Friday, April 29, 2011

Support.

copied from Poppytalk: 'Show your love for Alabama and support the efforts of the American Red Cross to provide relief to those hit by the recent storms. $5 from your purchase will go directly to Alabama regional Red Cross chapters with the purchase of these cards.'

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Devastation.

Tuscaloosa, the town I spend 4 1/2 years in for college has been destroyed. An F4 or bigger tornado hit the heart of the city on Wednesday. Please pray for Tuscaloosa and the rest of the South. My parents live a few hours from there but will not have power for at least 5 to 7 days. It is going to be a long recovery. Im thankful for the mercy of God and that no one I know was hurt or killed in the storm. So many others lost so much.
   
1. My brother Daniel wrote a good blog entry on it today. Read it HERE.
2. HERE is part of the story in CNN.
3. if you want to help out and donate to the Red Cross go HERE.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."Psalm 46.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Vertigo.

Today I woke up with Vertigo. I have had problems for  a little while but not this bad. My allergies cause my sinuses not to drain causing but ears to get thrown off. You would think getting to spin around would be fun.. but it is not. Matthew went on a run so I decided one more blog entry today wouldn't hurt.
Anyways. On a different topic, over the weekend we watched two good movies. The first one we watched was Made in Dagenham'. It's about the women's rights movement in Great Britain. The second one was a documentary called 'God Grew Tired of Us' it is on Sudanese refugees who came to America. This movie made me cry. It was convicting and challenging. It was definitely a reminder that God has called us to help people.  It made me feel so small and inadequate yet called to something bigger than myself. I know married couples are not the only ones who go through this but how to you not get stuck in the mundane? How do you not get soaked into the American Dream and live selflessly serving God. Our church has so many opportunities to serve but even the options can get overwhelming. I have read the book Radical but still I'll take any advice you'll give me. I don't want to waste my life on myself. We have to DO something.
God, help us to live for your name sake alone.
'By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.'1 john 3:16-18
(& on a simple note: here are some pretty pictures just because they're pretty)

Five.

5 randomly awesome things I adore this week:
1. Pretty tape. I have always wanted to buy some of this and I think I just may break down and do so soon.
(here's one of the websites that sell it!)
2. Long skirts. (Zara!)
3. Water colors. (It's all I want to paint with lately. Illustration from Vogue China)
4. Making spinach & black bean quesadillas. (So good & healthy. Recipe from Publix Grocery)
5. Chris Tomlin on Pandora.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Sprinkles.

It has been super rainy around here the past few days. It seems like every couple of hours we are under a new severe thunderstorm or tornado watch. The thunder was actually kind of nice this morning and we took the opportunity to sleep in till 11:30. I have not done that since I can remember. Because of Easter we have gotten to have a long & relaxing weekend. I missed getting to spend the holiday with my family but we did have a great time with Matthew's family that came into town. Yesterday we went to church then had an amazing lunch with Sprinkles Cupcakes for dessert.
We should celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ everyday but I am glad we set aside an entire day to remember the one miraculous event. I hope everyone else had a lovely Easter weekend! xoxo

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Jesus.

So far my day has been filled with granola, coffee, staring at the pretty tulips Matthew brought me home last night, and being in awe of Jesus. The rest of the day will consist of hanging out with Matthew's fam (and mine now!), eating hamburgers, getting Sprinkles Cupcakes in Dallas, and then getting to see Joe Purdy in concert. Eek!
Today I feel joyful because of what Christ has done for us. I seriously feel giddy inside yet humbled at the same time.

This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Friday.

Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this? The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healedWe're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him. He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off— and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people.They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true. Still, it's what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.Out of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many "righteous ones," as he himself carries the burden of their sins. Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly— the best of everything, the highest honors—Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.
Isaiah 53.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Highlights.

Highlights from Alabama Road Trip 2011:
1. Having great driving weather.Seriously, we were placed right in-between the storms. Praise Jesus.
2. Eating dinner with Sara, Jonathan, Erica, Davis Ann, Brad, and Sandra. We ate greek food and sat in the restaurant for three hours. I think we could have sat forever.. three hours was not long enough. I love my friends.
3. Hanging out with my mom, dad, & sister. It was good to be home. We went shopping, sat outside, played bocce ball, and ate really good food. After living in a big, busy, newer city it was refreshing to be in an old small town again. I have a new appreciation for it.
4. Hanging out with the Reeves/meeting Lenox. Seeing my best friend was perfect. Lenox is the most beautiful little baby. I could have held her all day. Thank you Emily for sharing her.
5. Gabrielle coming to visit us. She was out of town and couldn't make it to birmingham for dinner on Friday so she drove to see us on Monday. We got to sit and talk for about an hour while Matthew slept. Getting to sit & talk with her and Davis Ann in Tuscaloosa is one of the things i have missed the most.
6. Eating breakfast with my sweet grandparents.
7. Stopping to see Daniel (my brother) in Mississippi on our way home. We ate lunch at an awesome country restaurant that is in an old house & walked through a few antique stores.
I wish it was still 'the weekend'.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

ForNow.

I want to post about the weekend but don't have time.
I'll just leave you with this beautiful little face.
I know you are just dying with anticipation to hear about our adventures ;)
I will post an overview of the weekend sometime soon.
Much love. Happy Wednesday! xoxo

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Home.

Well, we are off to Sweet Home Alabama. Be back Tuesday!
P.S. I decided the title of my unwritten, unpublished, unheard of book. I know you're just dying to know about it. 
J and I are doing some business planning this weekend. Eek! 
(photo taken by husband.)

Recap.

Birthday recap: Yesterday morning started off with Matthew giving me my birthday gifts. I think, and others agree, he did a fabulous job. He got me Keens that I have been eying for a while, tickets to see Joe Purdy later this month, and a beautiful long dress. We went to Panera, drank my favorite coffee, and ate cinnamon crunch bagels. At some point during breakfast we decided we both wanted spontaneous haircuts. So, we walked around to the 3 haircut places in the shopping center we were at and found ourselves sitting next to each other in L'image. It was great. For Matthew: a faux hawk. For me: same hair cut just to my shoulders.  Matthew and I both had to go to work but we did find ourselves back together for dinner.
Matthew's parents took us out on Tuesday and gave me these flowers and $ for a pedicure and manicure. (Which I am going to get today!) Sweet Sarah Wright got me an awesome gift once again: cute cupcake liners & recipe cards by Riffle Paper Co. I think it safe to say that she is the most thoughtful gift giver ever. Needless to say I feel loved and It didn't take birthday gifts for me to feel that way. Im excited to celebrate again with my family this weekend. Hooray for birthdays!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

23.

So, I'm 23 today. I really am thankful for the blessing of life.
'I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?' Psalm 17:14-19.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Paint.

The past few days I have taken some time to just paint. I have not done this since November.
It feels amazing to paint.
It feels amazing to be inspired. 
I painted a picture for a friend. Lately, I have been inspired by simple, high contrast, bright color images and that is the direction I went with this. I decided to paint her pug Garcia. He is epicly awesome & a perfect subject for what I was trying to accomplish. I know things have changed in me when I decided to just paint for another person without them even asking. You can ask anyone, I have always had bad attachment problems with my art. I don't like to give it away & I only paint for people if they ask. (and I will if you ask!) This sounds so selfish as I am typing it out. The main issue really was that of confidence. It was always a matter of 'it won't be good enough'. (I am secretly very much a perfectionist). I don't know what happened? I did give a few paintings away over Christmas to my siblings and to Davis Ann. I think that was the first step in learning to share what I have been given. I guess I really am growing up ;)

Friday, April 8, 2011

Marriage.

In one week we will be making the trip to Alabama. I couldn't be more excited! Our plans consist of eating dinner with my best friends in Birmingham, hanging out at the Reeves and holding little baby Lenox for hours (my almost niece), shopping with my mom, & eating Big Bob's BBQ.
This past week I have not been in the mood to write a blog entry. I have felt very thoughtful but not vulnerable to write it down. In short, things have been good around here. On Sunday night I had an impulse to bake & ended up making 3 dozen chocolate chip cookies from scratch at 10 o'clock at night. (Awesome!) We watched cable & ate dinner with Matthew's parents on Monday. And on Tuesday I went to my first Ranger's baseball game. We ate hotdogs, kettle corn, & drank overpriced diet cokes. It was fabulous. I have not felt that 'all American' in f.o.r.e.v.e.r.
On another note I will offer a few of my thoughts on marriage. Before Matthew & I got married everyone told me that "marriage is so much fun" and now I can say that it is! I never knew I could feel this way about another person. Yes, it may all sound cheesy or cliche but it is all true. Matthew is my best friend and he has taught me so much in the few months we have been here together. I have noticed change in myself: I am at ease. I don't feel anxious, I don't feel uptight, I laugh a whole lot more about things & I sleep a whole lot better. Yes, I know that these 'changes' could have happened by another means but I like the plan that God has had all along. I'm thankful that the Lord is showing the Gospel to us in our marriage and that He is growing us in ways I couldn't have imagined a year ago. I praise Him for marriage today.