In with the NEW

You know how there is that one thing that you've dreamed of for a really long time? It may be a trip to Paris or Hawaii...new camera or granite counter tops. It's just that thing that you've thought of over and over again. Well for Honey his dream came true this weekend:)






After years of wanting a black car he finally got his wish:) It was time. His old Nissan Ultima had tons of miles on it. We've had it since Big Chick was wee little. So we packed up the kiddos...said our (pretend) tearful goodbyes to the old and welcomed in the new.










Could he look any happier? I thought his face might freeze that way;) It was a glorious moment. I kind of chuckled to myself on the inside. It was so nice to see him that happy. We had the car (Hyundai Sonota) ordered in from another state, so he hadn't actually seen it in person. But it lived up to his ideal...that's always a good thing.

I hate admitting this, but for some reason I felt extremely irritable and depressed all day long. Even today I feel icky on the inside. I can't blame hormones. All I can think of is the lack of sunshine we've been having lately. I soooo feel for all my Pacific Northwest friends. Can you have SAD in the summer? Is that even possible? Or maybe it's the humidity and what it's doing to my hair that's making me down...ha;) Not sure, but I'm definitely in a funk. HATE that.

Big chick started a 5th and 6th grade youth group at church this morning. That's weird for me. Seems like yesterday I was in youth group. That's where I met Honey. Strange. Isn't she cute in her "glasses"?? When I was growing up I used to put a frilly petticoat slip thing on my hair and pretend that I had long flowing locks. Oh the good ol' days. Did you do stuff like that too??

Have a blessed day.

Team Mates

My friend's husband got a chance recently to visit Billy Graham in his home in North Carolina. It was a chance of lifetime for him. She sent me a picture of the two of them and it literally gave me goosebumps. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for this man. He devoted his whole life to telling others about Jesus. He seemed to escape the public scrutiny and scandal that so many other evangelists fall prey too. I've just always had the deepest respect for him and his family.

I don't know how many Billy Graham crusades I watched growing up. My eyes tearing up as hundreds would make their way down the aisles to dedicate their lives to the Lord. The sweet hymn "Just as I am" playing in the background. It was powerful and the message was pretty much always the same. The Gospel...pure and simple.

{Hanging in their home}

I've been reading the book Footprints of a Pilgrim. It's a compilation of stories and poems written by Ruth Bell Graham. In it she reflects on her life and retells how she fell in love with Billy while they were in college at Wheaton. It's just a sweet story. But what really caught my attention were a few poems she wrote about the separation she struggled with while he traveled.

We live in a time

secure;

beloved and loving,

sure

it cannot last long

then-

the good-byes come

again-again-

like a small death,

the closing of a door.

One learns to live

with pain.

One looks ahead,

not back-

never back,

only before.

And joy will come again-

warm and secure,

if only for the now,

laughing,

we endure.

{Ruth following behind Billy...it says something like "Where He leads you I will follow"}

How often do we think about the spouse at home waiting?? This had to have been a huge issue and hardship for her. I have two very dear friends whose husbands travel extensively. They both talk to me a lot about how lonely they are and how they feel left behind. It's hard to know what to say to comfort them because I'm not in that situation. But I think Billy summed it up best when he said, "Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team," "No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.



Just think how important she was to him. I know that God puts us together with our mates. He definitely has a plan and knows the paths our lives will take. Her ministry quite possibly was to just be there...to pray for and encourage him from a distance. What an amazing team they made indeed.

Have a blessed day.

#2 Photo found

here. All others taken at Billy Graham's home. Poem found in Footprints of a Pilgrim by Ruth Bell Graham.

Bouquet from heaven

Remember recently when my mom and dad left and I was really sad?? Well later that morning I went down into my studio and was creating. While I was down there I got the sweetest email from a reader. She told me how she was getting ready to adopt a teenager from another country, and how she was leaving her other two children behind for a really long time in order to do this...and it was scary. Even though God told her to do it, she was struggling. She wanted to buy my love bravely necklace.





I felt really impressed that I was just supposed to give it to her. He puts things like that on my heart every now and then, so I emailed her back and she was just elated.


Well within minutes of my decision to bless her I got blessed myself. My neighbor brought over this gorgeous bouquet of peonies just for me. I was overwhelmed. They were just what I needed to brighten my lonely day:)


I am amazed at how the Lord works. He cares so much for us that it's like a chain reaction. If you listen to His voice and obey, He will pour that back into your life and it keeps going and going. If it hadn't been within minutes I might not have recognized His involvement in the whole thing, but I just know it was Him! Just had to share this with you:)

Have a blessed day.

Sweet friends

This past weekend we watched our neighbor's kids. We started this routine a year or so ago. One month we watch their kiddos for 24 hours, and the next month they watch ours. It's a great system.

This month we broke out the Easy Bake oven and played cook. I think I've mentioned before pretend cooking is my girls favorite thing to do. Who knew how much work it was to get a tiny little cake baked:)

They had a ball. Even Jack was a good sport. I made them all put aprons on for show. They were sure to keep every step fair. So and so did one step and so forth.

I love those kids. Because we've spent so much time with them I really feel like they are part mine. I'm so grateful that my girls have that special bond with them. They've grown up together.

They've made really sweet memories. Isn't that what childhood is all about?? Oh and I had to breakdown and open a can of real icing. Easy Bake is not Duncan Hines. Of course they thought it was absolutely delicious:)

Oh and sidenote...now I'm getting ready to do a marathon elipitical machine routine. I just popped in the movie 27 dresses and I plan on exercising through the whole movie. Let's see today for lunch I ate nachos, pizza and some cheesy bread with friends. Then for dinner our family went out and I had red velvet cake for dessert. What in the world???

Have a blessed day.