Some wonderful thrift store finds...
Monday, August 30, 2010
365/233
We were given a beautiful piano from a friend's church!
We are thoroughly enjoying the new addition to our home.
Now I just need to learn how to play better.....
Sunday, August 29, 2010
A little about me...
It seems a bit strange to say that I'm finding myself but I guess that's to be expected when the years I would have been finding myself, I was having babies. I'm 26, and to some of you, it may sound silly but I'm beginning to think it's the perfect moment...
I'm not being rushed into finding myself like so many who are graduating high school and being pushed into a major and then a career. I'm blossoming at the perfect moment in my life. Early enough to still enjoy life as a young person and late enough to know what I really want.
Over this summer I was focusing too much on trying to balance everything in my life and took my eyes off of relying on Jesus. The beauty of living was being sucked out.
When our focus shifts we start to carry too many expectations for how we think we should be living our lives based on the standards that have been burned into our brains. And then, the guilt for not meeting our own standards is unbearable... *deep breath*
I am learning. He is teaching me...
When our focus shifts we start to carry too many expectations for how we think we should be living our lives based on the standards that have been burned into our brains. And then, the guilt for not meeting our own standards is unbearable... *deep breath*
I am learning. He is teaching me...
He is speaking. I am listening...
My soul is at peace.
I am shutting out negativity. I am letting go of my expectations. I am letting go of guilt...
Whatever controls us, whatever consumes our focus, whatever condemns us is not of God.
He wants us to enjoy life. He wants us to bask in the beauty of who He has created us to be. He wants us to utilize the talents and passions He's given us. He wants us to be free of everything that keeps us from Him and becoming who He has planned us to be. He wants us to live the life He has planned out for us and enjoy every blessed thing about it.
We have to stop fighting the beauty of living and start loving being alive.
I am ready to embrace who I am and what I love...
I love writing.
I love taking pictures.
I love baking.
I love quiet moments at home.
I love being quiet.
I love creating.
I love music.
I love being crazy and dancing wildly around the house.
I love making my children laugh.
I love snuggling them.
I love spending quality moments that are glimpses into their souls.
I love encouraging their individual personalities.
I love learning.
I love reading.
I love singing.
I love good conversation over tea.
I love getting to know people.
I love lingering at the dinner table to talk.
I love holding hands with my man.
I love talking about God.
I love speaking.
I love embracing natural beauty.
I love old things.
I love simple pretty things.
I love thrift-shop shopping and online shopping.
I love budgeting.
I love making every space my own.
I love doing chores.
I love encouraging others.
I love giving and surprising.
I love doing nothing and noticing every fiber of everything around me.
I love being comfortable.
I love dressing cute.
I love elastic waist jeans. (I know, you're wondering it's place on this list especially following 'dressing cute')
I love bare-feet-and-let-your-hair-down type of days.
I love timeless styles.
I love making lists.
I love organizing.
I love celebrating.
I love holidays.
I love playing games.
I love collages of art and photos.
I love open windows and a soft breeze.
I love wild flowers.
I love driving with the windows down and music blaring.
I love long walks.
I love chai lattes.
I love hugs and kisses from my loves.
I love fall and winter.
I love to teach.
I love calendars.
I love curl-up-and-watch-something-funny nights.
I love morning.
I love thinking.
I love having babies.
I love my children.
I love my husband.
And I am learning to love me and my life just the way it is...
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
To bloom where I am planted...
That is my prayer.
Not to take what life has handed me and always want more but to be happy and thankful for where I am and encouraged by where I am headed...
I am thankful for where I am and what I have. I have a loving husband. 3 beautiful children. And a comfortable life.
I am thankful for how God has held me through my past and how He's holding me now.
It's not about what I can do, what I've done, or what's happened to me. It's about what He has done for me and who He says I am.
I am good enough and I am right where I need to be....
'to bloom where i am planted' - kelle hampton
365/216
An old picture of Liam. (thankyou tiffany)
My old computer, that has all of liam's baby pictures up until 1 yr on it, crashed a couple of yrs ago and the hard drive has just been sitting around waiting to be recovered. So, I love any picture I can get of him at that age.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
a little about us...
I've been thinking about names lately and the meaning of them and what my kids' names really mean and trying to remember what thought went into deciding their names. After reading this post and then this post it got my curiosity stirring and I went here and looked up all of our names - first & middle - and wrote them down. Thought I'd share...
Stephanie - Crowned in Victory
Marie (common middle name in my family) - Bitter
'Crowned in victory [over] bitterness'
I cannot explain to you how much this reflects my life. I have a lot I could be bitter about and looking at my family, in generations before me, most have allowed bitterness to control their emotions and overcome areas of their lives. For me it has been a struggle to come against what is natural to me but I am destined to be victorious! (in Christ!)
Jess - Jehovah exists
Stephen - Crowned victorious
'Jehovah exists [so therefore we are] crowned victorious'
When I was looking up Jess' name, I didn't quite understand his meaning until I began thinking about Jess and what he means to me and how God has used him in my life. What I realized brought tears to my eyes. Jess has been a person that has shown me unconditional love and through his love, I have better understood the love of our Father. Jess' love, to me, is proof that God does exist!
Jess' middle name is Stephen after his dad but his dad's spelling is Steven. I've always said that it's cute that Jess' middle name is spelled with a 'ph' because it's like I've always been with him. We are Jess [&] Stephen and together (in Christ) we are crowned victorious!
Olivia - Symbol of peace
Laine - Path
'Symbol of [a] peaceful path'
I don't remember a ton of thought going into Olivia's name. I remember it being the only name we agreed on and liking the meaning and liking the ring of 'Olivia Laine'. But now knowing her and watching her personality develop she is very much someone who wants peace and harmony all the time. She wants everyone playing together and spending lots and lots of time together. She's not a very happy camper if it isn't that way all the time. That's where our personalities clash a little bit. I like being around people but I do love my space and quiet time.
Liam - Determined Guardian / Warrior
Kingston - From the King's field
'Determined guardian [and] warrior from the King's field'
Well, I don't know how you get more direct then that. My main prayer for him is always for protection. Mostly because he is fearless and is always getting hurt and bruised but I also feel a need to pray a prayer of spiritual protection over him as well.
Another meaning for his name is 'helmeted'. Don't you know he is helmeted in prayer by his momma!
Faye - Confident / Trust / Belief
Louise (named after jess' grandma [shirley louise] who passed away 2 years ago) - Renowned Warrior
'Confident renowned warrior [who] trusts [and] believes'
I don't know that much about her personality yet because she is still so young but I do know she is like her momma and she will make an excellent warrior.
I have a lot more insight to our little family by doing this and now I have it written and documented for future reference. If we ever have another child, the pressure is on. Wow! We have some powerful names!
Stephanie - Crowned in Victory
Marie (common middle name in my family) - Bitter
'Crowned in victory [over] bitterness'
I cannot explain to you how much this reflects my life. I have a lot I could be bitter about and looking at my family, in generations before me, most have allowed bitterness to control their emotions and overcome areas of their lives. For me it has been a struggle to come against what is natural to me but I am destined to be victorious! (in Christ!)
Jess - Jehovah exists
Stephen - Crowned victorious
'Jehovah exists [so therefore we are] crowned victorious'
When I was looking up Jess' name, I didn't quite understand his meaning until I began thinking about Jess and what he means to me and how God has used him in my life. What I realized brought tears to my eyes. Jess has been a person that has shown me unconditional love and through his love, I have better understood the love of our Father. Jess' love, to me, is proof that God does exist!
Jess' middle name is Stephen after his dad but his dad's spelling is Steven. I've always said that it's cute that Jess' middle name is spelled with a 'ph' because it's like I've always been with him. We are Jess [&] Stephen and together (in Christ) we are crowned victorious!
Olivia - Symbol of peace
Laine - Path
'Symbol of [a] peaceful path'
I don't remember a ton of thought going into Olivia's name. I remember it being the only name we agreed on and liking the meaning and liking the ring of 'Olivia Laine'. But now knowing her and watching her personality develop she is very much someone who wants peace and harmony all the time. She wants everyone playing together and spending lots and lots of time together. She's not a very happy camper if it isn't that way all the time. That's where our personalities clash a little bit. I like being around people but I do love my space and quiet time.
Liam - Determined Guardian / Warrior
Kingston - From the King's field
'Determined guardian [and] warrior from the King's field'
Well, I don't know how you get more direct then that. My main prayer for him is always for protection. Mostly because he is fearless and is always getting hurt and bruised but I also feel a need to pray a prayer of spiritual protection over him as well.
Another meaning for his name is 'helmeted'. Don't you know he is helmeted in prayer by his momma!
Faye - Confident / Trust / Belief
Louise (named after jess' grandma [shirley louise] who passed away 2 years ago) - Renowned Warrior
'Confident renowned warrior [who] trusts [and] believes'
I don't know that much about her personality yet because she is still so young but I do know she is like her momma and she will make an excellent warrior.
I have a lot more insight to our little family by doing this and now I have it written and documented for future reference. If we ever have another child, the pressure is on. Wow! We have some powerful names!
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