redeemed giveaway winner

We have a winner of the DaySpring Truly Treasured wallet -

It's Molly T! Otherwise known as one of my nearest and dearest friends. I can't think of a more deserving lady. I sent her a text to know she won and she was so excited and thankful. :) Her genuineness is one of the many reasons I absolutely adore her.

My mom on the other hand was disappointed.

;)

Now that my blog is not broken I shall try to blog more often. I think it might have had something to do with my browser?  That's kind of annoying, but I switched it up and it seems to be fine. :)

I cannot believe tomorrow is May 1st.

Sigh.

:)

Congratulations Molly!

DaySpring Redeemed Review {and GIVEAWAY}!!!

Evidently I enjoy doing DaySpring product reviews  for (in)courage's (in)spired deals program during  the month of April? Random, I know. Please {please} hang with me for your chance to win some awesomeness at the end. I'll try to make this as painless as possible. 

For the longest time I thought my bad choices, my mistakes, my troublesome situations, every way I had messed up in the past would remain this ugly junk that when I looked back at it, I just wanted to hide. I think we all have those hurting, broken places that we think will stay that way forever. Or maybe it wasn't even a bad choice, but a result of someone else's choices that we paid the consequences for. I'm quite sure we've all had those moments of saying, maybe not aloud, but at least in our head,

 "God...nothing good can come of this. This situation is beyond hope and...I know You're God but...good luck 'fixing' this." 

And if you haven't said that? Well...ummm...just go with me anyway. 

 One of my biggest "whatcha gonna do God" moments happened last April. The first Tuesday of that month {it was the 5th, I know this because my bff in Dallas had her little baby girl that morning...and...I could go back and check the calendar :) } I announced to my co-workers that I was leaving my current job and going to do something else. I didn't know what the something else was...but it wasn't with them. 

It was perhaps the scariest thing I'd ever done. I had complete faith at the time that God was going to show up and show OFF and BOOM give me a job like that because...well, He's God and He can do that. 

Then months go by. 

And I babysit kids.

 

And I think...

"Ummm...God? ANY DAY NOW would be great. I mean really...You don't have to wait any more!"

And more months go by. 

And I get a job substituting. 

I absolutely love it.  I begin to see the steps I have to take to do what I feel God has called me to do. {Be a Math teacher.}It includes taking this big monstrous ridiculously scary test that includes math that I haven't done in 9 years and passing it. Along with another not AS scary, but scary nonetheless, three-part test and passing IT. 

So I study and study, hours and hours...studying. 

I think it ended up being probably close to 80 hours of studying. 

At least.

Then in January I take my test and I think

"Well, everyone says it is hard and you always do better than you think. 

I know I'm supposed to be teaching. 

I know this is where God wants me.

So I HAVE to had passed."

 Another month goes by and I find out I didn't pass. 

I think...

"REALLY. I'M REALLY SERIOUS THIS TIME GOD. WHAT is going on??"

{I have a slight flare for the dramatic. And being stupid.}

So I set out to take the test again in March. I study my calculus, not as much as I should have, but enough to have a basic understanding of the category that I got a big fat ZERO in on my first test. 

I take the test and feel much more comfortable about it this time. It's the biggest obstacle keeping me from what I know God wants me to do. And if I don't pass, I honestly have no idea what I'm going to do.

 

Fast-forward to this April. I'm supposed to get my results and I feel like I'm going to throw up for most of the weeks in between the test and getting these results. 

The morning of April 3rd. 

The first Tuesday of that month. 

Exactly a year since I made my announcement. 

I'm subbing at the local junior high that day. 

They had asked me 2 or 3 weeks prior. 

3 or 4 other people had later asked me to sub that day, but I was already taken. 

Subbing junior high math. 

That's the day I wake up at 4:30 and navigate my phone to the ETS website. My stomach aflutter. 

I click the link to find my scores. 

I had passed.

Isn't that just like God? 

To work out the details of actually subbing math that day and it having been exactly a year since I gave Him control of my future. 

All the waiting. All the pain. All the hurt. All the days of doubt and tears and wondering when He was going to make something beautiful of my big ole mess.

It had finally arrived. 

In His time. 

He had redeemed it and boy was it beautiful.  

When I came home that day I discovered a package from DaySpring. 

It included their beautiful vintage glass vase and a set of ceramic coasters that have served to remind me that He does make everything beautiful in its time. 

That in ALL things He works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. 

All things. Including the things we have to wait for. 

Sometimes a whole year. 

He redeems.

I love love love the vase. It's sitting on our kitchen table right now and it reminds me of an old mason jar. It goes great with our country kitchen. Really it would look good in any kitchen, or living room or...anywhere. It's an anywhere-it-is-it's-beautiful thing. It says "He has made everything beautiful in its time" on one side and on the opposite "Beautiful". Maybe it reminds me of an old milk jar. The kind that the milk man actually delivered. Not that we had a milk man at any time in my life, but I've seen those jars before. Totally. love. it. OH, and to give you an idea, it's about 4 inches wide and 9 inches tall.

The coasters are just as lovely. And much needed because if there's one thing I got in trouble for the most as a kid, it's not putting my sweating drink on a coaster. ;) I still get in trouble for that NOW. :-/  They're colorful and big enough for your biggest drinks and look GOOD. {Did you see those pictures up there?}

SO...

Don't you want something gorgeous to remind you that God redeems those broken hurting things? 

Well, DaySpring has given me the chance to give away this Redeemed Truly Treasured wallet. 

 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS THING.  

I basically love everything in this Redeemed line.

I don't want to say I'm coveting almost every single piece of jewelry in the line, but...I ain't gonna lie. I am.

Especially a few necklaces and the "Trust" ring.  

Sigh. LOVELINESS. 

So...to win the wallet you have a couple of choices on how to enter. 

{a}  Have a look at the fabulous products in the DaySpring Redeemed line and come back here and tell me which one is your favorite!

{b}  Tweet about this giveaway or share the link on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did. 

{c}  Share with us some words about what the word "redeemed" means to you. Maybe a verse or...just anything you feel like sharing.

{d}  What's your favorite "redeemed" song? Let us know in the comments. {Mine is Selah's Unredeemed. I cry almost every time I hear it.}

That's four different ways to win!

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do. 

I'll leave the giveaway open til 10:00 p.m. CST on Monday, April 30th and choose a winner using random.org.

**Disclosures: The vase and coasters were given to me for free by DaySpring in exchange for my honest review. The winner will receive a coupon code for one Truly Treasured Wallet. The code expires on July 31, 2012. Shipping charges will apply.**

Good luck y'all. :)

test #2

I think somehow my blog was broken.

But I think it's fixed?

So...this is a second test post because the first one didn't work out.

;)

test post

if you're weary...

Hiya there.

My name's Rebekah.

I feel the need to reintroduce myself to you since it's been like, oh...2 MONTHS since I've blogged.

:-/

Honestly? I'm weary.

Like...soul...tired.

And body tired.

It's not that Jesus hasn't been close, because He has. I just feel like it's been one thing after another the past month or so. To catch you up, I found out at the second week in February that I didn't pass my big test. :( I know, tragic.

I needed a 123 and made a 109. 'Tis not the end of the world, but, it definitely had me feeling defeated. Boo.

I'm taking the test again in a week and a half. So, prayers definitely appreciated. :)

I guess what finally gave me the strength to blog is we were talking about standing firm tonight at church. The text was Philippians 4:1 and it was just the encouragement I needed to hold on just a little longer. It's been that way. Every time I've wanted to throw in the towel and say, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH." He's shown me, that He is enough. His strength really IS made perfect in our weakness. He really does give us the grace to face each day. And while trying to live life for Him really IS hard. It really IS worth it.

I'm thankful tonight that He is able to refresh our soul. That He meets our needs in a way that no one else can nor ever will.


I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. {Jer. 31.25}

praying for a set-up

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...

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...

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

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.

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...

"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...

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}

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

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}

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

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.

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...

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

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.