The Most Random of Random

praying for a set-up

2012-01-01T22:52:00.000-06:00

It's the first day of a new year. The possibilities that this year holds are, at this point, endless.

I should say right now:

I'm a constant Facebook status update checker. And Facebook has made it really hard on people like me to stay abreast of all my friends' statuses with their new mobile setup. Blah, I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but I'd really appreciate it if they fixed that. None of this is my point.

Even though they've made it hard, I've still seen a ton of statuses (I want to say stati, but I don't think it's a word) today that have wished God's blessings of health, wealth, and happiness on their friends this year.

I would like to politely disagree.

You know what my New Year's prayer is?

That God would do whatever it takes this year for us to seek Him.

If that means losing your job so that He can show you how He provides. Then so be it.
If it means experiencing health problems so that He can show you how He is Healer. Then so be it.
If it means your friends abandon you so that He can show you how He is the greatest Friend. Then so be it.
If it means losing someone you love so that He can show you how He is the best Comforter.

So be it.

I'm not saying this to be callous. I'm saying it because I truly believe it's what He wants.

It's kind of that "not my will but Thine" thing.

Health, wealth and happiness are not bad things. But if there's one thing I have learned (by experience) it is that we rarely seek God's presence when things are happy-go-lucky. We make gods (lowercase g) of other lesser things when He is the only one that's truly God.

I've heard it somewhere that God knows the best thing for ourselves is Him.

I had a breakdown back at the end of July, my dad and I had a long talk on the back deck at their house. I had ugly-cried, like A LOT and been caught red-handed with my pride on high. I'm not sure there could have been a more prideful person at the time. It was extremely ridiculous, to say the least.

Anyway, he shared a story with me that stuck. I was about 4 months old (or something. I was young, can't remember how old necessarily) and then there was Mama and my older brother and sister. He had just gotten fired from his job (unjustly - not the point) and was in a real tight spot. What was he to do?

He went to a conference at a local church and met someone that directed him to First Baptist - Red Oak, Texas, and it's pastor, Dr. Harold Henderson. He met with Dr. Henderson, who helped him gain perspective. I don't know how long it was before Dad found a job and everything was "fine" again, but I do remember him saying:

"Rebekah, if you asked me today, Would you go through it again? I'd say yes. 100 times. Yes. Because I met God during that time. I met God and He showed me Himself and I've never been the same for it."

I know, right? My dad is a smart man.

When he was telling me that, inside my head I was saying YES. YES. 1,000 times. YES. I think I started crying even harder. Mostly because I had found it to be true. I don't think I had ever met with God as much as I did last year when the rug was pulled out from under me.

I think my job situation, my living situation, all that jazz was a set-up. A huge flippin' set-up orchestrated by God. To show me who He was, is, and will always be.

And who I'm not.

So...I hope God sets you up this year.

Because when He takes away the worldy things, it's because He wants to give you everything.

He wants to give you Himself.

never once...

2011-12-31T18:23:00.000-06:00

Gahlee gee bums. It's been a year hasn't it?

I mean, wowsa. Lots of changes went on here. I had three different jobs this year. Two, if you count substitute teaching as babysitting. ;) Which, sometimes, that's what it is. So, let's say 2 1/2 different jobs.

My living situation changed. 3 times! 3 might be a magic number. I lived in my house for 5 1/2 months, in which I didn't take my Christmas tree down until like...March. Then there was living with Matt and Molly. What a blessing that was. And now it's with Mom and Dad. Which, I'm still learning how to do that. I thought I knew.

I was wrong.

All these changes,and yet there's one thing that never did.

God.

There were ups and there were downs and there were plateaus in the middle, but He was there carrying me the entire. time.

I wish I had some good words to sum this year up. My word of the year was really put into action. {It was "trust." I think I'm picking "fun" for next year.} ;) But Amber Haines has two posts that I was just like...ummm...yeah, that's what I want to say except for it wouldn't be as exquisitely phrased. :)

:: The Dream for the New Year ::

Words that stuck:

"Broken dreams are always building blocks for new dreams. And this time, I’m trying not to have a plan. I only know that God is with us, and it’s never what we think, and that things will fall apart, and that even then, especially then, it’s ok."

:: on soul rest and how the dreams change ::

Words that stuck:

"God is faithful to change dreams, to make Himself the Vision – His nearness, His voice, His Face. And I’m finding that when the End of my Dreams is God, rather than God being the means for my dreams, I become encapsulated by Him. Storms rage on, but I rest in smooth anchored boat, God-hands cupped in protection around my heart, and I learn to love His hands and even the winds that blow me into them."

Like...seriously.

Did you read that last paragraph?

Those are some crazy awesome words.

So, that's my prayer for this new year. That He makes Himself the Vision and that, even though it may be hard, I follow Him.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite posts from 2011 on God's faithfulness.

And a video.

Because you can never be reminded enough. :)

:: God, You reign ::

:: Five Minute Friday - On Waiting ::

:: on seasons. {and life}. ::

:: nothing is ever wasted ::

Biggest blessings to all of you friends in the new year. It's gonna be good. Like..really.

:)

well...

2011-12-03T17:00:00.000-06:00

You've heard of No Shave November right? It's when guys grow out their beards and don't shave for the month of November. It's a cultural phenomenon. I don't know where it started.

Along those same lines, I think the blog {inadvertently} participated in No Blog November.

I had lots of stuff going on in my mind. And in my life. I mean, not like, life-changing things. I was just busy. And sick. And tired. And evidently couldn't find it in myself to peck out a post. Sad.

If you were wondering about my test. I delayed it. 'Twas no way I would have been ready. New test date is January 14th. Which, is actually sister's birthday. So...I'm giving myself a present of taking a two hour test that kind of determines if I'll be able to teach the rest of my life. Or something.

No biggie.

;)

The nieces came for Thanksgiving. And I know I've said it before, but I seriously. SERIOUSLY. HAVE THE CUTEST NIECES EVER. Proof below.

And before I inundate you with pictures, can I just say Instagram has to be one of the best things ever invented. Ever.

Just a reminder, Anna Woods is the oldest, she'll be 6 in a month. And is in kindergarten. And can READ! Little girl read me a story about a pumpkin and I was just like..."Can you stop growing up? PLEASE?" Also...we decided after seeing one of these pictures that she's basically The Godfather. Except, the playground kind. Or the kindergarten kind. She cracks me up.

Little brown-haired chick is Hadley. She's 3 1/2...there are three pictures of her on the couch that I feel should be in like a baby GQ magazine or something. And what's funny is Mary Neal took those pictures. Ha.

Smaller blonde-haired chica is Mary Neal. And she's actually almost a whole month younger than Hadley, even though she's a head taller.

I loved getting to play with each of them separately for a tiny bit. They are all so completely different. And I'm pretty sure they're going to be the best freakin' friends for their entire life. And that makes my heart so abundantly happy. You have no idea. So without further delay. Proof they're the cutest.

Happy December!

IT'S MY FAVORITE MONTH! :)

my head hurts

2011-10-29T23:06:00.000-05:00

I don't think I complain a whole lot.

I usually see the best in situations. I once had someone say to me, "Well we can't all be incorrigible optimists can we?"

But I just have to say, my head really hurts.

Part of it is because our weather has gone from fall-like temperatures to really cool fall-like temperatures and my sinuses can't handle it. I still don't know how all that works.

But the main reason is this...

And this...

P.S. 3 of those 4 graphs are WRONG. Yikes.

My Saturday was mostly dominated by factors and factoring.

I was proud that on the last chapter test I took this evening, I made a 26/27.

My life has been Algebra for the past week. Not much of anything else.

I take my test exactly 2 weeks from today.

Trying not to freak out. Especially since I just reviewed the sample questions on ETS' website and....yeah, I don't know how to work most of those.

Lord, help me.

All your prayers are appreciated friends!

If it's quiet around here for the next few weeks, it's probably because my nose is buried in some form of math textbook.

A perk of all this studying?

I've become an excellent pencil-sharpener.

{See...incorrigible optimist.}

everyone needs to just calm down.

2011-10-22T21:19:00.000-05:00

And by everyone, I mean me.

I signed up last Thursday to take the Praxis II: Mathematics Content Knowledge test. Which was, coincidentally, the deadline to take the test on November 12th. Monday, this Facebook status conveyed how I was feeling about it.

I don't know why, but I didn't read in my devotional book that day. I think I was a day behind, so, I actually read Sunday's on Monday. I was sitting in my planning period Tuesday looking at Monday's devo and it's exactly what I NEEDED to read.

"Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me. So the best defense against worry is staying in communication with Me. When you turn your thoughts toward Me, you can think much more positively. Remember to listen, as well as to speak, making your thoughts a dialogue with Me.

If you must consider upcoming events, follow these rules: 1) Do not linger in the future, because anxieties sprout up like mushrooms when you wander there. 2) Remember he promise of My continual Presence; include Me in any imagery that comes to mind. This mental discipline does not come easily, because you are accustomed to being god of your fantasies. However, the reality of My Presence with you, now and forevermore, outshines any fantasy you could ever imagine. "

Luke 12:22-26; Ephesians 3:20-21

- Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

I don't know. Maybe that's exactly what you needed to read today. Maybe it was just my job to share.

Are you envisioning your future without Him? I know He is with me on any given day. But somehow I forget that He's with me every. day. I peek into the future and start to hyperventilate because I don't see Him there. Probably because I have bad eyesight.

There's a version of Psalm 139:5 that says, "You hem me in, behind and before."

He's there. Even if we can't see him.

Walking with us from where we've been, to where we are, to where we're going.

So breathe deep, friend. And calm down.

i just keep thinking...

2011-10-15T21:00:00.000-05:00

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy,

the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

It's true friends. This world is not our home.

I bought Switchfoot's newest album this week and the last track. Sigh. I'm in love. It's a reminder.

I couldn't resist sharing all the lyrics. They're just so good. Indulge me.

Feeling like a refugee
Like it don't belong to me
The colors flash across the sky

This air feels strange to me
Feeling like a tragedy
I take a deep breath and close my eyes
One last time
One last time

Storms on the wasteland
Dark clouds on the plains again
We were born into the fight

But I'm not sentimental
This skin and bones is a rental
And no one makes it out alive

Until I die I'll sing these songs
On the shores of Babylon
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong

Where the weak are finally strong
Where the righteous right the wrongs
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong

Feels like we're just waiting, waiting
While our hearts are just breaking, breaking
Feels like we've been fighting against the tide

I wanna see the earth start shaking
I wanna see a generation
Finally waking up inside

Until I die I'll sing these songs
On the shores of Babylon
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong

Where the weak are finally strong
Where the righteous right the wrongs
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong

This body's not my own
This world is not my own
But I still can hear the sound
Of my heart beating out
So let's go boys, play it loud

On the final day I die
I want to hold my head up high
I want to tell You that I tried
To live it like a song

And when I reach the other side
I want to look You in the eye
And know that I've arrived
In a world where I belong
In a world where I belong
In a world where I belong

Where I belong
Where I belong
Where I belong
Where I belong

I still believe we can live forever
You and I we begin forever now
Forever now
Forever
I still believe in us together
You and I we're here together now
Together now
Forever now
Forever now
Forever now
Forever
Forever

Please please please, just listen to this song. Really loud.

And then live like this world isn't your home.

i don't even know...

2011-10-08T21:19:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning.

I had just had a really weird dream.

I won't go into too many details, but it left me wondering...WHAT was that about?

Like...really.

I don't really believe in the interpreting dreams thing, but, it was just so bizarre.

There were 4 other people in my dream, none of which I knew, and we had taken turns praying. I was the last to pray and these were the last words I remember right before I woke up. This isn't verbatim, but, something very similar...

"God, You are faithful. You are good. You have our best interests in mind when you make us wait. You will always do what's best for us. Always. Help us to remain faithful to You and believe in Your faithfulness even when it seems we can't."

And then I woke up.

It wasn't about a job. Or anything related to a job. But something else entirely different.

And I typed out about 50 different status updates to try and...make sense of it? I don't really recommend the trying to make sense of the world through status updates, but...sometimes it helps.

It was one of those moments where there were about a BILLION different things running through my mind. But everything I typed out made absolutely no sense. I couldn't say anything and it fully convey what was going on in my brain. I had no words and too many words at the same time.

And then I thought of a verse -

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. - Romans 8:26

I wasn't magically not thinking about what the dream meant.

But it did make me pause and remember that God has me. He will always have me.

Always.

And that makes everything okay.

lessons learned {from being a substitute}

2011-09-30T18:10:00.000-05:00

I can't remember if I've shared on here that I'm a substitute teacher.

Yes. A substitute teacher.

It. Is. Fabulous.

I have learned some valuable lessons. Some, you can't really put a price on.

{1} Not everyone is cut out to be a teacher - Let's be honest, we've all had bad teachers. People that obviously don't care for their students. If you are a teacher, you should probably like kids. You should also probably have a reasonably large pool of patience. I think if you have patience and like kids, maybe you should be a teacher. Teaching is most definitely a calling. And one of the most noble I believe. I subbed kindergarten last week and they were sweet kids, but, when asked again if I would sub? I had to say, "Thanks, but no thanks." because...they killed me. Literally. I died last Thursday. Maybe only for an evening, but...death still the same.

If you went to kindergarten, move heaven and earth to find your teacher and say thank you.

I'm not kidding.

{2} Not everyone is cut out to be a teacher for 30 years - I've met lots of teachers that I bet were most excellent teachers. 10 or 15 years ago. And had that pool of patience and love for children and desire for them to succeed. But now, it's long gone. And they're hanging around even though they can't stand the kids.

That makes me so terribly sad.

[Author's note: Everything from here on out isn't so serious...or sad.]

{3} Kids talk about the most random things - Today at lunch some 4th graders were talking about cancer. Cancer! And how some haven't met their grandparents because of it. And if there was a heart cancer. They then talked about Heaven. And gates.

Not every 4th grader is that...serious?

I've had conversations about monster trucks with 3rd graders. And Charlotte's Web {we read the last two chapters one day and I ALMOST CRIED. For real.} I've talked about Barney, the purple dinosaur, with Jr. High-ers. And llamas with kindergartners. Llamas. They couldn't believe I've petted a llama. Minds were definitely blown.

{4} If they love you, they draw you things -

Example 1 - Yellow Highlighter Heart - 6th grader

When I scanned it, the yellow highlighter didn't show up. Fail.

On my part.

Not their's. :)

Example 2 - Calvary - 4th grader

I'm not sure if this kids thinks I need Jesus?

Or he loves me like Jesus?

Could be a number of things.

Was a nice reminder during the day though.

Example 3 - I Love You Inside a Heart - 4th grader

I love this. The block letters.

The heart inside the heart.

Nice thing on a Friday.

Except she thinks I'm married.

Obviously, hearts are really popular. And I'm wondering if you're a girl, if that's what you HAVE to draw?

{5} Students like to find out every piece of personal information about you - Every class has asked if I'm married, if I have kids, and how old I am. Some have asked where I live. Which...ummm...awkward.

The very first kid that asked how old I was then asked, "Isn't that rude to ask?" to which I replied, "Yes...it is."

BUT, their math problem of the day said something along the lines of Mrs. Smith is between 30 and 45 years old. The sum of the digits of her age is equal to 11. How old is Mrs. Smith?

So, what does Ms. Hebert do?

You wanna know my age?! You gotta figure it out! ;) Which, they did. But they learned math at the same time. That kinda made me happy.

{6} Math skills magically come back to you - I subbed 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math for a few days. It was amazing how I remembered how to add fractions, and flip the sign in >/

It's also amazing how you don't remember some things.

Like factor trees.

Ummm...anybody? :-/

{7] There's this thing called a Promethean board. - It. Is. Amazing.

I'm sure there are other things but that's what I can think of off the top of my head.

Y'all have a good weekend. While I go rest my feet. And my voice.

beautiful things

2011-09-19T00:16:00.000-05:00

I am so beyond excited that I can finally share with you my creative genius project that I've been working on for the past few weeks and had in my head for a month!

At our church we have a program called GMAs, which stands for Girls Missionary Auxiliary. They study missions/the Bible/lots of other things I don't know over the course of a year and complete a "step". At the end of each year they are part of a coronation where their hard work is recognized. Well, almost two months ago, one of the leaders asked if I would help out with organizing the coronation and said the girls were thinking of going one direction because they wanted to sing this song.

The song was great. I loved the song. But, I just wasn't sure it was they way to go. So I prayed about it, and prayed about it, and one Monday morning about 3 a.m. I woke up and KNEW we were supposed to have the theme "Beautiful Things" {based on this song P.S. They have an album coming out Tuesday and WOOT, I am so excited.} and I was supposed to create this video.

It consists of 345 pictures shot over the course of about 4 hours over 2 afternoons. It was my first time to use a MacBook Pro and I TOTALLY COVETED OUR YOUTH PASTOR'S COMPUTER. Forgive me. I created it in iMovie kinda using these instructions to understand what to do {WARNING: I wouldn't recommend watching any of the videos in that link, because...you'll see some things you probably don't want to see. Except the sock movie. You can watch the sock movie. I say this from experience. :-/} and this video about using iMovie 2011 {that of course I can't find right now} to help me actually get it done.

I really want to stress that it is ONLY by the grace of God that this got done. It never ceases to amaze me how He equips His children with the tools to get done what He wants to get done. I read some dialogue while the video was playing, that of course was timed to turn this thing into a cinematic masterpiece. You can read it below the video.

Hope you enjoy!

God plants a seed in all of our hearts.

A seed that yearns to know the One that planted it.

He waters that seed with Truth and Mercy. Grace and Love.

His Word says that eternal life is knowing Him, the only true God, and knowing Jesus Christ who He sent. (John 17:3)

He makes everything beautiful in its time.

The more we begin to know Him. The more His life begins to bleeds into ours. His desires become our desires. The seed has grown into a life that loves Him and His ways. Our actions start to reflect the capital S-O-N. We seek the things that are true. Noble. Right. Pure. Lovely. Admirable. Excellent. Praiseworthy. The things that are above. Those things that are eternal.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,are being transformed into the same image. His image. Making all of us into beautiful things.

P.P.S. I absolutely love these girls.

P.P.P.S. That's my nephew watering the plants in the video. He helped me unfurl the flowers and move the stems and plant the seeds and was a good sport for all of it. He was also the only other family member that understood where I was trying to go with this. That's only one reason of the bajillion why I love him.

P.P.P.P.S. The idea for "watering" the plants and that effect comes from Toya. She showed me a flower her daughter had made months ago and when I woke up that Monday morning with the idea...I knew I had to use it.

The end. For real.

lessons learned {from a preschool field trip}

2011-09-16T17:13:00.000-05:00

I went to the Heritage Museum/Pioneer Days as a 'chaperone' with about 35-40 three and four year olds yesterday.

My life has been changed. Here's proof.

That is a 100 lb. catfish that was caught in New Albany. Didn't know they could get that big. Interesting. That's also a fox. It kind of looks like the catfish is chasing the fox. Anyone else think that's funny? No? Just me?

I've heard of dulcimers before but don't think I had ever seen one up close and in person. I like the hearts. :)

One of my favorite movies EVER is Reality Bites. My sisters and I quote it often. In the last scene of the movie Troy is strumming a guitar singing this song that I honestly always thought, the words were made up to. I realize now it was probably a salute to pop culture that I never understood.

Y'all. IT'S A REAL SONG. "Froggy Went A-Courtin'." Why did I not know this?

4 yr. olds don't really like to stand still for pictures. You'd think I had known that. Evidently I have forgotten in the past month? This was also my first experience on a train.

This picture is mostly just for my nephew. His Accelerated English teacher gives students nicknames. Scott's nickname is the Frenchman. :) Leah thought it said henchman. I don't know about you but Henchman's Bend is not a place I'd like to visit.

It's a LLAMA!!! I never understood people's fascination or love for these things until I experienced one first hand. They're just so adorable!

One of the local high school's Spanish Club has t-shirts that say "Como Se" and then a picture of a llama.

You know, because the double ll in Spanish is pronounced "ya"? And that means "what's your name?" or something like that.

I think it's one of the wittiest things ever. This probably makes me a nerd.

I think this post also goes to show that I have led a very sheltered life.

Never been on a train?

Never seen a llama?

This easily entertained?

Happy Friday y'all!

waiting here for You

2011-09-08T03:53:00.000-05:00

It's 3 a.m. and for the third night in a row, I'm up. The past two nights I've woken up sometime during the 3 o'clock hour and been unable to go back to sleep. Tonight's a little different considering I haven't been to sleep yet. I have a song stuck in my head that we sang at church tonight and I just felt like sharing the lyrics.

If faith can move the mountains, let the mountains move.

We come with expectation, waiting here for You.

Waiting here for You.

You're the Lord of all creation, and still you know my heart.

The Author of Salvation, You've loved us from the start.

Waiting here for You.

With our hands lifted high in praise.

And it's You we adore.

Singing Alleluia.

You are everything You've promised.

Your faithfulness is true.

We're desperate for Your presence.

All we need is You.

Waiting here for You.

With our hands lifted high in praise.

And it's You we adore.

Singing Alleluia.

We will wait for You Lord

In step with You Lord

We will sing Alleluia

Singing Alleluia

Alleluia

Singing Alleluia

Alleluia

Waiting here for You.

With our hands lifted high in praise.

And it's You we adore

Singing Alleluia.

There's a lot of thoughts going on in my head. Mostly how it feels like I've been waiting and waiting and waiting, expectantly, believing God for whatever He has for me and yet I'm doing nothing. I really am desperate for His presence.

When I was a senior in college I interned in Dallas with the company I'd eventually work for. The first two weeks of our internship consisted of training in an area outside of Chicago. Somehow I had wound up in first class on the flight to training and so we boarded the plane that day, sat down {I was RIDICULOUSLY excited to be sitting in first class, had never done that before, I thought I was some. thing.} and waited. We left the gate and sat out on the tarmac for 2 hours before it was decided we'd head back to the gate. I don't remember exactly why we didn't take off, I think it had something to do with it being January, heading to Chicago, and icy. Regardless, I thought that just might be the worst 2 hours of my life. And I got to enjoy a movie and meal! I can only imagine if I were sitting in coach. {I was a much less patient person back then.}

All that waiting.

And we. got. no. where.

That's kind of how this waiting feels.

I know this time isn't wasted. This waiting isn't for naught. But with no really productive ways to spend my days, let's just say that one day feels more like three.

I wonder when I'll get to the end of the hallway.

And until I do, I pray for Him to give me purpose.

And I wait.

Knowing that I will eventually see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

**Click here to see Christy Nockels singing "Waiting Here for You" live @ Passion 2011.**

if you like unicorns...

2011-09-01T03:21:00.000-05:00

Y'all, IT'S SEPTEMBER!!!!!

That means cooler temperatures and fall-y things and...EEEEEE, I'm excited!

SO...one of my dear sweet youth girls celebrated her 17th birthday yesterday and she absolutely LOVES unicorns. She has a unicorn pillow pet whose name I believe is Veruca LaDome {not sure on the spelling}.

Last year we saw Despicable Me to celebrate her birthday and I thought she was going to die of laughter after this scene.

Yes. So cute.

A picture of what her dream bedroom would look like?

I think that little stuffed unicorn may actually be what Veruca looks like. Maybe not. Hmmm...

So for her birthday this year, I wanted to give her a birthday greeting that she'd never forget. Something involving unicorns. I searched: unicorn, birthday song on YouTube and came up with this.

YES! Seriously. How can you not like that? I laughed so hard. She loved it. My nephew, however, thought it was stupid. Boo.

I can't decide which of these vids is my favorite:

Your Haircut Is Growing On Me
Sorry You Failed Your Test
Sorry You Lost Your Phone
Thanks For Always Liking My Status Updates

I'm kind of thinking the status update one. Mostly because I have this sweet older lady I go to church with that "likes" almost every single status update of mine. Sometimes nobody has liked it and days go by and I'll get a notification that she just did. It really does make my day every now and then.

I'm not sure what that says about me. :-/

So, what's your favorite? Shall we put it to a vote?

The real winner? Juicy Fruit. I mean, who comes up with this stuff?

It's almost the weekend!

AND IT'S SEPTEMBER!!

Woot. Woot.

some things i didn't write

2011-08-30T05:04:00.000-05:00

I shared some words back in November that I didn't write and what's funny is that two of the people on that list are on this list today.

1. I shared a few weeks ago how I couldn't get this song and these words out of my head. Ann's words and the video in this post. Just...yes. We are blessed so we can bless. We are loved by God so that we can be His love.

2. Angie's post over at (in)courage on not being Moses. I think this kind of goes along with this post from 2 months ago. It is still stuck in my head that there is no competition when it comes to God's Kingdom. We. I. so often pretend like there is. I used to really struggle {and still sometimes do} with being a missionary's sister. And if it wasn't that, it was being the "most hip" female youth worker. {We all know, that I never will be, but, I aspired...} ;) God made me. Me. Not Sarah. Not one of countless women I call my friends. Me. And if I can't be me and serve Him the way He made me? Then, that's pretty lame. I am a missionary. Whether it says that on my business card or not. Not that I think Sarah has business cards. But you know what I mean. It's just...convicting all over again. Go read it.

3. Annie's vlog about the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It may seem all fun and games but the last minute or so...yowsa. "God tells way bigger stories than we do." and "What I would have written for myself is far inferior to what has been written for me."

Mind.

Blown.

I think this really struck me for two particular reasons.
{a} Obviously...there's the whole job thing. Do I really need to explain that one?

{b} Some friends of mine had a sweet baby last Thursday. Life doesn't always go the way we thought it would and I know Jordan and Marty weren't necessarily expecting Morgan to be born with all the difficulties that she has been born with. But to know that God knows way more than we do. And He always writes the best stories. This tiny girl is going to change some people's worlds. I'm pretty sure she already has. In ways that we can't even imagine. I immediately thought of this verse:

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. - Eph. 3:20, The Message

We have a choice. To believe that God is telling that bigger story, or...not. What will we choose to believe?

For updates on precious Morgan Noelle you can check out their blog, this Facebook page that was set up, or follow Jordan and Marty on Twitter. (or the hashtag #PrayForMorgan).

Go.

Read.

Or watch. :)

Take it to heart.

Happy Tuesday, y'all.

P.S. If you can pray for me some sleep? It's 5:04 a.m. and I've yet to be asleep. :( Booooooooo.

this will make your life better.

2011-08-25T02:12:00.000-05:00

Here at TMROR, we are all about bringing you the latest and greatest music and other cultural selections. And by we, I mean me. And by latest and greatest, I mean, your grandma has probably already heard of this band. Or TV show. Or...whatever. But, just pretend with me.

I love music. I was once asked if I had to be deaf or blind, which would I prefer. I said blind because while I can go without seeing just about anything, I don't think I could make it without hearing music. It just speaks to my soul. It's the same in every language. Except not, because it's different, but its abilities to move a person, that's what I mean.

Bad analogies aside, this past week I was watching some television and saw a preview for the 3rd season of NBC's The Sing-Off. To say I was a LITTLE MORE THAN EXCITED is an understatement. I was at Matt and Mo's and since they have a DVR, I rewound it and watched the preview TWICE. Two. Times. I just realized that previews go with movies. Commercials go with TVs. But I'm too lazy to go back and fix it.

If you haven't heard of it, it's basically like American Idol. But instead of one person, it's 12 or so different groups. And instead of instruments, there's no instruments. And instead of semi-bad singers. They're all really really good. So, in all actuality, it's not like American Idol at all.

Still not convinced? Here are the 5 best things about The Sing-Off.

{1} There's not a single bad group in the bunch. These are the best of the best. You know those CDs that you really love, except two songs, so you skip them? Yeah. Not the case with TSO. It's all good, all the time.

{2} You get to see clever group names. Two words. Pitch Slapped. Highly inappropriate? Yes. But..really. I mean...the first time I saw that, I'm QUITE sure that I laughed so hard. And while I know these guys didn't come up with it, The Whiffenpoofs were on last season. As in Gilmore Girls? As in Richard Gilmore was a WP and sings with them in that episode where they're at the Harvard/Yale game and Emily is having the maid make a Bloody Mary, and...I've seen Gilmore Girls too much.

{3} Judges that don't make you want to slit your throat. Ben Folds and that really tall guy from Boyz II Men. Shawn I think is his name. They actually know good music. And give constructive criticism. And I'm happy to announce that Nicole ~~SureIsAnnoying~~ Scherzinger is not coming back this year. There's a new girl. Nicole kind of did make you want to slit your throat, but two out of three ain't bad.

{4} Groups in coordinating outfits. This is every singing nerd's dream. Or maybe just mine. Surely not just me?

{5} Did I mention every single thing you hear is somebody's VOICE? That some people have that much talent to create an entire song not using anything man-made, blows. my. mind.

Still not convinced? Watch the opener from last season's show.

If you're not toe-tapping and wanting to dance after that??? I'll pray for you.

The new season starts September 19th! YEAH YUH!

P.S. Does anyone else think the first chick that sings from Eleventh Hour (the very first group in the video looks EERILY similar to Whitney Port?

P.P.S. I really don't want to think about how this show and DWTS is on the same night. Can I just live in a dreamland where all my TV viewing selections magically work out? Yes? Awesome.

the things you do for friends...

2011-08-22T00:29:00.000-05:00

My mind is going blank right now so I can't remember if I've told you that Molly is pregnant. Has been for about...4 1/2 months. Molly and her husband Matt used to be my awesome neighbors.

Until they became my housemates.Or I became their boarder. I don't exactly know how to phrase it.

Anyway, if you follow me on twitter, you might remember this from last week:

@reb2911 I know it's one in the morning, but I really want some red jello. #soundssogood!

And then the NEXT day...

reb2911 Okay, so last night I wanted red jello, tonight, a spoonful of Nutella with some cheddar goldfish. I know, sounds gross, but SO good! ;)

After thinking about it the rest of the week and talking about it tonight with some friends after church. I have decided that I'm having sympathy cravings.

Sounds kind of ridiculous, but Molly and I have spent almost every day together for the past two weeks. Apart from me just being weird {we all KNOW that}, I've decided the most logical answer is this. :)

Am I not a great friend? ;) {FYI - that's said dripping with sarcasm.} :)

They are finding out what they're having Tuesday and I CAN. NOT. WAIT! EEEEEE!!! I've already decided it's going to the cutest baby on the planet. Probably even cuter than my nieces or nephew. Well, maybe not cuter but AWFULLY close. :)

Last random bit of nonsense?

The song from the video below is stuck in my head. I tried finding the actual scenes from the movie, but...failed. Have I ever told you that I think it would be one of the most amazing things ever if I got to play the part of Maria in a play some day? Or Liesel? Mostly because she gets to sing that cool part on Edelweiss.

Add that to the useless list of things you now know about me. You're also probably singing Edelweiss in your head now aren't you?

You're welcome. :)

Happy Monday homies! :)

nothing is ever wasted...

2011-08-16T18:07:00.000-05:00

Do you ever read something and think, "This isn't the first time I've heard that?" The following excerpts are from Beth Moore's "Paul" study that I have 20 something days left in. It's a journey through the book of Acts and it is exactly what God knew I needed during this time of so many unknowns in my life.

To give you some background, Paul knew he would be going to Rome. God has promised him that. But two years after He had made that promise, Paul was still sitting in a jail cell. Well...Paul eventually did make it to Rome. With some prison guards as his escort. I doubt when the Lord confirmed that call to Rome on his life that he thought he'd be going as a prisoner. Or that it'd be a while.

Good investigators ask certain questions: who? what? where? when? how? The context of Acts 26 shows what we may know: who is in control and even what He's doing and where he's leading--but we'll rarely guess when and how!

Not one minute is wasted, but God rarely seems to fulfill His revealed plan when we expect.

Sometimes we can keep asking when God is going to do something He's already done.

God is the Deliverer, but we never know how He might deliver us. We see that God always fulfills His promises, just not always the way we imagine.

Praise God, He gives us what we need, not what we want.

When we don't know what, when, where, or how, we can trust in who. We won't always find our answers, but we can always find our God when we seek Him with all our hearts. And He will love and comfort us until all other answers come.

So maybe I'll try to stop asking the 'when' and just continue to seek God. I look back and see ways that God provided not in the ways I necessarily wanted, but in the ways I needed. Why do I think He'll somehow forget me this time?

I think it was particularly interesting that I read this on a day when I got an email back from my most recent job inquiry. They've appointed a Board member during the interim and the search is on hold while they assess their needs. I was waiting to hear back from this organization before I went another route. So...looky there at that answered prayer.

If you think about it, will you say a prayer for me? And all this job search jazz? I am so blessed to have friends that I know are praying. I get texts almost every day telling me how they're praying for me. I so appreciate it and I promise you that your prayers will not be wasted.

Keep seeking Him and His kingdom above all else, friends!

all's grace.

2011-08-12T04:00:00.002-05:00

I see it at the end of Ann's posts. Two little words that stick with me. I hadn't given much thought to it before Wednesday. Really thought about it. And then we're talking about grace and peace in church and during the middle of the message, this post from (in)courage from months ago pops in my head and I can't wait to get home and watch the video because I had never watched it.

Since Wednesday night I'm quite sure I have listened to this song at least 50 times. At least. It's convicting.

The past two or three weeks I've felt absolutely drained. Of everything. I felt as if I reached the bottom of the job-hunting barrel and I couldn't go any deeper. As if the babysitting weren't just a season. That I was never going to get a real job. This would be my lot. Forever. It's frustrating when you're not hired for the jobs that you're overqualified for. That you don't hear back from the jobs that you are perfectly qualified for.

Completely worn down.

That was me.

God and I have had some talks and there have been tears and the asking of when is this ever going to end and the waiting for an answer. I've seen Him answer other prayers (we'll get to that when I'm not so close to the situation), and I just wonder, when is this question, the job one, when is it going to be answered? I read something in my Bible study Monday that said "God can deliver anyone from anything at any time." and I hate that the thought in my head was, "When am I going to be delivered from this situation?"

My mind goes back to grace. I search the web and I find this verse -

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." - II Cor. 9:8

And I stop because I realize that all IS grace. That I'm not working out of a deficiency, but rather an overflowing sufficiency. That I will be able to complete what I need to because He is giving me the grace. It's not coming from me.

So the barrel that I thought I was at the bottom of? I guess God picked me out of it and put me in a different one. And if I get to the bottom of this barrel? He'll put me in another one.

Or maybe it's not a barrel at all but an ocean of grace that I'll never really reach the bottom of.

I think that's more like it.

Now it's just a matter of remembering it.

All's Grace from Shaun Groves on Vimeo.

what i learned from france...

2011-08-01T05:15:00.007-05:00

I think we all may know how I absolutely love (in)courage.

It.

Is.

Awesome.

Sauce.

And fortunate little me received the opportunity to be a daily guest blogger over there.

Today!

So head on over there and read about what I learned from France.

Or Disney.

Whatever.

P.S. I've never actually been to France. I bet my mom was really confused for a second.

the reason it has been crickets around here...

2011-07-31T22:58:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago started Vacation Bible School at our church.

And the nieces from out of town were here.

So there was a lot of this.

And a little of this.

{That's ice cream, btw.}

And of course, purses from Aunt Sarah in the Philippines. :)

Which, I think the purses are actually from China.

Just go with it.

Then last week was my trip to the beach.

So there was a lot of this.

And a little bit of this.

And this view every morning. {Apart from the three that it rained.}

The complete lack of cell service and the whole watching kids thing kind of kept me from doing anything that took more than 2 minutes. Which means my poor Google Reader has 91 unread posts in it.

91.

I think it may just attack me.

:-/

But I have some exciting news tomorrow. :)

Yay for that!

Hope y'all have had a fantabulous two weeks.

Full of fun things and sunshine.

P.S. I normally take WAY too many pictures. An entire 7 days at the beach?

I took 10.

10!

Ridiculous! I think this may be an all-time low.

Or actually that's probably the time I went to Disney World and took two pictures.

Long story.

please be my strength

2011-07-14T04:00:00.005-05:00

The words to this song just hit me like a ton of bricks when doing my Bible study last night. Through this entire ordeal, I've just felt like there are days where my faith is sorely lacking and I can. not. take another step, make another decision, or speak another word. When that happens, all I know to do is call out to God. Sometimes it sounds like this.

I've tried to stand my ground
I've tried to understand
but I can't seem to find my faith again

like water on the sand
or grasping at the wind
I keep on falling short

please be my strength
please be my strength
I don't have anymore
I don't have anymore

I'm looking for a place
where I can plant my faith
one thing I know for sure

I cannot create it
I cannot sustain it
It’s Your love that’s keeping me

please be my strength
please be my strength
I don't have anymore
I don't have anymore

at my final breath
I hope that I can say
I've fought the good fight of faith

I pray Your glory shines

in this doubting heart of mine
and all would know that You

You are my strength

You are my strength
You and You alone
Keep bringin me back home

You are my strength

You are my strength
You and You alone
Keep bringin me back home

You and You alone
Keep bringin me back home

I think I might move to Canada

2011-07-13T04:00:00.002-05:00

Not because it isn't a blazing 100 degrees there, although that'd be nice, but because I'm hoping if I do, I might somehow bump into Sarah Richardson and she'd instantly fall in love with my personality and want to hire me to work with her even though I have absolutely NO design experience whatsoever.

I knew when I moved in with Matt and Molly that I'd be watching a lot of HGTV. Mostly because Molly has a degree in interior design and I am totally okay with that. I love HGTV. Love it. And have I ever mentioned that they renovated their house when they bought it a year and a half ago and she has it designed in the most beautiful way ever. Every time I walk in, which is a lot lately, I feel like I've stepped into a design magazine or something. She is just so uber-talented. If I had a house, I'd totally hire her.

All that being said, I did not know that she would get me hooked onto Sarah's House.

I don't know if you've ever seen it, but the premise is Sarah buys a house that hasn't been touched by a renovator's anything, (seriously, there has been some TRULY horrendous rooms. Hor. ren. dous.) and then goes in and renovates the house to make it a house that she'd want to live in. Totally makes sense to me! I mean, when you buy a house (not like I know) that has been partially renovated, you're paying for those renovations, whether or not it's how you would actually do it or not.

So, I'm quite sure I saw part of an episode less than two weeks ago of Sarah's Summer House and since then?

I have watched approxmately 41 episodes in less than 2 weeks.

That is more than slightly ridiculous.

But it's just so pretty and funny and entertaining.

You can watch full episodes of Season 2 and Season 3 online here.

The Master Bedroom in Season 3? I think it's my most favorite room that I've ever seen in my entire life.

I want to live there.

Apart from all the house renovation/design stuff I've learned, I've also learned some new words.

Pro-cess. Which, is what we in the U.S. call process. But they put the emphasis on the PRO part. I think it's funny.

Bang Up job - a really good job.

I think I learned bang up from my Irish friend Luke that I worked with in Dallas. He'd say that sometimes. I also learned "Bob's your uncle, Nelly's your aunt." from him. Which, I still don't know what that means. He'd just say it sometimes. I think it was to throw me off. ;)

But seriously, if you like design or home renovation stuff and you haven't seen it before? Check it out!

I'll be back later this week with more spiritual and holy stuff. I just had to share my new obsession!And by later, I mean, tomorrow or Friday. :)

Today is Wednesday y'all! {Way to go Captain Obvious!} Which means I'm only about a week and a half away from the BEACH!!!

WWWWOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

i'm having intermediate school flashbacks

2011-07-08T21:58:00.000-05:00

Y'all.

I'm going to the BEACH!!!!!!!

For a whole week!!!!!!

I have never been to the beach.

Apart from 2 hours spent at Pensacola Beach when I was 16 years old. But...that's not really what I consider going to the beach.

Anyway, I'm tagging along with the parents, and the kids I keep to help keep an eye on them and all that jazz and I really, am just so beyond thrilled that there is no possible way I could communicate it to you.

I feel like I'm a character in this...

Please tell me you remember that?

Oh goodness. We leave in 2 weeks and I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!

And I also feel like Jessie Spano wth all this I'M SO EXCITED business.

I'm so...scared.

Now you understand why I feel like I'm in intermediate school.

Y'all have a super weekend!

song for my family

2011-07-06T23:39:00.000-05:00

One of the things that's been on my mind.

This is a song for my family

outside the walls of Sunday morning from sung within.

This is a song to confess our sins,

lay it all out, and try to begin again.

To hope again.

Please forgive our ignorance in looking down on you.

Please forgive our selfishness

for hiding in our pews while the world bleeds

while the world needs us to be what we should be.

This is a song for my family who just can’t believe in the Jesus that you’ve seen on Sunday morning.

This is a song for the cynical saints.

The burned out and hopeless,

The ones who've been cast away.

I feel your pain.

Please forgive the wastefulness of all that we could be

But don’t forget, there’s more than this

Her beauty still exists.

His bride is still alive.

This is a song for my family

inside the walls of Sunday morning.

Be what you should be.

oh the thoughts.

2011-07-05T21:09:00.000-05:00

I got a lot of thoughts roaming around in this old noggan of mine.

How ABC should bring back a season of that show, "The Mole".
How I watch a lot more HGTV these days than I ever thought I would.
How I need to paint my toenails.
How we influence people whether we realize it or not.
How one day we're going to fall at Jesus' feet and cry Holy, Holy, Holy.
How God is asking me to use my word of the year a lot more than I thought I'd have to use it.

It's "trust" by the way. I think next year I'm going to pick a word like, love, or joy or eat, or something that doesn't require as much "effort".

And that was just like 15 seconds. Maybe. You don't even want to know the rest.

All these thoughts swirl around and and around until I'm sick of hearing them. Things I want to share with you.

Good news is I now have a computer. So, hooray for you people that read this. I'm not making any big flashy promises, but I promise to be here.

Consistently

Not once every 3 weeks. Because...you deserve more nonsense than that.

So...the end. You have something to look forward to? Maybe?

But seriously, dd y'all ever watch the first season of The Mole? Goodness I loved that show. And I knew the last few episodes who the mole was. She looked like a grown-up version of this girl I went to high school with. Bizarre!

Hope your Tuesday was grand :)

on seasons. {and life}.

2011-06-20T23:03:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd be at Chuck E. Cheese's in the middle of a weekday.

At least not until I was married with kids of my own.

Surely this wasn't the way things were meant to be.

I didn't go to school for five years; earn two degrees; simply to be sitting in the home of an over-sized mouse at 11:30 on a Tuesday morning. Listening to some kinda catchy remakes of 80's hits. Watching moms nod their heads to the music that was the sound of their youth, trying to exhibit patience while counting out 45 tokens for each child.

Yet.

There I sat.

It was a few weeks ago. We had been the second group to walk through the doors. My old self would have laughed at my new self.

The new self...

...is pretty decent at Mario Kart on the Wii.
...listens to cries of "Ms. Ebekah...".
...warms up chocolate milk and gives the youngest his blank blank (blanket) so he can nap, while trying to figure out what part of Spiderman he wants to fall asleep too (it usually has to be 'all the way over', i.e. from the beginning).
...runs around to pick kiddos up from swim lessons and haircuts and softball and wherever else their little lives might take them.
...figures out which battles I need to fight (the hitting of the siblings, the backtalk for the umpteenth time) and which to let slide (I discovered it's not the end of the world when they forget to add ma'am to the end of their yeses or nos every now and then).

I have a booster seat permanently in my back seat during the week.

This life is so foreign to me. Yet, I've come to realize.

It isn't always going to be like this.

This is just a season.

I won't be keeping kids forever. (At least, I don't think.)

I've been given this summer to shape their littles lives. To pour into them the love that Jesus has poured into me. And while I saw that as my primary goal, God had other plans in mind.

I get to speak to moms that I would never have ran into otherwise of how God ordained this. This summer of sitting. How I can go from a job in accounting that occupied 40 hours of my week to watching an 8 and 4 year old accumulate 509 Chuck E. Cheese tickets. How neighbors and friends have reached out and taken me in because they've received such grace, that they feel compelled to show it. How I've seen Him give me peace that passes understanding.

He always gives us opportunities to speak on His behalf. To tell others of what He's done in our lives. What He's doing.

And that peace,
grace,
the love that He pours into our hearts,

It can be theirs too.

Where is God giving you opportunities to speak up?

Are you seizing them?

"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

- Acts 4:20

you just gotta laugh. and repent.

2011-05-13T15:48:00.000-05:00

Hey friends. Sorry I haven't been around the past couple of weeks. It's been...interesting.

Last Friday was my last day at work and it went swell. My sweet coworkers got me a nice card and a gift card to Lifeway. They're the one thing I will miss the most about not working there. They make me laugh. They encourage me. They know how to play a joke.

I joked that, while they're what I'll miss the most, I'm also going to miss working in this fabulous new building.

I know, I'm pathetic. They'll be moving in there before the end of the summer and I'm going to have to go visit. It's just so pretty. {The link above is to a webcam that was set up to capture the progress of the building. If you don't get anything...then...check back during the actual week. I guess?}

Moving on.

So this week I've mostly been cleaning my house, applying for jobs, reading, making visits that I wouldn't get to make otherwise.

The main reason I wanted to post today was to share a funny story about the second thing on that list above. Applying for jobs.

If you remember from this post, that was written just over a month ago. I had no idea what I wanted to do. Much less what God wanted me to do. I knew He wanted me working with people. I knew it may or may not involve accounting. Well, I sought God and prayed and read my Bible and slowly it felt like He began to put teaching on my heart. I should probably say back on my heart. In college, I considered changing my major about a million times to education, but never did for whatever reason. Mostly because I never consulted God about it.

So, I've put my application in different places just knowing that that's what He has for me. Or at least pretty sure that's what He has for me. I still don't know, but I'm pretty sure that's what it is. {Just keep going, I promise there's about to be a point to this post.}

He's told me over and over again through His Word, through the things I would read. Through people that have texted me, called me, whatever. Just. Hold. On. Rebekah.

Hold. On.

And, I don't know about you, but waiting isn't something I'm particularly good at. As evidenced here.

Well, last night the mom, sister and I were sitting around watching Bones. {DID YOU SEE IT LAST NIGHT?!?!? Oh goodness.} and Mama mentioned that a Christian organization was looking to fill a position in Dallas. I read the job description online and figured I was overqualified for the job. And I didn't think I'd particularly like it. So, I told her I wasn't going to apply.

Now I don't know what got in my head between 8:30 and 10, but something did and I decided to apply online.

I'm going through there filling out the online forms and Leah and Mama were down here chatting about different things and putting there 2 cents in. {That I asked for}. And I finally completed the application about an hour or so after I started it. Well...I hit the 'next' button on the browser and it popped up an error. Basically saying, "You took too long. You have to start over." and I said ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?! and Leah just started laughing. Less than 30 seconds later I was laughing too.

I knew this isn't the kind of position God had laid on my heart. Yet, I lost trust for an hour and tried to take things into my own hands. Grappling for anything that provided income. Even if it meant that wasn't what I knew God wanted me to do.

Yikes. I was on my way back to my house and Proverbs 19:21 came to mind.

"Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand."

And I just laughed. Like...REALLY laughed. Because...I had just seen that play out in real life. And then I had to pray because...obviously. The not trusting God part.

Who in the world do we think we are?!?

I'm so glad God has a sense of humor.

And if you made it this far you deserve a pat on the back. Or some ice cream.

Go You. :)

winners, poetry and job situation update

2011-04-25T18:02:00.000-05:00

First things first -

Congratulations to Becca on winning the $20 Dayspring coupon code! Becca, if you're reading this, I'll be emailing you soon! Becca said she'd love to get Ann Voskamp's 365 journal or the cross I received. I think either would be a great choice :)

Speaking of Ann, I woke up at 3:36 this morning and, not for a lack of trying, could not go back to sleep. Well eventually I decided to look at the posts in my Reader on my phone and Ann had linked up to this video. If you are a single guy or gal, or if you appreciate poetry, you must. watch. this. A friend and I were talking last week about how stinkin' cool it is that God made everyone different and gave different people various talents and gifts. I believe this woman is definitely using those gifts! I'm pretty sure I'd never be cool enough to go to a poetry slam {is that even what they're called?} and I just think it's the funniest thing how they give snaps for applause. Makes me want to watch Legally Blonde.

Snap Cup? Anybody?

So, I was most definitely watching that video and giving her mental snaps from the comfort of my bed at about 4:30 this morning.

Thank you so much for the prayers for the job situation. {I can't figure out what to call it. Suggestions?} I have a couple of leads and there's one job that I think I would just enjoy tremendously and the possibilities just make me all happy dance on the inside wondering what God could do with me in that sort of position, but above all, I want His will. Even if that means Rebekah doesn't see the exact purpose in the beginning.

Referring to myself in the third person? I think that's "I've been up since 3:36 this morning" talking.

Your prayers are coveted. Most assuredly. I officially have less than two weeks left. My last day is next Friday {May 6th}. Keep 'em going y'all. Keep. 'Em. Going.

Lastly, y'all please be in prayer for the Stamper family. April Stamper, 17, passed away after a car accident last Friday night. It was prom night at two of the local high schools and they were on their way home after going to town to get ice cream. She, the other passenger, and the driver of the vehicle they were in were being completely responsible teenagers when a woman driving the wrong way down the highway ran into them head-on. I read a Facebook status update about a wreck on the highway about 10:30 and then I heard a helicopter not 5 minutes later. Helicopters around these parts are never good things and I knew someone was being care-flighted to Tupelo. I cannot even begin to imagine the heartache and loss her family and friends are going through. Please please please lift these up in prayer. Many of the students I work with at church on Wednesday nights went to school with April and were her good friends. I know they and the families of the others involved in the accident would appreciate all the prayer they can get. You can read more about the accident here.

Thanks for praying y'all. It accomplishes so much. I think it's one of the greatest gifts God has given Believers. Use it for His glory.

JRU Cross Review {and a GIVEAWAY}!!!!!

2011-04-20T12:20:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I arrived home to find a big brown box from DaySpring on my front porch and suddenly I remembered, EEEEEE, it must be my product to review for (in)courage's April Inspired Deals!!

Well you better believe that I didn't even take my purse off my shoulder before I ripped into that box to see what pretty pretty I had received to review! And lucky for me it was the Everyday Faith Handmade Cross from Studio JRU!!

Me. Likey.

The beautiful dark wooden cross is just heavy enough to let you know it's made of good stuff but not too heavy that you'd be able to grab it off the wall and defend yourself in some kind of hand-to-hand combat.

Because, really, why would you grab it anyway?

Another reason I love it {apart from the sheer beauty, because...duh.} is the blue-ish with some brown-ish color on the background of the cross matches about every single piece of furniture I own perfectly.

And the words?

Love the words.

I don't remember these words often enough.

The only problem I ran into was trying to decide where to put it. And let's face it, that's not a problem with the cross, that's a problem with the dummy typing this.

My first thought? My cross wall.

And just in case you're wondering, those crosses aren't crooked. I promise. {Promise.} This is just evidently a really weird angle to take this picture from. And you might also be thinking, your cross wall is kinda...ummm...bare isn't it?

You'd be correct. I bought those two crosses for less than $10 {combined} and I have to really like a cross to spend money on it. I'm young. Give me time.

So I grabbed my hammer and a nail and went to work. But not before taking a picture. {Nerd.} And this was LATE Monday evening and I'm quite proud of my hair. Looking good for it to be 10:30 p.m.

Well, I think I've lived in this house long enough to forget that those two nails where the crosses are already hanging came courtesy of whoever lived there before. I did not hammer those nails in. And I did not hammer this nail in because goodness gracious it was super hard. I tried for approximately 10 minutes before giving up and deciding the cross had to go somewhere else. {sad}.

My next choice was my mantle. And as you can see, the mantle needs some livening up.

Once I took this picture I realized how 'off' my mantle really was. It's all Tally McTallerson on the left side and Shorty McShorterson on the right. So...

Voila. I like the pretty cross better than the old tin container that I bought for $2.00 at a yard sale that's full of movie ticket and concert stubs and the like. After looking at this picture, I'm thinking I may even switch the cross and the green bird. Move the tallness over a ltitle bit more.

So there you have it. My home was beautified by this attractive piece of hand-crafted art.

And now you're like, "Oh Rebekah, I want one." aren't you?

You're in LUCK!

Dayspring has given me a $20 coupon code for one of YOU to win!! Aren't they the best?

To enter, visit the DaySpring online store. Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite DaySpring item

{or two, or three, or five. Good luck narrowing it down} :)

You can get additional entries by:

{1} Visit the Studio JRU store and tell me which gorgie-poo item you'd buy by commenting on this post. (one entry)

{2} Subscribe to The Most Random of Random by clicking right over there --> (one entry)

{3} Tweet or share this giveaway post on Facebook. (one entry)

4 ways to win! Leave a separate comment for each way you enter.

Comments will close at 11:59 p.m. (CST) Saturday, April 23rd.

I'll choose a winner using Random.org and announce it Monday, April 25th.

If you win, shipping charges will apply to whatever cute loot you decide to buy with your coupon.

Because I'm all for full disclosure - I received the products mentioned in this post for free from DaySpring solely for the purpose of reviewing and hosting a giveaway. All opinions expressed above are mine and mine alone.

Best of luck to all of you!!

on fear.

2011-04-14T13:13:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all your sweet words of encouragement and prayer in response to Monday's post. I appreciate them more than I could ever put into words.

I think any time you put out there something like that, the Devil sees a PRIMO opportunity to attack. I think he says something like, "Oh yeah? You have faith God's gonna provide? Well...watch this." and WHAM. He hits you with fear.

This morning, I was inconspicuously reading an article that Lifeway tweeted on one married couple's journey through job loss and the fear just SWOOSHED DOWN ON ME.

What if that's me? What if God doesn't provide a job in 30 days. Am I going to believe He'll provide in some other way? Just the fear that it wouldn't possibly go down the way I want it to go down had me almost in tears.

I know, ridiculous.

I cried out in prayer. Lord save me from this unbelief. I then proceeded to read through some Facebook status updates and read this:

"There is NO WORD for "coincidence" in the Hebrew! Lord You are in control today, You were in control yesterday, and You'll be in control tomorrow! I pray for my family, and any of my FB friends today that are struggling to believe in the midst of pressure & confusion! Be encouraged today! "Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God!" (Rom. 8:28; James 1:1-8;16-18;Mark 6:47-52; Prov. 3:5-6)"

Without faith it is impossible to please God? That's part of Hebrews 11:6. And if I only memorized one scripture when doing Beth Moore's 'Believing God' Bible study last year...that. was. it. It's the verse that showed up every day for a week in the most random places. Not even kidding.

And then right before I went to lunch, I read this in another friend's status update:

"God is weaving a story of His power in our lives. He won't fail us. The Lord is batting a thousand in the category of faithfulness. Contrary to others' opinions or our fears, we aren't about to be His first "oops." As Chuck Swindoll encourages, "God has never missed a runway through all the centuries of fearful fog." - From the book "Finding God's Will" ~ Gregg Matte"

Everywhere I looked I was seeing God saying, "Rebekah - Stop. Being. Full. Of. Fear. Stop it."

So I went to lunch and decided to look up the word "fear" in my concordance and read some Scripture that had to do with fear. I passed through the "do not fear's" in Deuteronomy and I saw something in Psalm 27. Now, I have to tell you, I think Psalm 27 may be my favorite Psalm. I mentioned verses 13 and 14 back in this post. And...it's just some goodness.

You know how some Bible's have a little heading over chapters in the text? Well, mine does. For Psalm 27?

"An Exuberant Declaration of Faith"

Yessirree. David was saying, I will have faith. I will not fear. Because God is faithful.

Psalm 27

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation;
         Whom shall I fear?
         The LORD is the strength of my life;
         Of whom shall I be afraid?
² When the wicked came against me
         To eat up my flesh,
         My enemies and foes,
         They stumbled and fell.
³ Though an army may encamp against me,
         My heart shall not fear;
         Though war may rise against me,
         In this I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I have desired of the LORD,
         That will I seek:
         That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
         All the days of my life,
         To behold the beauty of the LORD,
         And to inquire in His temple.
⁵ For in the time of trouble
         He shall hide me in His pavilion;
         In the secret place of His tabernacle
         He shall hide me;
         He shall set me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
         Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
         I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

⁷ Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
         Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
⁸ When You said, “Seek My face,”
         My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
⁹ Do not hide Your face from me;
         Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
         You have been my help;
         Do not leave me nor forsake me,
         O God of my salvation.
¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me,
         Then the LORD will take care of me.

¹¹ Teach me Your way, O LORD,
         And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
¹² Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
         For false witnesses have risen against me,
         And such as breathe out violence.
¹³ I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
         That I would see the goodness of the LORD
         In the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the LORD;
         Be of good courage,
         And He shall strengthen your heart;
         Wait, I say, on the LORD!

I just think God is so cool how He hears our hearts cry to Him and He wants to answer us. He put the thoughts in those people's heads this morning to post that on their Facebook. He knew that I would be overcome with fear for a little while. He knew that I check Facebook way too often and would see their status updates. He knew all. these. things. And if He knows all these things, why do I doubt that He knows what will happen on May 9th. My needs then?

I am a silly frail girl and He is a not silly strong God.

I just wanted to remind you of that today.

because i know you're wondering. maybe.

2011-04-11T17:02:00.000-05:00

Last Tuesday I posted this status update on Facebook.

And man alive, did I start getting the texts and the messages asking me what's up with that? What's going on?

So...this is an attempt to condense something that's really long and the past four months or so of my life into something that you can read and won't want to scrape your eyeballs out after having done so. :)

So...you only have your job for 30 more days?
Yep. Something like that. It's more like...25 days now. Mind you this happened a week ago. My dad asked the question, "So you don't have a job in 30 days?"

My answer? I don't have this job in 30 days. I truly believe God will provide whatever job I'm supposed to have.

What's the deal? Do you not like your job? Do you not like the people you work with?
Short answer? The past 4 months or so God and I have been having some major convos. For anyone that's met me in real life, you know I'm a people person. I love me some people. They don't even have to like me, and I like them. I just think they're the coolest. My current job has about zero percent interaction with people {besides my co-workers}. I like accounting, I just like people more. And so I feel He's calling me to something that has to do with people. I'm not sure if accounting will be involved or not.

And I do like the people I work with. I don't just like them, I love them. They are fun and caring and I never knew your co-workers could be your family. So...don't think that I'm leaving because of them. They rock. I will miss them terribly. And I will visit. I'm sure.

So what are you going to be doing?
Ummm....good question.

No seriously, that is not an answer. What are you going to be doing?
I don't exactly know. My guess is since God has put this huge desire in my heart to work with people and have an impact on their lives for His glory, that it'll be something with people. In what capacity you ask? No clue. Teaching accounting? Working on a church staff {in a collegiate or women's ministry role?}? Being a secretary? Working at the local Christian bookstore? Be a back up singer for someone awesome? These are all things that have gone through my head. But I truly, truly, do not know.

Are you staying in Mississippi?
I have no idea. I'd like to stay in Mississippi. I love my people here. I love my church family. I love my real actual family. I love them all. If God had me move away, I'd be sad at the beginning but I know it'd be better for me because He wants that. And His ways are best.

Are you freaking out?
Well...when my manager and I first had the conversation that brought this about a week and a half ago, I have to say that I didn't know it would all go down like this. That this is the way God was leading me into whatever He has next for me. That being said, the first weekend that I knew about this, I had about a bajillion bumps pop up on my chin and a few mouth ulcers that HURT.. {TMI? Maybe. Moving on.}My dad used to say those were caused by worry, but I think it has more to do with stress. Those have died down. Thankfully. And I've tried to take that fear of the unknown and place it at the cross every time it pops up. Sometimes it's an every 5 minutes thing and other days it's a once a day thing. But I don't think I've had a "complete meltdown, my life is over and God has forsaken me" kind of thing.

How are you not completely freaking out? You have bills to pay. You might be crazy and should get checked out by a mental health professional.
First off? Rude! Secondly, I've kept going back to God's sovereignty. He rules over everything. He holds everything together. Everything I go through is for my good and His glory. He will not forsake me. He has plans for me. He will finish what He started in me. He is faithful. Acknowledging those things? Giving Him credit for bringing me to this so He can bring me through this {thanks Priscilla}? They've all helped tremendously.

I went to a conference last weekend and on the bus ride up we watched a video on the story of JJ Jasper and the loss of his 5 yr old son. When breaking the news of his son's death to his oldest daughter, he told her something to the affect of "you have to cling to every good thing you know about God and His Son, Jesus Christ." I guess that's what I'm doing. Do I think the loss of a job is equivalent to losing a child? By no means. But, we all have our battles. For the time being, this is mine.

What can I do besides ask questions?
Pray. That I would continue to seek God, that I'd continue to have the faith to believe He will work everything out, for the fear to roll away, for discernment. I dunno, whatever you feel like praying for I guess :)

What's your favorite reality show - DWTS or AI?
DWTS. Hands down. I never knew I'd love that show so much. It's all my sister and mother's fault. I'm pulling for Ralph and Kirstie this season. And Hines. That guy is full of LIFE and SHOWMANSHIP. And I love it.

Love it.

Got more questions? Fire away in the comments. I'll think about answering. ;)

P.S. I heard this song for the first time this weekend and the bridge has been stuck in my head. It's true ya know. Very true.

Feet That Follow Newsletter {November edition}

2011-03-25T14:54:00.000-05:00

Okay, okay, I know, it's like...almost 5 months old. But...I just wanted to see if I could do this. And if it works out then...there ya go.

I called our IT guy at work and asked how I make a PDF downloadable online and evidently, you can't on blogger. So...these images will have to do. I've finished Sister's second newsletter and as soon as she tells me which version she decided to go with (I gave her options! Go me!) I'll get that up on here.

page 1

page 2

I don't know if you can click on the image to enlarge.

You can try!

If not...just squint really hard.

;)

Happy Friday y'all!

Five Minute Friday - On Waiting

2011-03-18T13:38:00.001-05:00

I'm linking up with The Gypsy Mama for her Five Minute Friday. It's fun. This week's linky is on one of my favorite subjects. Waiting.

{That was dripping with sarcasm}

Head over there and read all the other posts that have been linked up! :)

I had written for 5 minutes earlier today. I kept re-reading that post and something just wasn't right. I couldn't hit publish for whatever reason. Then I got in my car to go to lunch and the song that had been playing when I got out of my car this morning hit me all over again. I'm kind of cheating but I'm posting a video.

Basically, waiting is easier when I believe He has my heart. That He's holding me. And He DOES have my heart. He is holding me. He IS faithful. Even when I'm not. So that thing that I've been waiting for, whatever that thing is (it changes...sometimes it's a husband, sometimes it's...other stuff, most of the time, it's a husband) becomes easier to wait when I remember that He is always faithful. Always good.

I'll close with two of my most favorite verses in the whole of Scripture.

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" - Psalm 27:13-14

when do we step in? DO we step in?

2011-02-28T12:49:00.005-06:00

I was sitting at McDonald's earlier eating my lunch when a grandmother and her granddaughter, no more than 10 years old, sat behind me. I was looking at Twitter on my phone and the older woman's words drift into my ears.

"Why did you wear that? That shirt looks terrible. Why didn't you wear a headband. You're going to have to wear a headband every day for your hair to look good." and so on and so forth. A full 10 minutes of that.

My.
Heart.
Broke.

I wanted to turn around and scream at that lady saying "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO THIS POOR GIRL?!?!?!"

She just sat there and took every single bit of it. She timidly spoke up once to offer an excuse as to why she wasn't wearing a headband.

She didn't have one to match that outfit.

I like to listen to what's going on around me. Something I've been more focused on since reading the 'ears' chapter in Annie's book. But I really wish I hadn't heard this. Mostly because what do you do? As a Christian? As another woman? As a granddaughter that has felt the sting of words from someone you thought loved you?

I can't remember a nice thing my paternal grandmother said about me. Or to me. For at least the first 17 years of my life.

Now, don't worry, this story has a happy ending. {Maybe?}

I never remember feeling 'enough' with her.

Not smart enough.
Not skinny enough.
Not talented enough.

I remember my 13th birthday. I opened a present from her. It was a black velvet maternity shirt. I never had the courage to ask her, "It was just a mistake, right? You didn't mean to get me a maternity shirt? Right?"

I never wore that shirt. I couldn't. It was a beautiful shirt, but it served as a constant reminder in my closet of what I wasn't.

When we moved from Dallas to Mississippi (and away from her), a month after my 13th birthday. I did. not. miss. her. at. all. I didn't want to talk to her. I didn't want to see her. At the time, I think I would have been just fine if I never saw her again in my life. She was a person, that while we had happy memories, I don't remember a fondness for her at all for the first 13 years of my life.

Her words stuck with me. The cutting-to-the-heart kind. The lies that I always believed in deepest darkest parts of my mind.

She came to Mississippi 5 years later for my high school graduation. She got to hear her granddaughter address her classmates as someone that had succeeded. That was voted the 'best' 'all-around' student by her teachers. Now I don't exactly remember what she said, or even if she said anything. But for the first time, I saw someone that loved me, but that just didn't know any better than to take their words out on someone that was helpless to defend themselves.

Funny how the smallest things take you back, heh? I love my grandmother now. Is she perfect? By no means. But I do genuinely love her. I enjoy talking to her on the phone these days. I hurt when she hurts. But I also realize that the stuff I heard all those years were lies. That I "don't need to become anything but His."

What would you have done if you were me in McDonald's today? Do we have a responsibility to say something? I FIRMLY believe in honoring your father and mother (and in turn, grandparents). But really...what do you do? I'd be interested in hearing your opinion.

I'm so thankful God brings healing.

That we don't have to live with lies.

That He brings truth.

That He IS truth.

when God doesn't feel 'close'

2011-02-16T17:03:00.000-06:00

I may not have blogged much about it, but last year, God just blew. my socks. off. Looking back, I wish I had recorded His faithfulness to me. I mean, I have it in my head, but there are crazy tiny little things that He did that even 3 or 4 months later, I don't remember.

I was having a discussion with one of my friends about how much I felt like God was showing me. I began to wonder, why is He teaching me this? He wants me to apply it, but I felt like there was something big coming. Basically, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I didn't like that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. For my world to come crashing down around me. But, I just knew eventually it would. Eventually I wouldn't be in my Bible every day. Eventually, God would feel distant. Eventually I would wonder where He went. Why He went.

I can't say exactly when it happened, but right around the beginning of the year, the shoe dropped. I was working my way through 'Experiencing God' and was on a roll. I can still tell you the first three weeks worth of memory verses. But suddenly, I didn't have time to actually get the homework done in a week. I hate to admit that halfway through February and I think I'm mid-way through the 5th week. Think. How sad. I don't even know. It sits by my bed. I pick it and my Bible up when I head out the door some mornings planning to do it on my lunch break, but then it just lays in my passenger's seat. It moves from place to place, unopened.

I think back to over a year ago when I decided I was going to stop living in the flesh and really 'walking' in the Spirit. I had tried and tried and tried again to be a 'good Christian' but after two weeks would put my Bible down not to be picked up again (outside of Sunday's and Wednesday's) for months on end. I was wondering why every time I tried to live for God, it felt like I was spinning my wheels and was more tired than I was to begin with. Then I heard a sermon on John 15 and 'abiding'. Suddenly I realized what my problem was.

Well, a year later and it's the same old story. I've gotten awfully good at living in the flesh and doing things in my power. Like, really. I'm an expert. {Sadly}.

So, I sit here and wait and pray and ask for God to take over me. Help me realize that I'm nothing and He's everything. That "apart from Me you can do nothing." To let it sink in and remember.

Abide.

There's a live video from Passion that came out yesterday of Christy Nockel's singing a song "Waiting Here for You" and it has been on repeat on my computer all day today. The words are below and I just keep praying them. I think they're a pretty good prayer.

If faith can move the mountains

Let the mountains move

We come with expectation

Waiting here for You

Waiting here for You.

You’re the Lord of all creation, and still you know my heart

The Author of salvation, You’ve loved us from the start

{chorus}

Waiting here for You

With our hands lifted high in praise.

And it’s You we adore

Singing alleluia

You are everything You promised, Your faithfulness is true

We’re desperate for Your presence

All we need is You.

{chorus}

Singing alleluia

Alleluia

Singing alleluia

Alleluia

{chorus 3x}

Singing alleluia

"We're desperate for Your presence. All we need is You."

Oh Lord, make it true.

{This post prompted by Toya's post today about remaining, and the fact that we're studying "walking in the Spirit" tonight. It's hard to teach college students to walk in the Spirit when you're doing a poor job yourself. Thankfully, there's grace.}

Update and half of my heart...

2011-02-15T17:04:00.000-06:00

First off, thanks for all of your sweet words about yesterday's post. I really am blessed with some of the most encouraging and awesome friends and family on the planet. And if you're thinking, Rebekah, there are two comments on that post...I'll just let you know that I received many comments on the link I posted on Facebook. Not that it matters.

And just to clarify, after I re-read that post (numerous times) I really sound like I'm tooting my own horn. But, I hope you understand that was not the spirit behind it. This blog is much more stream-of-consciousness writing than anything and that's what came out. Although, there are some times where I edit my thoughts a little bit to make them funnier. Ha. What worries me is that I try to make them funnier, and they still aren't that funny. Oh wells.

So, some people asked for an update on how yesterday evening went and can I just say, those women were absolutely tickled pink when I walked in their rooms. I gave Mawmaw, her roommate, and Ms. Mary Ruth all a little pottery planter thingy, some lotion, a balloon and a cute little card from Lifeway. I just searched online for like...5 minutes for the card I got Mawmaw because it was absolutely so flippin' adorable, but I couldn't find it. But the gist of it, on the front it said something to the affect of my grandparents are the BESTEST and on the inside something about me being the BLESSEDEST (I was REALLY hoping when I opened it yesterday in the store that it said the grandchildren were the BESTEST too because...that would be funny, because I'm one of...like 8 grandchildren, so...anyway).

Ms. Mary Ruth gave me a hug. She had already changed in to her nightgown. At 5:40. So...that was kinda strange, hugging this little old lady in her nightgown, but it was sweet nonetheless. She won Valentine's Queen for their little hall. The same honor that she had said last Friday she was going to nominate Mawmaw for, but said Mawmaw wouldn't have it. Mawmaw replied back with 'Oh yes I would!'. That was so funny. Ms. Mary Ruth totally deserves it though. And it's nice that she the recognition.

The sad news is, I don't think she remembered who I was. :( I'd tell you why I think that, but, it's just sad, so...let's move on.

As I was walking out of Ms. Mary Ruth and her roommate's room they asked me if I was going out to dinner all dressed up like I was, which, I had on exactly what I wore to work, a black dress with pink and white flowers all over it over some tights and some black flats, and I had to tell them no. That I was going to go home and read and go to sleep. Ha. But they were just so complimentary (I really am going to go there any time I need a self-esteem boost!) ;)

As I was leaving MawMaw and Ms. Maxine's room, they complimented how nice I looked as well. I told them what their friends across the hall had said and Ms. Maxine says, 'Ohhhhhhhh, honey, I have a man for you!'

This is where I should have run out. Her grandson, who I met the first time I visited Mawmaw, is available and apparently my age. She went on for 2 or 3 minutes telling me all about his great qualities.

So...evidently I should go to the nursing home for a self-esteem boost and to get set up on dates.

{GRIN}

Last night as I got home, John Mayer's song, 'Half of My Heart' was stuck. in. my. head. I like the song. It's nice to listen to. Mellow. I had never really listened to the words before I don't guess. Well, I woke up this morning with the song stuck in my head and I swear I have 'listened' to the YouTube video about 20 times today. No. Joke.

I love John Mayer. But I've noticed a pattern (thanks to Annie Downs' book!) that when I listen to him, I feel melancholy and boyfriend-needy and it's probably not a good thing. SO...maybe I shouldn't listen to him as much because...that who wants to feel melancholy and boyfriend-needy? :S Not me. But...for your listening pleasure and since I've listened to it a million times. Here's the "Half of My Heart" video. It's sad. Sad song.

Is it just me or does he look really good in this video?

Sigh.

Later y'all.

{LOVE} lessons learned

2011-02-14T16:51:00.000-06:00

Today is the day that most singletons the world over absolutely dread.

And for the first time in as long as I can remember, I'm not one of them.

No, no. I haven't gone and found myself a man {yet} but for some reason, this Valentine's day is different from the past 26.

I've never been a huge fan of the holiday. I woudn't say I was a V-Day 'hater' but there was some definite, 'let's just get through this day' mentality going on. Sappiness makes me sick. {That hasn't changed. I'm not a big fan of sappy}. To attest to this, I was telling Leah and Mom at lunch yesterday how Dollar Tree had real live red roses on sale for $1 each and I was just amazed. That led to a discussion on roses and how I absolutely do. not. like. them. I just don't. Yeah, they smell nice, but I'd much rather receive some daisies or...I don't know, something other than roses. Leah looked at me like I was crazy. Like I had just said I hate babies and little puppies and other things that most people love. I think she went so far as to even say that I'm not really a girl. I assured her, I was.

Moving on.

So...what have we established. I'm not a fan of sappy. The scrawling cursive script on V-day cards with the fake flowers and all the hearts just makes me want to throw up (design wise, they're just...not...pretty.) Please tell me I'm not alone on this.

So, after all these years of dreading the holiday, imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning and thought, It's Valentine's. {and a Monday, talk about kicking someone while they're down!} and then thought...I'm so lucky to be here on this planet living my little life.

Game. Changer.

I don't exactly know what it is that brought about the change. It could be that spiritually, I'm in a totally different place than I was all those years past. I now realize that God loves me, whether I'm single, married, fat, skinny, loud, quiet, if I read my Bible today, if I didn't read my Bible today. Regardless...

He.

Loves.

Me.

And realizing that truth. That God loves you even when you feel nobody else does. That...man. It's something. It changed my life.

I'm kind of getting off subject, but I remember sitting in Bible Study last spring. We were studying Beth Moore's Believing God {AWESOME...seriously, you should do it.} and on one of the videos...the week we were discussing the 3rd statement in the pledge of faith {I am who God says I am} I totally. lost. it. in the discussion after the video. Beth said something to the affect of, God doesn't just love you. He likes you. And I can't exactly say why, but it's like the flip switched in my head and I realized who God really was. Does that make sense?

He loved me.

He loves me.

He will love me.

No holds barred. For. Ev. Er. {imagine that said, 'The Sandlot' style}

So...maybe that's the first reason. And the second reason is kind of tied up in that. I'm not currently reading Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts {I know, I know, I feel like I'm the only person in the world that isn't} but I do read her blog and I've begun to realize that we are blessed beyond what we could ever need every day just by being alive and having the chance to show God's love and grace to others. Every day is a gift.

Follow me for a second.

Last Friday night I went to visit Mawmaw at the nursing home. I usually go see her on Monday nights but last Monday I was still getting over the gallbladder surgery so, you didn't need to know that, but that's why I was there on a Friday night. {Looking back at that sentence, I was at a nursing home on a Friday night. That sounds so lame.} So I walked in at dinner time for most of the residents and there sat Mawmaw at the little table with these two other ladies. I don't remember one of their names, but the other one was Ms. Mary Ruth. I had never met either woman before, but I hadn't been sitting there 5 minutes when Mary Ruth said something to the affect of, 'You have the prettiest teeth.'

I looked at her and thought...what in THE world is this woman saying? I had been told I had a nice smile before, but never, pretty teeth.

Then, 5 minutes later, the other woman, who was very {VERY} hard of hearing looks at Ms. Mary Ruth and says, 'Doesn't she {me} have the prettiest teeth?' and I thought, 'WHAT is up with these women and teeth?!?! I,personally, don't like my teeth, I have one in the front that is so super crooked and overlaps the other one and that's always annoyed me. So...to hear these two women say that I had pretty teeth (some of the prettiest actually) just floored me. And made me laugh hysterically. And awkwardly. Because...what do you say to that apart from thank you? We sat there for 15 more minutes or so and I just had a GRAND OLE TIME with them. And then Mawmaw and I went back to her room and watched the 6 o'clock news and Wheel of Fortune and the beginnings of that show where celebrities see who their ancestors are {it was Tim McGraw last week}.

So...all of that to tell you that as I was sitting there with those little old ladies I thought...they need to be shown love. I mean, my Mawmaw knows I love her, but those other little ladies? They don't have visitors as much. And you would have thought I had given them a million dollars when I actually asked them their names and talked with them, not to them. My eyes were opened. Mawmaw talked about how she had some lotions but it's no-scent and what good is lotion unless one of the benefits is smelling good? So, I decided I was going to get those ladies some lotion. and a card. and a balloon (because, Dollar Tree had mylar V-Day balloons for a dollar too!).

I CAN. NOT. WAIT to see their faces tonight when I go visit them. They may hate the lotion. They may not like balloons. But I know they'll love the love.

We humans were wired for it. We were wired for love. To love and be love in returned.

I'm quite sure that this post is all over the place and some people would say, 'You really need to learn how to edit.' but, I just had to share all this with you. Because...I just had to.

{DISCLAIMER}

All this does not mean that I don't ever struggle or long to have a significant other. Just ask some of my closest friends and they can tell you about the texts they get begging them to pray for me because that day is a rough day. I've also learned it's super hard {for me} when you're crushing on someone and they don't seem to be crushing back. {As I currently am. Will I regret saying that? Perhaps, but...I'm all for honesty}.

But Jesus, y'all, He can do the impossible. Including teach someone as screwed up and silly as me to learn to love like He has. Even if it's a little bit at a time.

Five Minute Friday - The Women

2011-01-28T12:34:00.000-06:00

**This is a post to link up at The Gypsy Mama's for 5 Minute Friday. Lunch break was a perfect time. Especially after having been given the prompt - The Women. :) Enjoy! **

We gather to celebrate a dear friend's 40th birthday. She had no idea it was happening. Her husband leading her blindfolded out into a cabin at a state park with the late March breeze blowing over the lake. The smell of boiled shrimp is in the air. Some of the men dumped the entire bottle of spice in there. We were hardly able to eat it later but it didn't matter.

We sat around and I learned lessons from the women. Those that have walked through marriage and kids and tough stuff longer than I have. They share stories that have us laughing until we're in stitches. I wonder what I'll be like when I'm their age.

Then we eat caramel cake. And one opens 40th birthday gag gifts. We laugh some more at the cane. And at the Depends.

This is friendship with the women. I'm so thankful.

Show Us Your Life - Singles

2011-01-20T16:44:00.006-06:00

Welcome Kelly's Korner readers! This is Carlin, and I have taken over my best friend's blog today (with her permission, of course) to participate in Kelly's Show Us Your Life - Singles!

Here she is...the one and only Rebekah!

I have been blessed to have Rebekah as a friend for almost seven years. We met in college and have certainly had some wonderful times - although living in two different states for a while certainly put a damper on our fun - we have stayed in touch and I can't imagine life without her! She is the kind of friend that you can go months without seeing her but when you finally do it's like a day has never passed.

Rebekah is 27 years old and lives in North Mississippi. She works as an accountant and is extremely involved in her church - especially the youth. Certainly from her picture you can see she is beautiful - but that beauty isn't only skin deep. She has one of the best laughs I have ever heard, a beaming smile and a heart full of love for her family, friends and most importantly her Lord.

Rebekah enjoys reading, singing, hanging out with friends, movies, and board games - her favorite! Really, she is the kind of person that would make watching the rain fall fun and that is why I would love for her to find a wonderful, fun-loving, Christian guy to share her life with! Any man would be lucky to know and love my sweet friend Rebekah - she is certainly a great catch!

If you, or someone you know want to get to know Rebekah better - leave a comment and a way for her to get in touch with you!

some random stuff.

2011-01-20T15:49:00.008-06:00

Y'all. I just about had a heart attack.

I wanted a new blog background and so, I did what I had always done and when I hit 'save'. Well, let's just say the ole' blog looked like a 3 year old that doesn't have good spatial reasoning skills had designed it. (I'm not entirely sure that's the word I'm looking for...can't quite figure it out). Moving on.

I went to Texas last weekend. If you follow me on Twitter, you would know this.

You would also know way too much about my musical tastes.

{Grin}

:)

Christy and me at California Pizza Kitchen. Home of the world's best salad. I love that girl!

Levi had this cool and awesome puzzle that I was just amazed by. He's grown so much!

Anyway, I fully plan on blogging about my weekend of Texas fun and seeing all my Texas peeps but soon after this post goes up my Bestie McBestfriend from college will be posting on my behalf to link up to Kelly's Korner's post about single friends. I think it's so ridiculously neat that couples have met and are engaged (y'all...they're engaged) through the post she did last year. So neat. We were talking about it a while ago and well...the pictures say it best.

SO...there ya go. I don't know what else to say. Except that it could get mighty interesting around these parts!

:)

Hope y'all have had a great week!

(and look at this...I've blogged 5 times in January! It's amazing!)

;)

i laugh {REALLY LOUD}.

2011-01-11T07:55:00.001-06:00

For those of you who aren't from around here, (here, being Northeast Mississippi), we had ourselves a little blizzard Sunday evening/night. Blizzard being a relative term. Because, you see, there were 5 inches of snow, and to us Southerners--that's a blizzard.

I've never seen this much snow in my entire 27 years. Does that mean I've missed out? Methinks, perhaps.

I got out at 6:45 IN THE MORNING and took a bajillion pictures that are beautiful and awe-inspiring, but those will have to wait til later, because I really just want to share this video with y'all.

As an introduction, I live about 100 yards (maybe) from my church and there is a 'monstrous' hill in the back. Well, the 5 inches of snow and icy/slushy country backroads didn't stop some of us from getting together and having a GRAND OLE TIME.

I have watched this video at least 50 times (and I know I lean towards exaggeration, this, is not one of those times. For real...50 times.) And each time it still makes me smile. So...enjoy.

And, for those of you who know my dad, I OBVIOUSLY get my laugh from him.

Obviously.

I may need to tone it down a bit.

How do you feel about snow? Like it? Love it? Want some more of it?

{see what I did there? ;) }

Let me know in the comments!

God, You reign.

2011-01-06T07:45:00.000-06:00

reign (v) [reyn] - to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority -

You paint the night.
You count the stars and You know them by name.
The skies proclaim,
God, You reign.

Your glory shines.
You teach the sun when to bring a new day.
Creation sings,
God, You reign.

{chorus}
God, You reign.
God, You reign.
Forever and ever.
God, You reign.

You part the seas.
You move the mountains with the words that You say.
My song remains,
God, You reign.

You hold my life.
You know my heart and You call me by name.
I live to say,
God, You reign.

{chorus}

Hallelujah, Hallelu.
Hallelujah, Hallelu.

(repeat chorus}

{God, You Reign by Lincoln Brewster}

__________________________________________

I just love this song. It words make me cry sometimes. Like, for real. I cry when I sing about how God holds my life {John 10:28} , knows my heart {Jeremiah 17:9-10} and calls me by name {Isaiah 43:1}.

That's no small thing.

It's rather quite big.

Like...universe big.

Crazy.

In case you have forgotten {like I had}, Who's in charge.

{Hint - It's not Charles.}

my heart hurts.

2011-01-04T18:48:00.004-06:00

There's a person so special to me that is hurt very deeply.
A hurt that I imagine goes back almost 15 years.

That's a deep deep hurt that's been carried for a long long time.
I wonder if this person will ever let go of that hurt and bitterness and live life the way it's meant to be lived.

Christ doesn't want them carrying around that hurt. That's not the reason He came. So that we'd drag our luggages full of hurt, day in and day out? The luggage so old the latch has broken. The dirty clothes are strewn about everywhere. The mess slowly becomes bigger. So big, it looks as if there's no hope for the traveler.

Then I remember that Christ is the best mess cleaner-upper. The best deep hurt healer. The best. Period. He is it.

And I pray that they let Him clean up the mess. That His love compels them to give that luggage to Him and say "Here. Fix it. You're the only one that can."

And I try to wait patiently for that day. Praying to that end. Remembering that no one is ever too far gone for God's love. No one. Not ever.

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say on the LORD!" - Psalm 27:13-14

a quick little snippety snippet

2011-01-02T13:12:00.011-06:00

First off -

Happy New Year!!

I have no idea where 2010 went. I'm 99% sure that time goes by faster the older you get. I have no actual scientific evidence to back this up, but just roll with me on this one.

I plan on being back Tuesday with a really good post. Tuesday, January 4th is a very special day to me this year. It was a beginning last year. And now it's an anniversary. SO...come back Tuesday for that. :)

I just wanted to ring in the new year with some of my favorite pictures from Christmas and New Year's Eve. Enjoy!

It snowed. In Mississippi. On Christmas. What a gift!! :)

The ENTIRE family skyped with Sister on Christmas afternoon.
Although, it was already Sunday morning her time. It was still awesome and SO good to see her face! We sang her many songs including but not limited to, "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" because...she sings that funny.

And, "Star of Bethelehem" because...

Well, it's special to us sisters. :)

Nana (my mom) singing Jingle Bells with her 3 grandgirls.

MESS.

Add Hadley and it's even more MESS! :) I absolutely love my nieces. They are one of my favorite things about my life.

NYE -

It rained.
I had straight hair (mistake).
We didn't let the rain stop us from shooting fireworks.
We're cool.

Oldest sister and me. We dominate at trivia.

I just love this shirt! And the girl wearing it! :)

After midnight we thought to get a picture with all the girls.
Two had already left...
And Carli got cut out. But, you get the idea. :)
SO blessed to call these girls my friends! :)
Oh, and that was sparkling grape juice in those glasses. :)

See y'all Tuesday!!

i promise i'm alive (ep. 2)

2010-12-10T17:15:00.000-06:00

Oh my goodness.

I just wanted to drop in and say a big hello to all the tens of you that read this blog.

{Grin}

:)

But really.

It's been kind of hard to blog because as some of you know, I don't have a computer at my house. That makes the whole blogging thing kind of hard.

{If any of you want to buy me a computer because you love me and my writing that much or simply because you're the most awesomest person ever and have a generous spirit. Let's talk.}

;)

I would say I'm kidding, but crazier things have happened. I assure you. And...I'm really not kidding. Well...only partly kidding. 98% of me is completely serious.

And I would blog at Mom and Dad's but their computer was shipped off somewhere to be fixed 2 1/2 weeks ago and it has yet to return. They're not expecting it back until the END OF DECEMBER.

How does one survive? Good thing my sister and mom can check Facebook on their phone or the world just. might. end. (And mine too, I ain't gonna lie).

Anyway, so that's why it's been the crickets around here lately.

I had the best of intentions to tell you all about the crazy awesome trip to Deeper Still {if you pause the video at the 45 second mark that's TOTALLY me in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. What's up with my hair? And my mouth? Oh well. Moving on.}

I also was going to tell you about the first Thanksgiving without the sister. A synopsis: having Thanksgiving on Saturday is BIZARRE. And I kind of liked it...but at the same time, I was completely thrown off Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Weird.

I was going to tell you how my Christmas tree is STILL not up. Neither is Mom and Dad's. I still have my wreath hanging on my front door. And there isn't a single bit of me that's freaking out over not having my Christmas decorations up .

Not a single bit.

I was going to tell you all about the most fabulous birthday I've ever had in my life. For real. The. most. fabulous. birthday. ever. The only actual gifts I received were 3 packs of sweet tarts {just because I'm curious, what side of your mouth do you chew sweet tarts on? Let's do a study. I'm serious. Stop laughing.} and a very special ornament with the letter 'R' on it that blinks. Oh, and a WHOLE LOTTA LOVE.

Like, a bajillion people wrote on my Facebook wall. I got just as many texts and phone calls and emails. Having caring friends and family and people that you barely know is SO hard. I mean really. So hard.

And...what else...ummm...I met a ton of cool and awesome people at Deeper Still.

Example 2 {example 1 is the link above} ;)
Melanie aka Big Mama. She was so so so sweet. And I told her how I'm awkward too. That in and of itself is awkward enough. But really. I can be so awkward.

P.S. That is one CRAZY eye on my behalf. For real.

Example 3

Kelly from Kelly's Korner was sitting with the Compassion Bloggers and due to some seating issues we got to sit with them on Saturday morning, but this was Friday night when I was like, "Yeah, I read your blog and Harper is so cute and you're just the cutest little pregnant lady."

More awkward.

And while not a cool and awesome person. How about these cool and awesome SEATS thanks to (in)courage and DaySpring??

And again, not cool or awesome people, but I GOT TO EAT CHIPOTLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 16 MONTHS AND IT WAS JUST AS FABULOUS AS I REMEMBERED.

Oh, Chicken Burrito Bowl. I'm quite sure you will be served in Heaven. And guacamole, you too.
Sigh.

Okay, so...that's all I have time for. And there were very serious and spiritual things that happened and yes this post is just fluff, but I had to share. I couldn't keep it in any longer!

OH and I got to meet Lisa-Jo and Ann (we are on a first name basis now...ha.)

And I'm being COMPLETELY serious when I say the first words I said to Ann Voskamp were,

"I LOVE YOUR WORDS."

Yes. For real.

I can't go on anymore. Because really. Those were my first words to someone that writes the most beautiful words that I don't even UNDERSTAND sometimes.

Sheer fabulousness.

And awkward.

But we've established I rule at that.

Y'all have a good weekend.

:)

{Sorry, I just don't have time for more words!}

things you must read...

2010-11-16T16:50:00.002-06:00

I've got words for you, but they aren't mine.

Here's a list of some posts that were in my Reader today that you absolutely have to read.

Read them. Be changed. Live better because of it.

1) Toya's post on pre-Thanksgiving chaos.

2) Annie's post talking about her book coming out next month!!!
P.S. As I commented, I'm neither a teenage girl nor a college student but I'm totes getting it.

3) Sarah's post on sharing your story. Be brave. Stop hiding behind a computer screen. (I say that in a nice way).

4) Ann's post on being an Upside Down Kingdom Blogger. Read. It. So convicting. And that woman has to write the most beautiful words I've seen in a long time.

5) Wendy's post on walking through the desert and finding God had been there all along.

Enjoy these awesome posts. I know I did.

grateful

2010-11-08T21:06:00.002-06:00

When I started to think about who I was grateful for. Who I was really thankful for, the normal people ran through my head.

There's the sister.
Then there's the mom.
Then there's my awesome friends.
And the list goes on and on.
Seriously, I could probably list the people I'm thankful for and why I'm thankful for them, for a looooonnngg time.

But I knew immediately the person I was most thankful for this year wasn't a single person, but rather a group of women. A community of women. The likes of which I've never seen before. Maybe that's what makes them so special. Because I don't think you can replicate this kind of thing.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm talking about (in)courage. The women that write for it. The women that comment. The love and encouragement I find there. I always. always. come away blessed. Always.

The reason I'm so thankful for them is because some of these posts have literally changed my ENTIRE life. And I'm not saying that for affect. I'm saying that as the truth.

I read Sarah Markley's post (I'm SO sad the entire post isn't up, I think it may have gotten lost in the move to Wordpress :( :( :( ) on January 4th and I was yearning for something different. I had always been that 'good Christian girl' on the outside but struggled and struggled and struggled with having that daily quiet time. With actually being souled out for the cause of Christ. So, I decided that Monday that I was going to do exactly what Sarah did and give God a year. I didn't know what was going to happen, but I basically dared God.

You show up, or bad things are gonna happen.

(Yes, you should be talking to the computer screen saying I am crazy.
Dare? God? That's bad news bears).

I don't want to think it was an ultimatum because deep down in my heart I knew what the problem was.

Me.

Regardless, I dared God and the entire year He's been like,
"Really Rebekah? You thought I wouldn't show up? Look at yourself now."

And so I look, and I'm different.
My heart is different.
My heart is bigger.
My heart is more full of Him and less full of all those lesser things.

Obviously, I know it's because of what God has done. But to me, it's what He has done through these people. Through people that are doing nothing but being the branches. Staying connected to the vine...and bearing fruit. So that God is glorified.

I'm sure they don't realize the impact they've had on me. And they won't. Until Heaven. When they get their crown and there's a jewel because they were faithful to Him. To write. When it hurt. When it cost them pride. When it was the last thing they wanted to do, yet, they did it.

I've learned transparency.
I've learned what it means to step out in faith.
I've learned about obedience.

And God orchestrated it so that when I would read the posts in my reader first thing every morning, He was teaching me whatever it was...other places.
(He's so good like that, and it blows my mind the way He orchestrates things).

This is my comment on that post about stepping out in faith and I think it sums up what (in)courage has taught me.

I’ve learned that confession is good for the soul (God taught me that through you, Sarah). That when you decide to seek Him like you’ve never sought Him before, He. Shows. Up. That it’s okay if you don’t have it all together. That a real relationship with God is not only doable, it’s downright necessary. Mostly, I’ve learned that God can be trusted. Even though I know that sounds silly. It’s taken me a while to learn He always wants the best for us.
My act of bravery is coming up in 10 days as my little sisters leaves for the Philippines to work as a missionary for 3 years. Letting her go is probably the *toughest* thing I’ve ever experienced and as much as I’d like to keep her here so my life would be more comfortable and normal, staying isn’t what God called her to do. Trusting Him through this is taking all that I have but, I’m trusting that His grace is sufficient. And He’s proving me right.

So I'm thankful for
Angie,
Annie,
Bonnie,
Heather,
Lisa-Jo,
Robin,
and Sarah.

Because through their words written in obedience, my life is changed.
And changed lives are what God is all about.

I have some other exciting news that was made possible by (in)courage that I'll share later but basically, I get to go to Deeper Still because of them. And I'm SO FLIPPIN' EXCITED!

Seriously. We'll talk about that later. :)

P.S. I am by no means perfect. Just ask my family.
But I find myself being perfected by the Greatest Perfecter.
And that's enough for me.

what i learned about christmas today

2010-10-25T21:24:00.004-05:00

Last Tuesday I was home sick and sometime that evening I watched one of my favorite movies.

The Family Stone.

I like it for many reasons, not the least of which is that Luke Wilson holds a special place in my heart ever since he was the thoughtful law student in Legally Blonde.

I also love it because it's about Christmas. And who doesn't love Christmas? It has my dream home. I'm pretty sure the Stone's house is my dream home. And all the snow? And the familyness? (Just look past me making up that word). I can appreciate that the Stones have their little family unit and they have their traditions and their dysfunction as does every family. And I love the bigness. Big families. Christmas. Pretty houses. Snow. It doesn't get much better than that.

So, I always cry at the end of that movie, but last week, during some random point in the movie I just started crying. Mostly because I was thinking about how Sarah wasn't going to be home this Christmas. Or the next 3 Christmases. And it seriously tore. open. my. heart. And tear ducts. I was really really really (and a lot more reallys) sad. Really.

I was thinking about waiting at the bottom of the stairs to go upstairs and dig through stockings and presents. Helping with lunch. Staying up watching America's Funniest Home Videos. All the siblings going to the movies on Christmas night. All the stuff that makes us...

Us.

That to me is a huge part of Christmas. It's what I look forward to.

And just thinking about it possibly not being like every other Christmas had me crying.

Fast forward to today, sitting at lunch, doing my Bible study. I'm going through Kelly Minter's 'No Other Gods' and it is so. good. It's reshaping my heart and allowing me to let go of things that I had unknowingly made into idols in my life. Or perhaps knowingly. Either way. It's changing me.

We've talked about idols and why they're bad and how they dethrone God and set us up for false expectations and the point has been driven home again and again that they will never satisfy. They won't. They can't. Eventually, we'll realize that, but it's always better when we realize it sooner rather than later. This week is focused on saying goodbye to those things that we've made as idols.

"I'm finding that when I dwell on a memory or a tradition in an unhealthy dose, it occupies every part of my brain that could otherwise be taking in my surrounding and what God may be trying to reveal to me. There is a place for sentimentality, but I've been a junkie, and living in the moment is a much fuller way to live."

I read that and it slapped me in the face. One of Kelly's (I say that like we're best friends, although, she did reply back to a tweet of mine last week so, perhaps we're on our way to bff-dom?) friends was talking about how she hated Nashville (her new town) for the longest and didn't really enjoy the city because her heart and mind were stuck back in Iowa (her old home).

I realized I did that a lot in Dallas. I had left my heart in Mississippi and wasn't fully living in the Big D.

I think we can do the same thing with memories and traditions.

Of course I'm going to miss my sister on Christmas, but that doesn't mean that God can't make this the best Christmas ever. I want to keep my eyes open to what He has for us this Christmas. Because my heart says, there can be nothing good about a Christmas without Sarah. But at the same time I read God can make anything good.

"With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
- Mark 10:27

All things.

Not some things. Not parts of things.

All things.

Even Christmases without my sister.

And as if that wasn't exactly what I needed to hear Mark goes on to say this:

"So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. "
- Mark 10:29-30 (emphasis mine)

I read that and I can only think how Sister is being obedient to Him. How she left her house, brother, sisters, father, mother, lands--for Christ's sake. For the Gospel's sake. And because of that, because of her obedience, she'll receive not only what she gave up, but all that multiplied by 100. Not only in this life, but in eternity. That blows my mind. That God loves us that much. That He chooses to bless those who honor and obey Him. We don't deserve any of it. Yet He gives it, because He can.

I don't have a big pretty bow to tie this thing up. I just know that my heart is growing. I'm being cleansed from the cobwebs of my former idols. I'm not letting traditions or cherished memories keep me from making new traditions, and new cherished memories. I'm allowing God to do the impossible, the stuff that is only possible with Him.

Like enjoying Christmas this year.

fool me once. shame on you. fool me twice...

2010-10-11T21:20:00.007-05:00

This is going to be short. And I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves. I was putting clothes in the dryer to dewrinkle before work this morning and I look out my kitchen windows that had the blinds open. I see some white paper on the bushes on the side of the house.

I thought that was quite strange.

SO...I walk to the front door.
Open it.
And immediately burst into laughter.

Some of the kids were out of school today for Columbus Day and they took their Sunday night of freedom as an opportunity to stay out late and roll my yard. I did not hear a single bit of it. Which is kind of funny considering I woke up Saturday night thinking someone was breaking into my house.

At least two high school junior girls (that I absolutely love) were responsible for this. And I'm sure others that I don't know about yet.

I'm beginning to think I should stop laughing about it and get on to them so that it won't happen again. Because...two weekends in a row?

Really?

Thoughts?

Ideas for revenge?
(because I am NOT a prankster).

i am so ridiculously blessed.

2010-10-04T21:29:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned last week, this past weekend was our annual D-Now for our county churches. All the sessions were great. I got to pour into 7 11th and 12th grade girls and get to know some other adult ladies better.

:)

Like...the only pictures I got over a 36 hour period. I don't know what my problem was.

The theme was 'Consuming Fire' and the curriculum was on what it means to be authentic in our worship. It explored what worship is, what we worship (sadly, it usually isn't just God), aspects of personal and corporate worship and how the students (and us!) can be authentic and true worshippers.

It also dealt with what it means to be a living sacrifice as described in Romans 12:1-2. We talked about what it means when we're conformed to the world (as too many 'Christians' are), how to renew your mind practically (through the study/meditation/obedience of God's word) and a whole bunch of other stuff. It seriously was awesome and the corporate session with about 450 students from 11 different churches all over the county were great.

Preparing for this weekend was such a ridiculously huge blessing to me. I taught two of the sessions (on renewing your mind practically and the corporate worship session) and it really made me examine how I operate. Was I practicing what I was 'preaching'? I prayed that my words wouldn't just be something I was saying but rather, something that was true. Something that I was actually doing in my own life. Thankfully, it was. But there was some definite stepping on toes (all mine) as I was reading over the lessons in preparation. It's not enough just to be 'doing' these practices, but rather, doing them faithfully.

One of the many funny things that happened over the weekend came as I was teaching the last lesson on corporate worship late Saturday night. I'm sitting in the corner of my living room right beside the window and I hear leaves crunching outside the window. I knew that it was the 9th and 10th grade boys. They were staying in the parsonage which is right down the road and a lot of those boys like me for whatever reason. SO...I told the girls, okay, someone's out in the yard. Do NOT be surprised when they bang on the windows or doors. Sure enough, 5 minutes later BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! Banging on the door. I go to the door and check but they've run away. Well, 20 or so minutes later we hear them again and Tina (the other adult) set her car alarm off and all of a sudden you hear a ton of boys scream and start running. That was quite funny. Just in case they were still around, all of the girls that had cars went and set their car alarms off. I'm sure the neighbors down the road were thinking WHAT is going on?! The next morning I walk out to this.

I think they did quite a good job. And people kept asking me at church yesterday if I was upset. I personally take it as a sign of love. My dad always says he wouldn't give me a hard time unless he loved me. So that's the way I think of it.

Also, the 9th and 10th grade girls went on some kind of upgrade scavenger hunt where they start with one item and they go around to places and try to find something bigger/better/worth more than what they have. And you don't get whatever you give them back.

So, I have 5 teenagers bust up in the house asking if I had something better than this.

In case you can't tell...that's a 2 1/2 inch tall rooster with fruit surrounding it. I don't get it. And it makes me wonder WHERE in the world they got this from?

So...I gave them this. That may not be the actual lamp, but it's very similar. I got two of them for like $5 each at Wal-Mart last year. And that one wasn't being used so it's all good. :) Evidently my lamp got another lamp and that's it. But the group that came and saw me 'cheated' because they weren't supposed to go to people's houses that they knew. Oh well! I know they had fun :)

One of the other teams managed to get a brand new sewing machine that was valued at $99 and a huge MS State umbrella.

Is that not crazy???

Tomorrow is my one-year anniversary at CDF! Is that not crazy too?? Crazy. I told my co-workers in staff meeting this morning that it has seriously been the best year of my working adult life :) So so so blessed to be there and do what we do and to get to work with such awesome people.

Lastly, this scripture has been on my mind for the past week and a half or so, just had to share. I love the way The Message puts it -

"But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives."
- 1 Peter 2:9-12

Are we living exemplary lives so that others will see our actions and whatever the negative things they think about Christians will be overturned? Are we living holy and set-apart lives? Lives that don't look like the world's? Just a thought.

Hope everyone had a good weekend! :)

take that cupcake! {wreath}

2010-09-29T13:15:00.000-05:00

I had to give you a little update on the craft debacle from last week.

Last night I had just eaten a really late dinner and gone through the mail that had accumulated on my dining room table and was kind of cleaning off the counters when I saw the glue sticks that I bought Saturday. The glue sticks had been the first thing to go awry. I had bought the wrong size to go in my glue gun on Friday night. Thankfully, there were two sticks that came with the gun so that's what I worked with that night.

Then, I called in reinforcements, because folding those cupcake wrappers was hard work and I figured if I could have somebody folding while I was glueing. We'd be good.

We were off to a good beginning. Mawmaw was folding and I was hot-glueing like a craftin' fool. Occasionally yelping because hot glue on your fingertips is no laughing matter.

So...Friday night ends and Mawmaw and I have folded 150 cupcake wrappers to end up with this.

That, my friends, looks like a ring that a miniature lion would jump through or something. It was awful. (And that picture was taken in my kitchen in case you were confused by the change in venues.)

THAT - I could not hang on my door.
THAT - I debated even showing you a picture of.
Because...seriously...punyness abounded.
BUT sometimes you have to let others see your failures so they can see how far you've come.

{Hint Hint - There's a lesson about more than crafts and DIY things in that last sentence.}

So...back to last night. I was standing there, looking at the glue sticks, really trying to avoid hanging a ton of clothes up when I decided I would NOT let the cupcake wreath defeat me. I would conquer the craft! I was not to be relegated to the craft hall of shame. WAS. NOT.

So, I plugged that sucker in and folded 150 more cupcake liners all by myself and I started in on slaying that thing. Whilst jamming to some John Mayer. But only the last 6 songs on Continuum because my cd is cracked and it won't play the first 6 songs. Sad day.

Anyway, after even more hot glue injuries and listening to the same last 6 songs about 8 times, all the while contemplating what lyrics I should make my Facebook status...this is what I had come up with.

And y'all, not only did I get the best of the cupcake liners BUT I made 4 little rosettes and put them on a doily and glued them at the bottom. Given, they aren't the best rosettes I've ever seen, but I didn't even know how to make them and I was just playing around with the ribbon, so I was quite proud. It's the little things that get me.

And it's a wreath I'd be proud to hang on my door.

Although - it looks really orange. Is that just me? And I'm thinking about ripping off the polka-dot ribbon and just using the brown ribbon that the rosettes are made of. But who knows.

I'm just glad I can hold my head high while reading crafting blogs.

Fall, Blog Design and More Random Things

2010-09-27T18:20:00.012-05:00

Happy Fall, y'all!

First off, let me apologize in advance for this post because it is about to be all over the place.

1 - If you've been around my little corner of the interwebz long, you might notice that we (by we, I mean, the blog) got a new fresh fall look! I am LOVING the background. Golden and dots just say 'fall' to me. And evidently, they aren't viewable on the mobile version? Because...on my iPhone it just looks tan. So...anyway.

AND you might notice the new banner up at the top! Am I the only one that thinks that looks super cool? Hopefully not. What's even cooler? I DID IT MYSELF! This whole blog redesign (there's more to come) is courtesy of these super-helpful tutorials over at Mandy's Yellow Corner. YES! She rocks!! And I don't even really remember how I found it, but I think it involved trying to make a wreath...more on that in a sec. Anyway, the blog looks awesomer (yes, I know, it's not a word) because of her and her great instructions! Also, the fonts I used in the banner came from here. I also created a blog button (with the help of Mandy again) for Sarah's blog and it's right over there -->

I don't necessarily know if Sarah approves, but...I'm the ~~handler~~ sister, so, let's just go with it.

2 - I decided last Friday that I was going to make a wreath after seeing these cupcake wreaths. Let me just say, that either all my craftiness has left me since college or...I'm silly. My wreath looked rather puny compared to theirs and this made me all forms of sad. The reason I was trying to make a new wreath is because this is the wreath that has been hanging on my door for at least the past 13 years. At least.

You see why it needs to be replaced? I mean, I love that wreath. That wreath was my Mawmaw and Pawpaw's, but...that wreath needs a break! I won't show you a picture of my attempt at the cupcake wreath. I'm just too ashamed.

3 - Have I told you how much I love this time of the year? Fall is MOST DEF my favorite time of the year. Ugh, LOVE. IT. I always wanted to fall in love in the fall. I mean, I've never fallen in love, so who's to say it won't happen, but now I'm just rambling. I say all this because Fall also makes me want to buy school supplies. (You've Got Mail anybody?) And yesterday during bible study we were talking about the greatest gift we've ever been given. Apart from salvation. Because...that's obvious. And I decided that the greatest gift I've ever been given is this -

It's a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils (again...with the YGM) that I received about 2 years ago from my very dear friend and neighbor Molly. And the ribbon was tied much prettier than in this picture. I don't particularly know why a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils is the greatest gift but let's just say that I arrived home from working in Albuquerque one week and it just so happened to be the day that I got called a crazy Christian by a co-worker (and I wasn't really that upset, but I definitely needed some encouragement at the moment) and I open a package that I had received in the mail from Mississippi and that's what was inside. And I just burst into tears. I remember it like it was yesterday. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by awesome friends. And at that moment I wasn't even surrounded by them physically...I was 600 miles away, but, again, with the awesome friends. They are the best.

And as if that isn't enough, her husband blew off my walk the other day where I trimmed the hedges. My other awesome friends let me use their electric hedge trimmer thing (what's the appropriate word??) and it did not take 5 hours, but rather, 35 minutes. Anyway, the following Saturday when I went to clean them up, Matt had blown them off the walk that morning. I texted Molly and said something to the affect of "Did you or your husband do this? Because...you really need to stop being so sweet because I'll never be able to repay you for this lawn kindness." (or something like that). Of course, they did and Matt said not to worry because, of course, they don't expect me to repay them. They just love me. Is that not the sweetest? I mean...really. The sweetest.
They are much more even than last year. :)

4 - I accidentally killed a cat last week. It was possibly one of the most traumatizing experiences I've ever had. What's even worse is that I go to church with the owners. I ran over it on my way home :( It was running away and then all of a sudden it doubled-back and I couldn't slam on my brakes. It was so tragic. Anytime I've seen cats since then it's like they're looking at me saying 'Killer. Killer.' And now that I think about it-Wendy, the neighborhood cat, has not visited my house since then. I bet she found out. I don't blame you Wendy. I'd stay away too. :S

5 - Never in my adult life, or non-adult life for that matter, have I ever washed clothes using bleach. That all changed tonight. I washed my pretty white waffle-weave shower curtain and I put some bleach (after conferring with my mother) in the machine as well. The only bad thing is that I read the instructions for washing the shower curtain AFTER I had put the detergent and bleach in the washing machine. It most definitely said, 'DO NOT BLEACH.' But...I think we're going to be okay. I mean...really. What could happen?

6 - I have become something of a fantasy football phenom. My team, The Controllers, is dominating (points wise) in my 12-team league at work. Albeit...I'm 2-1, but...the game I lost was close. And I think I've become known as the team to beat. I go up against the only undefeated team this coming week. She said she needed to figure something out or she's going down.

At least she realizes it.

{And is that not a clever team name? I mean...my job title as a team name?? It's clever. You should be nodding right now.}

7 - D-NOW is this weekend!! WOOT WOOT! I'm so excited. Last year, Molly and I had the 10th grade girls at my house. This year, a different group of women and I have the 11th and 12th grade girls at my house. I've been prepping the past two weeks or so and the curriculum is absolutely fantastic. I want so bad for these girls to 'get' what I didn't 'get' until the past year. To be living a life of victory over Satan. A life of authentic worship (that's the curriculum). Every day. Please pray with me for them? They are such sweet girls and some of them are already MILES ahead of where I was when I was there age, but, everyone could use prayer. :)

The end. Hope y'alls Monday was as good as mine! :)

P.S. Texted came up in the spell-check. Come on Blogger. Get with the program!

encouragement is...

2010-09-11T12:35:00.029-05:00

encouragement is...

a hug in the airport when you're sending your daughter to the other side of the world.
sending a card to show someone you care.
that you value them.
that you value their sacrifice of a 'normal' life in the u.s. to bring Hope to filipinos.

encouragement is...

investing in the lives of the next generation.
telling them they are loved.
they are cared for.
they are beautiful.
even in their dress-up shoes.
and when they want to let the forks dance.

encouragement is...

cheering on your 7 yr. old cousin in pee-wee tackle football.
yelling "split the v. dot the i. curl the c. t-o-r-y. t-o-r-y. victory!"
a hug and a high-five after the game for all their hard work.

it's a friendly smile when you're new and you don't know if what you're doing is right.
it's a shared squall-fest when you know all they want is someone to cry with.
it's an "i've been there and you're going to make it through this."
it's letting a little boy know when they hold a door for you, that you appreciate it.
it's telling that boys' parents that
"you're raising him well. keep on doing what you're doing."
it's commenting on a blog and letting them know what they wrote spoke to you.
it's an email from one of your favorite bloggers saying, "what you said meant so much. thanks."
it's anything that makes the person on the receiving end want to keep on keeping on.
___________________________________________

sunday september 12th is the 'national day of encouragement'.
(in)courage and dayspring gave their readers an awesome opportunity to spread hope and encouragement by sending hundreds of readers a 10-pack of their new 'hope and encouragement' cards.
for free.
i received my pack this past tuesday and the cards are absolutely beautiful.
i've already mailed two overseas to two special people.
(those are the pictures above).
there are others that i have in mind to get my free cards.
thanks so much for enabling us to encourage others through these awesome cards.
it made my week. for real.

if you haven't visited (in)courage, please do.
those women have changed my life in the words they've written over the past year since i've discovered it.
being open and honest about their struggles.
their victories.
everything.

i joke with people that my spiritual gift is encouragement/exhortation.
they think i'm crazy, but it's true.
when i encourage someone, i always feel as if i've received a blessing rather than been a blessing.
i'm so thankful that's one of the gifts God has given me.
i'm so thankful that He lets me uses it.
He...encourages me to use it through nudges of His spirit inside me.
(say this. go hug them. just be there for them.)
that's what i hear.

if you're visiting from the link-up at (in)courage, thanks for stopping by.
you've encouraged me.
:)

___________________________________________

how do you encourage others?

crazy, how time flies.

2010-09-09T20:22:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow changed everything.

Well...today, if you're not reading this until Friday, September 10th.

Anyway, tomorrow, a year ago, I got a phone call.

A phone call that I had been waiting on for months.

A phone call that led me back to Mississippi.

But not in the way that I thought.

I've come to realize over the past year that God rarely works in the ways we think are best. Something about that sounds biblical.
Isaiah 55:8 anyone?
I know, I know...why have I not realized that until the last year?

Call me hard-headed.

That's only one of the things I've realized over the past year since this crazy adventure got started.

Other things include:
- nieces are so much funnier in person
- sometimes hugging a friend after a long time apart makes it feel as if it hasn't really been that long
- there are jobs where your co-workers care about you and aren't just acquaintances but rather, friends.
- there are jobs where you can actually leave work at work and not stress every night about what needs to get done.
- lots of other things that if included would make this list would go on for a long time because there's just SO MUCH.

I'm so glad that God never stops working on us.

That we're continually being conformed more and more into His image.

That's all I got.

Well, not actually. You should totally watch this video because it's pretty cool!! Except, watch it without the sound because the sound was annoying to me.

I know...how do you write something that wonderful and meaningful then end it with a Pac-Man video?

I don't know.

But wait, it's not over.

Compassion has a group of bloggers in Guatemala this week. Reading the bloggers posts back in the spring is what led me to sponsor a child in Kenya (Lillian. She's cute. And has the same birthday as me. AND she has 2 sisters and a brother. Crazy!! Not crazy...God, but you know, that's the word I use when I'm left without words).

Anyway, I read Ann Voskamp's post this morning at work and if you don't finish reading this post just to go read that...do it. Oh my goodness, usually I don't get her posts because she uses words that to me are too 'flowery' and big (I bet y'all are smarter than me and can 'get it' :) ) and my little mind doesn't get analogy well...but man alive, that post. If you haven't read it yet...seriously...go read it. I just linked to the same post 4 times because I want you to read it!

And, you'll probably need a tissue.

Also, Shaun Grove's post was awesome as well. I totally get the Long Distance/Slow Violence thing. So so sad.

Can you help? Can your family sponsor a child? More than one? It's so rewarding. I've received two letters from Lillian and they just make my heart happy.

SO...this is actually the end of the post. Y'all please consider sponsoring a Compassion child. Whether in Guatemala or Asia, Africa. Just...somewhere.

Help end poverty.

Help bring justice to the impoverished children of the world.

Help bring Hope to these kids. :)

The end.

sweet sixteen.

2010-09-06T20:41:00.021-05:00

It was a super busy weeekend!

Friday night was the football game.

Then Saturday a bunch of girls from church who I'm privileged to call my friends from a completely different generation, got together to celebrate Chelsea's Sweet 16.

She had actually turned 16 the Tuesday before that but a proper Sweet 16 celebration could not be had on a weeknight! ;) So, we celebrated by having breakfast at IHOP, going to see Despicable Me, spent some time shopping, grabbed a snack, then rode the carousel. Followed by a much-deserved Saturday afternoon nap (at least that last part was me.) :) Here are some pictures from our day.

This man was just sitting out on his swing waving at every single car that passed by. Made me wonder if he does that all the time. Am I'm not talking about one of those little 'Hey, how ya doin' waves' that we're partial to in the south. This was a full-out 'Hey, I hope you're having a great day and I want you to see me and wave back' waves.

Birthday girl!
She reminds me a lot of myself at 16.
She talks.
A. LOT.
She never meets a stranger.

But on the flip-side, she has a passion for bringing people to Christ that I did not have at that age. A while ago, I was talking to her about Ricky, a homeless guy who I helped out last winter. I hadn't seem him in months and he just popped in my head one night. I was sad because I had never outright asked him if he was saved or knew about God, church, anything. Chelsea said, "Well Bekah, that's why you should ask people about God the first time you meet them. You may not get a second chance."

That really stuck with me. I'm all for building relationships and actually getting to know a person and witnessing to them by showing them love, but sometimes, you just have to come right out and ask. She reminded me of that.

Mostly everybody got chocolate chip pancakes. YUM!

We went and saw Despicable Me and it was ADORABLE!
If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
SO. CUTE.
It has so many cute one-liners that I can't even remember them all, but a little girl, Agnes, really steals the show. :)

We took a mirror picture in the bathroom.
Mainly because I had never done it before and this was a day all about having fun and feeling free and...so...we did. :)
The quality isn't that great. But...oh well. :)

This is our silly faces mirror bathroom pic.

I just love this pic because of the stripes.

They are such teenagers. Love it.

Since we were already at the mall, we did some afternoon shopping.
Cori is such a model and was trying to decide on this hat.
She didn't buy it that day, but eventually winded up going back the next day and getting it.
Ha!

I love this pic. Minus the price tag.
Charlotte Russe had some beautiful jewelry.
I got a bracelet that I love.
And I'm not entirely sure this is legal.
Taking pictures in a store, that is. :-/

$2.99? For some cute clothes?
Yes.
Please.
And thank you. :)

Our breakfast had kind of worn off so we snacked on some pretzel from the pretzel shop.
I got a cinnamon sugar one.
Oh my goodness, it was sooooooooooo good.

The carousel at the mall.
This may be one of my favorite pictures that I've ever taken.
And I've taken a LOT of pictures.
The girls rode while Molly, Kristin and I stood and watched.
But all the pictures of them actually riding are really blurry.

Second favorite picture I've ever taken. I think. I don't know. I just love it.

All in all, it was one of the best Saturdays I've had in a really long time.
Who knew that hanging out with 6 girls that are 10 years younger than you could be so much fun? We're going to have to do it again really soon.
Birthday celebrations or not.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

this is how i spent my friday night.

2010-09-06T19:11:00.029-05:00

Many moons ago {in reality...it was as little as 5 years ago} I spent every Saturday in a band uniform. See Exhibit A below.

Yowsa, that's a bad picture. That's me, second from the left.

Before that, I spent 5 years of Friday nights in a band uniform. {I was in the high school band in 8th grade...I was quite good.} There are no pictures of me back then. Well...at least not handy. There are and I'd rather not go back and relive those days!

Before THAT I spent my Friday nights being a band groupie when my oldest sister, Leah, was in high school. I'd hold music for band members in the stands. I worked in the concession stand. I was quite good at making popcorn. I was all-around awesome. And I had multiple crushes (I was 9 or 10) on Leah's friends. Nothing like a teenager with bad acne that played an instrument to make a girl swoon. HA! :)

With all that being said, I love football. There's nothing like the feeling of sitting under the Friday night lights and watching boys take their teen angst out on the opposing team. However, I have not been to a high school football game in 3 years! Until Friday night.

Our youth pastor's son is the star quarterback at a local high school, one of his daughters is a cheerleader. Another younger girl from youth group was a cheerleader for the opposing team. We go to church with one of the coaches from the opposing team. So, I figured I'd go to this one. Here are some pictures of my night and boy how it made me feel young again. I absolutely love the smell of hamburgers being grilled, the sounds of the band and cheerleaders, not so much the smell of the boys (we were standing on the fences because there were NO seats available in the stands...it was a rival game and we got there 45 minutes early and still there were no seats. crazy). It is all fabulous.

a dog most definitely got on the field.

mooreville's team coming out. they were swaying and it was scary.
very intimidating.

look at this sunset!!!! is that not ridiculously gorgeous??

ridiculously gorgeous sunset, again.

mantachie was about to score a touchdown.

helmets held high when they were about to kick-off after scoring the aforementioned touchdown.

my good friend, holli. this is a great picture of us if i do say so myself.

there's not much better than being surrounded by great friends.

this random little kid was sitting next to us.
i looked down and this is the face he was making.

chelsea! she's the cheerleader for mooreville.
we were pulling for mantachie.
such a cutie.

is this not one of the most adorable children ever?!?
her name is emma, and we go to church together.
she refuses to speak to me.
one day she will.
one day.

love these girls!
kelsy and madi, who i also go to church with.
madi is the only of the youth pastor's children that wasn't on the field.
they are best friends.
such sweeties.

that's dalton.
i really like this picture.
by this point, they were getting beat pretty badly :(
but, this boy is a winner regardless of what the scoreboard says.
he's one of the few boys i've seen that has a winning attitude despite losing.
he's a leader of that team and i'm so proud of him.

my good friend, lilly.
we took like 6 or 7 pictures and this was the best one. :S

this is lilly and her fiance, les.
they both went to mantachie and are getting married in less than 2 months!
they're such a funny couple.

holli and her husband, brandon.
he went to mantachie.
holli went to fulton with me and we played softball together.
we weren't that great of friends back then but now we're tight.
like...something that's tight. :)

molly and matt.
they're my neighbors.
and molly and lilly are sisters.
i've known matt since junior high and molly for the past 5 or 6 years probably.
they're the sweetest couple i have ever known.
you think i'm exaggerating, but i'm not.
i don't remember if i've mentioned their housewarming last weekend, but molly has an interior design degree and she did a fabulous job designing the interiors. ha.
it looks like a pottery barn catalog except better.
awesomeness.

i have no idea who #15 is, but #21 is trent.
that boy has an awesome testimony about what God has delivered him from.
and he's only 15!
i don't remember if this is right before or right after he scored one of the last touchdowns for mantachie.
it was a special touchdown because they had just buried his grandmother that afternoon.
he wanted to score a touchdown for her and he did.
so so so sad.
that family has been such a light for Christ during this tough time.
they're one of the best families i know.
no joke.

game over.
mooreville won.
chelsea was picking up trash.

overall, it was one of the best friday nights i've had in the past 8 years.
i'm definitely looking forward to making it to some more games this season.

eventually i'll get caught up.

2010-08-30T19:29:00.008-05:00

There's a cute little video over at the sister's. Seriously. Cute.

Here are some pictures from our goodbyes last week.

Ugh. Tear. :(

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..."
- Ephesians 3:20

a short something.

2010-08-21T13:33:00.002-05:00

It's Sarah's last weekend in the States (FOR THREE YEARS) and so we're having Christmas/Thanksgiving Dinner in about 20 minutes.

Let me just say she'll never forget this one. Just starting off with the following reasons:

- The toilet upstairs wasn't working. Dad did something and discovered one of Hadley's plastic donuts in it. All was then well with the world.

- Sarah's boyfriend (newly acquired...he's cute, and sweet, more to come on him later) works for a tree cutting service. He and Dad decided while he was visiting this weekend that they'd cut some trees down in the back that needed to be cut before they fell on the house (they're dead and rotting and stuff).

Well...after a successful day 1 of cutting trees, one of the last trees they were cutting somehow managed to, instead of falling where it was lined up to fall, fall on the deck.

Yes.

The deck.

Thankfully, it only busted part of the railing and not the whole deck and no one was injured.

Everybody's freaking out about it and telling me that Chris is going to feel bad.

I choose to laugh because everyone's okay and the deck will live to see another day. That's what matters.

Someday this is going to be a really funny story.

"Remember that time Chris cut the tree and it fell and busted the deck?"

And we'll remember these special moments before Sister left to go to the other side of the world and smile.

There's more funny things yet to come. Aunt Becky and her crew will be over here shortly, then tonight we're going to see a movie like we always do on Thanksgiving and Christmas night.

I'll be sure to keep you updated. :)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
-isaiah 55:8

the one with some more cool pictures. it needs to stop.

2010-08-09T21:31:00.010-05:00

I'm guest blogging over at the Sister's today. Can I just say I feel ridiculously important when I type that? Like I belong at (in)courage or...some other ultra-cool place. :) Here are a few snapshots from my weekend and Monday. I'm still in love with the Hipstamatic app.

Love. It. :) Enjoy!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE.
Is that...bad?
In Downtown Tupelo?
Yes.
Crazy cool.

This one too. The Firestone never looked so cool. Ha, get it? Cool? Fire? :) Sorry.

All Hadley wanted for dinner was CAKE! It was Nana's birthday last Thursday and this is some leftover cake. What's funny is she really only ate the whipped icing. She picked it off...and then ate the cake when Nana made her :)

SUH-WEEEET! Ugh, I just melt when I see that face! :)

Hope y'all have had an awesome start to your week! :D

the one with the wedding reception where i got creative with the pictures...

2010-08-01T20:49:00.017-05:00

So I was blessed to be able to go to Conway, Arkansas for Jordan's wedding this weekend. She started out as Sarah's friend and I kind of stole her to where she was my friend too. ;) I took a ton of picture with my NEW iPHONE 4 (yayy!!!!!) and this super ridiculously cool app called 'Hipstamatic'. So, I'm just going to let the pictures speak for themselves and I'll throw in a few words if necessary. :)

Oh, I forgot to mention Jordan (the bride) is a Christmas NUT!! She absolutely loves Christmas. Loves. It. So her reception was 'Christmas in July' :) What a cute idea! :) Enjoy!

Just 3 of the...9? 10? Christmas Trees at the reception :)

I love love love this picture. I had been trying ALL evening to get a picture of her from behind and finally got it. Ugh, love it.

This sort of reminds me of one of those pictures from 'The Ring'. Ugh, movie completely freaked me out. Leah and I had to watch 'Blue Crush' after watching 'The Ring' because we were so freaked out and would NOT go to sleep. Really...that movie is scary. But...this picture reminds me of some of those pictures in the video tape movie thing. In a totally nice way though. ;)

First dance. I LOVE this picture. Love it.

I HAD to get a picture with sister! I'm pretty sure that is a big ole fake smile plastered on my face. Don't particularly know why? Weird.

Flower girls :) And Sarah and Carli ;)

I just like this picture. They were talking and I just stuck my hand up in the air. I dunno.

Talk about a HAM! :) This is Toya's son, Turner.

That kid always has a story. He's also sang me a song about a sewer to the tune of something familiar that I can't think of right now. That's going to drive me nuts until I remember it.

And there's Toya! I think the look on Turner's face is priceless :)

Is my sister not gorgeous?? Plus the bridesmaid dresses were pretty anyway. :)

We were walking back into the reception after Jordan and Marty had left and I just happened to snap this picture. Lynzie was one of the maids of honor and is too ridiculously sweet and Nathan is a big 'ole goofball but the best thing about them is their love for the Lord. I'm so blessed to know them and everyone that was a part of this wedding. :)