dare

(Photo courtesy of Tamara) 

I'm super aware of how fast time is flying lately.  I think my sentimental heart started beating twice as fast at Big Chick's high school orientation meeting the other night.  I knew it was coming...high school.  But for some reason it still felt years away.  I'm living in denial people.  It's this Fall!  And then the countdown starts.  Several people on IG told me...don't blink.  Once they hit high school it's o.v.e.r. in the flash of an instant.  Well crap!  Seriously I don't need to hear that stuff...I KNOW!!!

Is it weird to be in a state of empty nest syndrome years before it happens??  I know I don't have the grace for that day yet, so why am I freaking about it now?  Live today!  Focus on the NOW.  BE PRESENT...dangit!!!  I keep telling myself that, but all of a sudden every second matters.  Shoot I shouldn't even be on this computer right now.  What a time zap;)

Okay so enough of that I'm getting all choked up.  I was thinking about my word for the year recently.  It's been on my heart.  Oh the pressure;)  But seriously I do usually have some sort of revelation word.  Something I felt came from the Lord just for me.  And this year it literally popped off the wall at me when we were down in Florida.  It was in a Nike campaign sentence.  And the word was DARE.  I kept staring at it.  With laser like focus that's all I could see d.a.r.e.  Well what's that about Lord?!  Are you daring me?  What's that mean??

dare

: to have enough courage or confidence to do something : to not be too afraid to do something

: to do (something that is difficult or that people are usually afraid to do)

: to tell (someone) to do something especially as a way of showing courage

I think for me it means:
dare to believe 100% that I've got you covered.
dare to do what I've called you to do.
dare to believe it's all going to work out.
dare to be BOLD.
dare to live LARGE.
dare to go out on that limb.
dare to DO IT AFRAID.
dare to be YOU Becky...because there is only one you!
dare to be brave and fearless and don't look down cause I AM YOUR SAFETY NET.
don't.look.down...DARE!

This past year has been a whole lot of question marks...honey's job situation, the growing pains of my business, different dreams I've wanted to see come to pass, the girls and their constant changing needs.  It's always going to be this way.  Whether there is a steady stream of reassurance and affirmation or if it's crickets...we are going to have to dare to trust.  Dare to boldly believe that it will work out.  Because the future is his.  He holds it and all my peeps in the palm of his hands and that's just fine with me.  I don't want to be in charge.  His timing is ultimately perfect.  I'm putting on this new title.  I'm living with reckless abandon...unafraid.  I'm daring!  Yep that's me;)

*pictures from Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and our first snow day;)

Have a blessed day.

 my honey/IT department...love how he helps me!

 a whole day alone with my girls! bliss:))

 the project from you know where is complete.  13 ft floating door desk...pics to come soon.

i finally opened the BIG CARTEL shop.  find my prints there;)

what's your stew?

Sunday Pastor Stan gave a message at church that to this day I'm still thinking about.  That's when you know it's a good one.  Do you remember the story of Jacob and Esau?  Esau gave away his birthright for a bowl of stew?


WHAT!  First of all I didn't recall that and I didn't really grasp the significance of what went down.  Jacob was the little brother.  He was more nurturing...liked to cook and be a homebody.  Esau was an outdoors man and hunted.  Esau came in starving after being gone a couple of days and NEEDED to eat in a bad way.  This is where the story gets interesting.  Jacob being the stinker little brother said okay you can have the stew IF you give me your birthright.  WHOA!  Way to barter there little brother.

A birthright was HUGE in that culture.  It gave the wealth of the family to the oldest.  And in this case Esau wouldn't have to worry about funds for the rest of his life.  It also gave ultimate power and position.  Every important family matter and decision would be decided by him alone.  It was major!!!  But because Esau was so focused on his hunger, and his appetite was so blown out of proportion he couldn't think clearly and gave away his most important prize position ever...His future!

31Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

32“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

33But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.  Genesis 25:31-34

It changed history.  The future scripture became...

14God said to Moses, “I am who I am.^c This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

15God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,^d the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

It doesn't say God of Esau...it says JACOB!!!!  He had no idea what God had planned for his future.  So he gambled with his life and gave away everything in his weakness.    

Pastor Stan talked about appetites and that God created them and that sin distorted them.  Whether it be the need for achievement, food, to be loved etc...we all have appetites.  We need to learn to manage them and pray for wisdom.  Then he asked this question at the end.

What's your bowl of stew?  

What's keeping you from fulfilling God's plan for your life?  Is it laziness??  Is it distraction?  Is it the hunger for temporary earthly things??  What is keeping us from our legacy?  Because we ALL have one!  Every one of us has something great to contribute.  Something great TO DO!  I know I don't want mess that up.  I want Him to use me...every gift, every talent, every ounce of me for His purpose and plan.  Life is so very short.  Eternity is forever.  Something to chew on...

Be a blessing.

joy written on her face

my patient honey who loves me so very well

that we saw some alligators...at a DISTANCE;)
cool projects come to pass
our first snow

ditching the Dew!

Good morning peeps.  I should be on the elliptical machine sweating right now, but here I am writing you;)  One of the most amazing things happened when we were on vacay.  I've talked about it on Instagram.  Okay brace yourselves.  It's major!  My honey, the one that always has a Diet Mountain Dew in his hand...he quit the Dew.  Like cold turkey.  Stopped.  Hasn't had one drop in 12 days.  To say this is a miraculous thing is NOT an understatement.  For as long as I can remember he's had this bad habit.  His only bad habit honestly, but bad nonetheless.

I'm not sure what happened.  He's tried to stop over the years, but was never able to commit.  Partially due to the fact that the withdrawal about did him in.  That's why THIS time he was able to do it.  Why you ask??  Cause the man is drinking COFFEE!!!!  I know.  Seriously my mouth is hanging open.  It's a day worth documenting.  At first he was hatin' on it.  But just like me five years ago when my bestie in Minnesota more or less forced me to start drinking coffee...after about 5 days in you start craving it;)  He stuck it out and now he actually wants it.  Yesterday he had FOUR cups!  FOUR CUPS!!!

We went to Starbucks last night and as we were sitting there "I believe I can fly" came over the sound system.  This morning my little chick had that song in her head and now I do too.  Let's read the words shall we...

I used to think that I could not go on

And life was nothing but an awful song

But now I know the meaning of true love

I'm leaning on the everlasting arms

If I can see it, then I can do it

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

I believe I can fly

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day

Spread my wings and fly away

I believe I can soar

I see me running through that open door

I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly

I believe I can fly

See I was on the verge of breaking down

Sometimes silence can seem so loud

There are miracles in life I must achieve

But first I know it starts inside of me

If I can see it, then I can be it

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

I believe I can fly

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day

Spread wings and fly away

I believe I can soar

I see me running through that open door

I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly

I believe I can fly

Hey, 'cause I believe in you

Oh, if I can see it, then I can do it

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

I believe I can fly

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day

Spread wings and fly away

I believe I can soar

I see me running through that open door

I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly

I believe I can fly

If I just spread my wings

(I can fly)

I can fly

(I can fly)

I can fly

(I can fly)

I can fly

(I can fly)

If I just spread my wings

(I can fly)

I can fly

(I can fly, I can fly)

Ooh, I can fly

Hmm, fly, fly, fly

My favorite version is Jim Carey's in Fun with Dick and Jane.  One of my all time favorite movies by the way;)  Anyhoo I love the words.  I can FLY.  If I can see it, then I can do it.  If I just believe it, there's nothing to it.  Uh hello inspiration!!!  And it's so true.  There is just something contagious in watching someone do something hard for them.  There is something that clicks in us when visualize ourselves breaking free from a bondage or chains that are holding us back.


So I encourage you to challenge yourself.  It's a new year.  A fresh start right?!  What has a stronghold on you??  Visualize yourself running through that open door...flying free from that habit.  You can do it!  WE can do it!!!  And if you find yourself doubting just think...her man ditched the Dew.  Miraculous I tell ya;))

Have a blessed day.

coffee

bad habits be gone

running through that open door

birds chirping outside my window

five...

Good morning sweeties.  Happy NEW YEAR!  My girls just got on the bus.  Forgive me, but I'm fighting the blues this morning.  The dreary weather doesn't help.  Apparently Matt Lauer said today is the most depressing day of the year.  I believe it, but I'm not falling for it.  It's time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.  Work is good.  School is good:/  But I'm kinda blah about it today...

Okay so we disappeared for a week down in Florida.  Honey's mom and step-dad bought a place there in Venice and we just had to check it out.  It was a long LONG drive...with many RV's and "snow birds" leading the way.  But it was nice to feel some warmth.  Flip flops were worn and you have to love that when the rest of the country is knee deep in snow and below zero temps.


BTW I'm really really grateful we don't live in Minnesota right now.  I remember those frigid temperatures.  I remember seeing 16- on my car dash and crying in Target's parking lot trying to get my groceries loaded...snot frozen to my face, the wind whipping my hair, panic gripping my heart.  Those temps are NOT messing around. It's scary and dangerous and pure torture.  My heart goes out to all of you bundled up out there.  Even here it's supposed to get cold.  Our low tonight will be 5 degrees.  That's chilly for us.  The Virginians will be freaking out I'm sure.  Weather gets them very excited;)


So I had a little milestone while we were away.  On December 22, 2008...5 years ago...I wrote my very first blog post:)  You can read it here.  It was short and sweet and I was SCARED to death to hit the publish button.  So much has happened since then.  I've made so many friends, many of them becoming real life peeps.  It has been a tremendous blessing...a beautiful outlet for me.  I've been able share my beliefs.  Talk through some hard times.  Share my little family with you.  Grow my business.  I really can say with all my heart blogging has been a life changer.


I have changed over the past five years.  I used to blog every day.  I would get up, get my coffee and sit for hours at my desk...pouring out my heart.  Hopping from one blog to the next, visiting all my "friends".  I was lonely.  My girls were in school.  We had just moved to Minnesota.  The seasonal sadness had set in and blogging kept me a float.  I've felt it shift in importance.  Where it used to be my lifeline, now it is more on the sideline.  I've gotten busy with good things.  The business has taken off.  Instagram came along;)  I don't make as much time for it as I used to.  There isn't as much time for it as there used to be.


All that to say I'm not stopping anytime soon.  I love sharing.  I love this little place carved out just for me.  It will continue to be my "virtual home" I come to.  A place where I hope God can use me.  So here's to the next five years.  I'm sure there will be many more changes.  Many more memories shared.  Thank you for reading along.  I'm so very honored to be a part of your day:)

*Oh and my computer crashed recently...hence the lack of pics.  I'll share Florida soon.

Be a blessing.

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