazing} and walked to her car, offered to take her to our house to call a tow truck, have lunch and well, not sit in the nearly 100 degree weather just waiting. Remember, we didn't know her from Adam and she didn't know us. Helping her, in the only way we could, just felt like the right thing to do.



When we got back to our house an instant friendship was born. Ms. Cindy is a retired school teacher so she loved my wild and crazy kids. While she no longer lives in our area, her family all live nearby. Her and Hubs were able to talk about how much the area has changed over the years. She told us anytime we wanted to go to the beach we could come to her house on the beach...in ST. AUGUSTINE. {St. Augustine is my most favorite place on earth. Most. Favorite!} It's like God set up this divine appointment. We were absolutely meant to meet one another!



Sadly, the tow truck called and said they'd be to her car in just a few minutes so we needed to take her up there and say goodbye. How would she get home after that? Oh, she would take my husband's car. To recap, we met her just a couple hours prior, brought her home, became fast friends and was about to let her drive off with my husband's primary source of transportation to and from work. I mean, it's just stuff...and she needed it more than we did at that very moment.





God is so good, y'all! The next day we got up and loaded up the truck and, as a family, drove to St. Augustine to spend the day with our new friend, Ms. Cindy. She graciously opened up her home to my wild bunch and took us down to her favorite spot on the beach. She showed Jett, my animal lover, a fresh sea turtle's nest. She even spotted the turtle's tracks and explained them to Jett. McKinley and her went on a walk combing the beach for sea treasures. Jonah and Jake body surfed on a couple of boogie boards she let them borrow. She even held Mabry while I shot a bunch of great pictures of my kids enjoying their day.





At the end of the day we gathered all of our beach stuff, loaded the kids up and said our "see you next time"'s. There will be a next time. Soon.



Spread LOVE everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving HAPPIER. -Mother Teresa

Hello.

When Hubs lost in job in September, I was certain the world was ending. Life as I knew it was done. We were poor. Instead, what I discovered is that the world was NOT ending, it was closing in within the four walls of my home. Life wasn't done. It was beginning right in my home. We weren't poor. We had everything we needed. God did that. He provided!

There is so much beauty in my life. So SO much to praise God for.

I decided well into our journey of unemployment that I needed to say "Hello" to new ventures and new opportunities. I needed to look around and greet the everyday things that I once took for granted.


Hello, pretty daughters. 


Hello, all five children sitting, watching a movie, quietly.


Hello, exciting opportunity from Disney!
{more on this later}


Hello, beautiful sunshine!! We've been waiting for you to come out so we can PLAY!


Hello, sweet baby who needs a teething ring. And a drool bib.


Hello, crazy old picture of Hubs and I.
{Thank you, Donna for digging this beauty -from when we chaperoned a youth ski trip- up!}

What will you say Hello to today??

hello friday

although this past week has been one of the very hardest for us it's also been full of blessings. we've been blessed with abundant prayer, kinds words from all over the internet, hugs from close friends and family, and small gifts from those who care. God is in this trying time of our lives, we know it!

this week has also been filled with lots of jonahbonah sales. praise the Lord! i've been sewing, sewing, sewing and you've been buying, buying, buying. THANK YOU! please don't stop. i'll keep sewing as long as you're buying. your purchases are helping us provide for our family. we are so grateful for you!

while it's not fun being without a job, hubs is seeing a little bit of a silver lining. he gets to see the kids more often. and he's getting to see mabry do things as a newborn that he really wasn't home for with the other kids. {we'd obviously still LOVE for him to be working...}

mabry was so alert this week. i'm beginning to see her as more of a baby than a newborn. {does that make sense? LOL}


hubs was searching the net for a job when mabry woke up from her nap. of course, she barely wimpered and he was at her crib side to hold her in his arms. this man, y'all...he loves his kids. and i love him.

this picture was taken as we were sitting together...i was at a loss for words as i was trying to write in my journal, he was snuggling with mabry while looking for a job, the breakfast dishes were still on the table. our life is a beautiful mess right now.


i could watch her sleep all.day.long.


having two daughters...it's so special. i have visions of dressing them alike one day. matching dresses and bows...christmas pictures are going to be so cute this year!


how in the world do i have an eleven-year-old? it seems like yesterday he was as teeny as mabry.


this is often nights the scene in my home. i work, she sleeps.


life with a newborn. some days you shower. some days you don't. some days you have a bajillion things to do. some days you have to put your to-do list to the side and hold your baby girl...because before you know it she'll be eleven and you won't know how in the world that happened.


did i mention this is the scene often nights in our home? {we wrote our blissfully domestic posts just like this monday and wednesday nights.}


a good friend of mine stopped by late wednesday night on her way out of town and dropped by these TOMS flags. want to place an order for a TOMS pouch?? i've got plenty! you can either convo me on etsy or email me.


i listed this cute teddy bear toy tote in my shop last night.


and i listed this yellow and aqua floral wristlet, too.

how was your week? did you do anything exciting? fun? tell me about your week. tell me something great about it!

happy friday!

jeremiah 29:11

one week ago, today, our world was rocked. we received news that blew us away. what happened on that day is every man, husband and dad's greatest fear. my husband lost his job.

for years we've watched as other families struggled to make ends meet, as the bread winner was out of work. we've prayed for them. we've helped them where we could. we've cried with them as they lost their house or their vehicles. we prayed for the needs of their children to be met. and, of course, we thought to ourselves, "i'm so glad that isn't us."

yet, now it is US.

today we pray for our own family as our bread winner is out of work. we pray that we can be blessed with enough money to keep our house. we pray for others to step in and help where they can, even if it's just saying a prayer. we pray for the needs of each of our five children to be met. and, of course, we pray this doesn't happen to anyone else.

this is a tough time. tomorrow is uncertain. however, our God is a GREAT God. He knows our future. He knows the plans He has for us. we aren't afraid. {jeremiah 29:11} i'm not gonna lie...we're terrified. BUT, we truly know that God has a plan.

after the shock of "what the heck are we going to do with no job and no income" kinda wore off last week i contacted a friend of mine on instagram asking her for ideas on how i can make a few extra dollars selling things via social media. boy, oh boy, she and God and many of YOU blew my socks off! within minutes of my sending her that email she sent out a heartfelt instagram post that had responses within seconds. people from all over the country were asking how they can help. they were letting us know that they would be praying. one girl offered to send me girl cloth diapers so that we could eliminate our diaper expenses. {we have a five week old baby} someone else suggested having an auction of donated handmade goods. {i'll be doing that in november. more details to come!}

her post ignited a fire in the hearts of lots of girls truly wanting to help. this post today is to say, "thank you!"

my family appreciates your generosity. without the love and support of so many of you we would surely be hanging our heads and questioning, "why us?" instead we have hope. we know from your stories that you've been there, too. you've told us that it'll be okay and we'll make it through to the other side. thank you!



we've had people ask how they can help beyond sending physical things and gift cards. to be honest, every dollar helps. i am burning the midnight oil and sewing every day and night to create new pouches that i am offering on my instagram feed. i also re-opened my etsy store. i would love for you to go check them out. it's a great time to buy teacher's gifts, christmas gifts, birthday gifts and more...and help me support my family the only way i know how.

from the tippy top to the very bottom of our hearts we say THANK YOU. we are grateful for YOU. without you and God we would be hopeless. but, today we are HOPEFUL!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

mean people suck.

{photo credit: tgbusill}

here's my {not so new} observation...mean people suck.

what a way to start a blog post, right?

well, they do.

i used to see this in sticker form on the back of cars and think "wow, that's harsh."
my kids are not allowed to say the word suck. and it is not regularly used in our home.
{actually, it isn't used at all in our home. apparently, i reserve it for blogging purposes only.}

not to dig up old garbage, but...last year i was told by a fellow artisan that making pouches was her gig and chevron fabric was her thing and that i should just find something else to do. or find a different fabric to use since chevron was her fabric.   perhaps, i should continue making my cute t-shirts that i've already done so well on...her words, not mine.

i really let that bother me.

i didn't let it stop me from making pouches because, well, it is my responsibility to care for my family and, by golly, that's what my small shop does.  it allows extras for my family. 
but, i really let it bother me.

until, i asked a friend for her thoughts.
{i wish i had saved the exchange between us...but, i deleted it all in an effort to erase negativity.}
bottom line...my friend told me to "look around. there are hundreds of sellers on etsy using chevron."
i'm sure she encouraged me to keep my chin up and just be myself.

and i did.

and i let it go.

a few times since then i've had other situations that are just plain ugliness.
{i only used the above scenario to paint my picture}

would you be so mean to someone that was standing in front of your face?

i'm gonna go out on a limb to say, probably not.

there are too many gals {and guys} out there that think that the computer screen is this protector of all.

if i say this, it won't hurt her feelings.
if i send her this nasty convo, it'll be ok. afterall, i don't know her in real life.
i can get this off of my chest in an email and she'll understand. {or, it'll break her heart, but who cares...i don't know her}
i have NO idea what she is enduring in her own life, but i sure am going to tell her how it upsets me that fill in the blank.

ok, so don't get me wrong.
out of last year's 366 days, i had maybe 3-4 nasty-grams. well, 5-6 if you count the 2-3 that came from one person.

one nasty-gram would've broken my heart. really.

but, BUT, i let those ugly moments do something more.

i didn't just turn to a friend for advice.
through my tears and heartache {i know, SO dramatic} i turned to the bible.
what does God have to say about all of this??

He has a lot to say!

Proverbs 19:11 a man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 16:24 pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 15:4   a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

this is one i just love...
Proverbs 11:16 a kindhearted woman gains respect.  {i believe He was referring to being behind the computer screen AND in front of people you see in real life.}

Ephesians 4:32 be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:17 and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


i tell you all of this to simply say, be nice. please.

you NEVER know how an ugly word can wreck a person's spirit.
you, also, may never know how a kind word can bring someone back from darkness.

the happy day project 2012.

today jeannett announced what i have been seriously looking forward to since last year.
the happy day project.

i participated last year along with a bunch of other bloggers...and touched lives that i otherwise may not have without the prompts.

you guys know that i love sending snail mail, i love baking and blessing my friends and neighbors, i love doing for others.

the happy day project is all of the above with a bit of pretty thrown in from different gals with extreme talents.

i know i just asked you to join me in taking a photo journey of thankfulness with me.
will you also join me {and hopefully HUNDREDS of others} in the happy day project?

let's bring lots of h a p p y to those around us. folks we know and folks we don't.



let's do this, y'all!

the list is here for you.
i can't wait to see what you do!!!

fearfully and wonderfully made.

the other day hubs and i discussed what i do all day as a stay at home mom.
why?
because the question of my not working {outside of the home} was raised.

back the truck up!
i don't work?
really?!?

as a stay at home mom, i WORK.

hubs brought to light everything i do.
{because i was kinda making myself sound like a nobody...}
his list is more than i would've ever given myself credit for.
and that makes my heart sing.

in my husband's eyes i am...

an interior designer
a photographer
a web designer
a baker
a great cook
a seamstress
a designer
a nurse
a chauffeur
a school volunteer

those are just the ones i remember.

as he was spouting off all of the amazing that he thinks i am i was fighting back tears.
often we think so highly of others and so much less of ourselves.

we spend so much time comparing our lives to that of others.

"look at her house, it's so much bigger than mine."
"oh, her truck is so much newer than mine."
"she wears such cute clothes all the time."
"her shop is so much more successful than mine."

why do we, as women, discount ourselves?

i will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this. psalm 139:14 {God's Word translation}

we need to be proud of who we are.
proud of who God made us.

the next time someone asks me why i don't go out and get a job i will simply say "i have one."


p.s. to all of you moms who work outside of the home AND have children, you are awesome{r}!

happy sunday.

dear God,

today i woke up, took a hot shower and ate a piece of fresh fruit.

once i was ready for my day to begin {because we both know a momma needs to be mentally prepared for what lies ahead} i walked into my boys bedroom and flipped the light switch on, bent over and gently woke them each from their restful slumber.
they were tucked so tightly in their soft beds.
their heads were rested on their cushy pillows.

it was time to get up for school.

they each took a hot shower, used a fresh bar of soap and there was shampoo and conditioner at their fingertips.

after their bellies were full they each stepped into clean, dry clothes and then put name brand tennis shoes on their feet.

our luxury SUV was waiting for us outside.
we drove the couple of miles through town to a school house waiting to teach hundreds of children ready to learn, mine included.

i trust the teachers and the staff at my children's school.
i am in their school numerous times throughout the week.
each of their teachers knows me.

at 1:50 i was waiting in the car pool lane to pick jake up first.
then, at 2:ish i was in line to get jonah and jett.

i'm so thankful i have a husband who shares the feeling that my staying at home with {and for} the kids is more important for our family than a second paycheck.
because of this sacrifice i am able to drop off and pick up our children each day from school.
we never have to wonder if they made it home from school, or if they are being bullied on the bus, or that they may get picked up by a stranger while walking home.

when we get home from school i sit down with each of them and go over today's school work and tonight's homework.
jett's weakness is his sight words.
jonah's weakness is decoding words.
jake's weakness is his desire to read for his required thirty minutes per night.
and i'm always there to help.
again, i'm thankful for the means to be able to sit with them to do their homework.

i know how blessed i am.

i also see how very, very blessed my children are.

i can see how blessed the families around me are.
the families that go to the same dance studio as mckinley and jake are blessed.
the families that attend the same church we do for wednesday night activities are blessed.
the families that have boys in jonah's cub scout pack are blessed.

when i look around at all my family has, and all that the families around me have, i can't help but think of the thousands and thousands of children who have far less.

the children in impoverished countries have so little.
they may not get awoken from a peaceful sleep in a comfy bed.
they may not eat a breakfast that'll fill their bellies.
they may not have mobile transportation to school.
they may not have a school.
they may not have caring teachers.
they may not have a daddy who has a decent paying job that allows momma to stay home with {and for} them.
they may not have two parents.
they may never have homework to do...or complain about.
they may never go to dance class, or wednesday night church activities, or cub scouts.

what can i do to make a difference?
what can my family sacrifice?
would it make a difference in my children's lives to learn about children who have far less than they do?

i know the answer.
i do.

today i went to the gas station and got a fountain drink.
yesterday i ate biscuits and gravy from hardee's for breakfast.
and then hubs and i had sonny's for lunch.
later that afternoon we stopped and bought a bunch of groceries...some of which were impulse buys. {like the sprinkle cookies}

the cost of all of that could've made such a difference in the life of a child who longs for sponsership through compassion international.

Lord, i ask you to give me your eyes.
break my heart for what breaks yours.
show me what is important and what is not.
deepen my passion to help others in need.
may i be more like you.
may my light shine for you.

thank YOU for all you give me and my family.

amen.

1 John 3:16-18 this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. if anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

**********************************************************


remember last week i told you that i would be blogging for compassion international throughout the month of september??
the goal is to get 3,108 children sponsered this month.

good news!
837 children have already been sponsered!!!!!
2,271 still to go.

we can do it!

pray over one of these faces...he/she just might be your next sponser child.


Sponsor a Child

manna cafe.

saturday night was the missions bbq dinner at our church.
missionaries from all over the world and right in our own city were there to share with us how God is working in their lives.

mission work has really been heavy on my heart for the last few years.
there have been so many opportunities to sign up for missions trips to either go to the other side of the world or to new york city.
i want so badly to go on a missions trip across the globe.
or to new york city.

i want so badly to go to an orphanage and hold babies who don't get held on a daily basis.
i want to go tell children about Jesus.
i want them to know that He loves them SO MUCH.

but, it's not my season to go across the globe.
or even to new york city.
right now God has me here with my own babies.
i have to hold them.
and tell them about Jesus.
make sure they know He loves them SO MUCH.

i'll tell you what i can do.
i can help right here in my own city.

manna cafe from clarksville, tn was at the missions bbq dinner.
they are a ministry that feeds the homeless.

i've told hubs a couple of times over the last few years that we should go help at a soup kitchen.
we've never done it.
i think he thought i was kidding.
or maybe he didn't feel led quite like i do.

but, something changed in him saturday night.
he told me to get some info from the folks who run manna cafe and we'll look into volunteering.
he even said we'd get a baby sitter and go spend the evening feeding the homeless.
wow!

i know you're probably thinking that this is not the ideal date...
but, i'm seriously looking forward to it!

the King will reply, ‘truly i tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. matthew 25:40 {niv}


{the manna cafe's jesus mobile that they let children paint for them}

sunday love notes.

we're going strong.
three weeks in and still at it.
still sending small bits of encouragement and blessings to others.

last week when i shared on instagram that my family started doing this i had a sweet response.
so many girls loved the idea.
suzanne at life made joyful even blogged about the importance of beginning this tradition with her own family.
{and then today also shared a picture of her stack of love notes}

i love that others are inspired...
and i love that sunday love note writing is starting in other homes.

that means LOTS of folks are going to be getting happy mail instead of bills. {yuck, bills.}

so, did YOU write love notes this week?
obviously, they don't have to be written on sunday.
just written.
and mailed.
via snail mail.

did you?

tell me about it.
leave a comment telling me if you started this tradition.
or if you will.

let's meet here every sunday and encourage others to start sending love notes.

confidence?

our oldest son, jake, has a piece of him he's self-conscious about.
{don't we all?}

for me, as a kid, it was my curly hair and my nose.
mean girls {and boys} called me medusa.
i don't recall being made fun of for my big nose but it was something that *i* wanted to hide.

for jake, it's his ear.
just one of them.

the doctor that saw him when he was four months old with pneumonia said that ears and kidneys form at the same time in utero.
since one of his ears is malformed his kidneys may also be malformed.

jake probably wishes he had kidney problems instead of an ear that sticks out.

his friends make fun of him.
it breaks our hearts for him.
and it angers us...the bullying.

what's a mom and dad to do?
how does a parent comfort their child without it coming across as something that a parent is supposed to say?
you know?

insert this inspiring video...


my husband found this on youtube.
he says God just showed it to him.
and it screamed "jake austin must watch!"

jake has a bunch of years to overcome mean kids at school.
and we have a bunch of years yet to raise him to be a confident young man.

have you encountered this yet with your own children??
bullying?
being self-conscience?
i welcome all advice.

we will worship.

from the chorus of a song off a carlos whittaker album.

Save us from these comforts.
Break us of our need for the familiar
Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You

yesterday i was blessed to share my day with some folks with picha global at the killer tribes conference in nashville, tn.

when i was asked to attend the conference as a photographer for picha i had no idea what i was getting myself into.
i looked it up online. briefly.
i knew it was for bloggers.
cool.
i'm a blogger.
i'm in.

i had no expectations.
i just wanted to go and do something i love to do {photography} with some gals i've recently met and call friends {alli worthington, dedra herod, megan jordan, and kass hodge}, and meet some other folks who enjoy blogging.

little did i know i would walk away with a heavy heart.

yesterday i met carlos whittaker of ragamuffinsoul.com.
i had never heard of him before and i had no idea he was going to be one of the speakers in the breakout sessions.

i popped in to a few different sessions to get as many photos as i could of different happenings at the conference.

what carlos was showing on the big screen in his session made me stop.
and think.
and cry.
and praise Him. {the Lord, not carlos.}
it was this video...



i wanted to know more.
i needed to know more.

when i got home i looked up carlos's blog and searched his story, his words about danny, the homeless man in the video.
this is what he said...


If you listen carefully at the end you hear me saying this to Danny.
“Keep trying to make it man.”
He looked me square in the eye…cocked his head sideways with a confused look on his face…and said,
“Trying to make it? No man. I ain’t trying to make it…I’m making it. Jah puts His soldiers everywhere. Jah says, Yea though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… So He places some of us, in that valley.”

you can read the whole story here.

and here's the 'so what', if you will.

the near future for my family is unknown.
to us. {we know God knows}
in june my hubs will be off of active duty army orders.

so what?
we don't have a civilian job to meet us on the other side.
of course, hubs isn't sitting idle...he's actively applying and looking for a job.
but, you and i both know that the economy isn't at its finest right now.
and june is HELLO fast approaching!

we've asked why it's showing such a challenge to find a job.
we've questioned God's intentions.
we've asked for God to show us His will.

he's given us no answers.
yet.

here's what i do know.

like danny, we're making it.
if we find ourselves in the valley God will see us through.

if we lose everything {Lord willing, that won't happen} we will worship.

WE WILL WORSHIP!

happy sunday.

happy sunday.

trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6

so random. and a blessing.

life around our house has been a little nuts lately.

i've captured a few moments here and there but, i've mostly been savoring every moment.

our kids are growing up so fast.
mckinley isn't a baby anymore.
jett will turn FIVE in a few short months.
jonah is reading like crazy. and loving every book!
jake is nearly TEN!

a few shots from the last couple of weeks...
straight out of the camera.
i have no time for editing.


jake fell asleep reading his book.
mrs. o'bryan and mrs. d would be so proud!


mckinley and i were supposed to be taking a nap.


she opted to have a mini photog lesson.
{i love that she shares my love of picture taking!}


we went to our life group christmas social on january 13 and got this bath spa as a "white elephant" gift.
joke's on the gift giver!
little did they know it creates hours of bathtime fun!!!
{check out all the bubbles that baby works up!!}






those slippery bubbles also make boo'boo's if children do not obey their parents.
mckinley got out of the bath and was told to get back in...she slipped and hit her neck on the water spout. OUCH!




daddy's not big on bringing home candy surprises.
he'd rather not rot the kids teeth.
so, he brings home princess towels for our princess and peanuts for our boys!
and he surprised us all with the new smurfs movie!

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i had an amazing thing happen in the commissary this morning.

as i was checking out i noticed an older man {old enough to be my grandpa} checking out his groceries. {we were both in the self checkout lanes}
hubs will tell you that i have a hard time not listening to other peoples conversations while i'm out and about.
i call it being interested...not nosy.
i'm a self-proclaimed "people watcher."

anyway, i heard the old man tell the cashier that he only had $40 and he needed to take a few things off of his bill.
ugh...my heart strings were being pulled.
the holy spirit was telling me to not allow this man to go home without his jalepenos and shredded cheese. {these were the items he was putting back}
i slid over in his direction and asked the cashier if i could pick up the rest of his bill.
she looked confused that i would even ask such a thing but looked at the man to see if it was ok with him.
he obliged.

here's where it gets good.

as i looked in my wallet i realized i only had $3.00 in cash but said i would pay his difference on my debit card.
all of a sudden there was a lady behind me saying that she had cash.
she asked how much he needed and handed me $6.00.
ANOTHER lady then said she had the exact change. 55 cents.

oy!
i'm telling you i wanted to burst into tears right then and there.

God was at work.
spreading His love.
allowing us three ladies to shine a light.

the folks who were in line behind us looked a little annoyed that i was taking up a register and helping this man instead of ringing my own groceries.
i did not care.
i was being called to do something greater.

and do you know what that old man said to me???
with the sweetest smile on his face he said, "the Bible tells us to share in each other's burdens."

indeed, it does.

Galations 6:2 "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

i pray for more opportunities to show and share God's love.
He has so much to give!


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i pray you have a super-duper monday!

project320. {charity:water}

two years ago six amazing gals set out to raise money to build one well.
since then they've raised enough money to fund THREE wells.
through project 320.

every year i read their inspiring words.
in every blog post they tell how grateful they are to have clean water to drink.
clean water for their children to play in the sprinklers with.
clean water to wash their clothes in.
clean water to brush their teeth with.
clean water to soak in a bath with.
clean water to wash our dishes in.
clean water!

we are so very blessed to have clean water.
water we don't have to worry about contracting a disease through.
water we can make our babies bottles with and not worry about their health tomorrow.
water we know animals didn't trample through.
clean water!



that brings things in to perspective.
wow!

WOW!!

which gift can you sacrifice this year to bring clean water to others?

want an incentive???
how about a $30 Starbucks gift card?
and an inspirational print for your wall from jonahbonah?
and an appliqued tee with africa right on the front from jonahbonah?



also, alexandercreative has kindly donated a $30 credit towards anything in their shop!
have you seen the awesome prints and canvases that come from this awesome shop??
i have this one and LOVE it!!!


it just keeps getting better!
beki, at the therustedchain, has donated a $25 gift certificate to her store!!
i'm thinking i might wanna win my own giveaway!


with every $10 donation to charity: water you can be entered to win ALL of these fabulous items!!!

here's how it works.
go here and give $10. $20. $100. {http://mycharitywater.org/project320for2011}
whatever amount you feel the Lord laying on your heart to give.

for every $10 donation you make you can leave one comment to be entered in my giveaway.

if you give $20 leave two comments.
if you give $100 leave TEN comments.

let's build a well, y'all.
together we can do great things.



thank you, project 320 girls, for giving us the opportunity to give so little and make a HUGE difference in the lives of so many!

winner will be chosen in one week.
don't wait, give today!