Heart Songs

Hello Darlings!

This week looks exceedingly packed. I am working almost every day, and tomorrow (Sunday) we have an Ultimate Frisbee game and I'll be playing bass guitar for the morning worship service - did I ever tell you the story of how I became a bass player? I'll have to write that sometime. It was hilarious. :D

Anyways. I love it when life revs up like this and the days are jam-packed, a whirl of crazy color and music and laughter. It makes my heart dance.

The only problem with running here and there, to and fro, up hill and down dale, attending this gala and that garden party, is that in all the happy cacophony of noise, sometimes that still, small voice gets drowned out. :(
(ugh. The writer in me cringes at the amount of commas in that last sentence!) ;) Back to my point!

God wants you. Relationship, not reluctance. Communion, not carelessness. Prayer and praise, not procrastination. If you spend a little time each day with Him, life suddenly gets a whole lot sparklier. It's like tuning up your instrument... the song rises and swells until beauty bursts into every corner and cranny and the stress and worries all get squeezed out.

(Random photo of the Hillsong United concert we went to a few months ago, because it was overwhelmingly amazing)

My resolution for this next craaaaazy week is to do *something* every day that brings God and me closer together. Quality time with my father, savior, first love, and best friend.
Hopefully that means taking a few minutes to open the Bible app on my iPhone right after I wake up to sunshine pouring in my windows...
Having a few ongoing conversations with Jesus while I'm standing out in the middle of a field at the Rock Ranch watching exuberant kids on the giant jumping pillow...
raising my hand to lift His name high when I have a second in-between strumming a guitar string, or singing at the top of my lungs while I vacuum the living room carpet. :D

Being a believer doesn't have to be complicated, you know. Sometimes the best relationships in life happen when it's natural and unforced. There's still a choice involved, and it takes an effort on your part... but it's a two-way street. God meets you in the moments you turn to Him. :)

So be encouraged! Take some time to "be" with God this week, whatever that looks like! :)

Love,

How Sweet It Is: {Blooming}

*waves* Hey there!

Hi Everyone!

I know, right? It's been FOREVER! I haven't blogged in way too long. Mostly because I just kept putting it off, but for a few other personal reasons too. (Since that sounded more mysterious than I planned on - I was thinking that my one previous boyfriend might still be reading this blog, but I've decided I don't care. It's my blog and I'm going to blog on it.) ;)

I've been doing so. much. lately. I don't even know where to start, trying to get caught up on posting about things. Oh well! I'll just keep typing and see how it goes. :) The biggest and most wonderful thing? I'm blooming. Where I'm planted. As in... I'm actually REALLY happy about everything in my life right now. I've been having fun and enjoying my family and friends and reading good books and crocheting soft, gorgeous things and cooking great food and dancing and singing and laughing.

**insert big, huge smile**


AND LOOK AT THIS......!!!!

I had the incredible blessing of walking into a thrift store and finding this gem. Namely: a dress, that will be THE MOST PERFECT THING EVER to wear to the English Country Dance Ball I'm attending the weekend of my birthday. Which is next month. :) 

And it came with a wrap of the same pink satin that my genius mother can whip up some lovely wide straps with (which will be just the thing for my modest tastes).

And it was only $20. 

*SCORE!*

It looks much better ON, btw. Right now it rather resembles a flattened flounder at the top, but I assure you that when I'm wearing it it flatters my figure instead. Lol! 

Le Lace Closeup:

I have actually been really blessed in the area of finding modest, pretty clothes lately. ROSS actually had some gorgeous and modest and inexpensive dresses the last time I looked, and I ended up falling in love with (and buying) three! I think some fashion posts might be in order. ;)

A couple months ago, my family and I discovered IKEA.

*cue screeching tires sound effect*

HOLY MACKEREL. If you have never been inside an IKEA, get thee hither forthwith. Seriously. It is a wondrous land that is full of beautiful and contemporary and imaginative and fairly priced home decor, laced with the delicate scent of Swedish meatballs, cream sauce, and lingonberries.

'Tis where I found my new bookcases. :) (at last, my books breathe a sigh of relief as they no longer have to jostle with each other for elbow room, and get crammed in sideways on each other's ends!)

Yum and yay. I love them. 

I've been trying to earn a little extra money (even as I scatter it hither and yon like some spendthrift, on bookcases and dresses) - so I've been doing some special things like the Sweetheart Sale I did for Valentines' day on my jewelry stand:

Just today, actually, I went and babysat for a precious young couple from our church who have the cutest little one-year-old!! He's got blond hair and blue eyes and the most winning smile I've ever seen on a toddler. Also, their house is just too cute for words. I'll take a house and baby like that anytime you want to bring them along, Lord! ;)

And THIS precious one is Owen James. I had the opportunity to do his newborn photoshoot the week before last and his mommy said I could post photos on my blog. :) (But I didn't have time to watermark it so dude, if you steal it, may God have mercy on your soul.) :P

 And last but possibly most exciting, we started a connect group for the young people in our church called "Faith and Frisbee"! Daddy does a fifteen-minute devotional and then we have a game of Ultimate. It has been a blast, and I'm loving it!! (now to uh, actually get in shape so I can show these whippersnappers a thing or two.)

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed that little glimpse!! Let's see... before I go (and I hope to be back posting soon, but I'm not promising anything) I'm also going to be a bridesmaid in September for the first time ever, for my incredibly sweet and godly and amazing friend McKenzie, and this spring I'll be working the pony rides at the Rock Ranch pretty regularly. And I'm planning to be at the GHEA convention in June, so if you're there, look me up! :D

Oh yeah! Yesterday my brothers, mom and I went to see the movie "God's Not Dead." WOOHOO!! It was totally awesome. God is NOT dead, he's surely alive, and he's the lover of my soul, my closest friend, and the creator of the universe who is completely in control of my destiny and future. Heady stuff. :)

Love & hugs, friends! If you've missed me, drop me a comment and I'll reply! ;)

Life as a Ranch Hand

Howdy Ya'll!

I'm so sorry I've been so scarce with posts as of late. If you could walk a mile or two in my shoes, you'd understand why I haven't been blogging... when you have two big projects going at once plus a new job, finding time to blog is a little difficult! :D

At the beginning of this month, I was hired on as a ranch hand at the beautiful Rock Ranch in The Rock, GA. Owned by Truett Cathy (founder of Chick-fil-A) the ranch is a popular tourist destination and has tons of family-friendly activities. It's definitely a fun place to work!

Check out this video to see what I mean: (I'm in it! See if you can spot me... oh, ok, I come in at 1:51) ;)



 That was actually my first day of work, running the bounce-house and the extremely popular "corn box"... who knew wallowing 2 feet deep in corn was so much fun? (I'll take the kids' word for it, thanks...) the next week I assisted in the kitchen all morning, making coleslaw, wrapping burgers, and filling drinks for a company picnic that was being hosted in Truett's Barn... then the last half of the day I helped out with the pony rides!

I took these photos while the horses were on their break for 45 minutes... the rest of the day they were walking in circles, attached to a carousel underneath an open barn structure. The kids absolutely loved them and it was so much fun seeing their little faces light up as some of them rode a pony for the first time in their lives.

The pretty mare there is Cherry. I think she may have been my favorite. :D

The only downsides to this otherwise delightful job are that your arms and legs quickly tire from hefting the kids onto the ponies and walking in endless circles, and that every so often you have to stop and shovel muck when the horses need to 'take a dump'. :P

I'll be working the pony rides all day tomorrow for the not-so-spooky halloween festival, which I'm looking forward to! Sadly, I can't think of a cute DIY costume I could wear that would be pony-rides proof. If you have any quick suggestions, leave them in the comments section... there is a $50 prize for the best employee costume, after all! :D


(and I promise it won't be so long before I post next. I have some awesome redecorating to tell you about!)

Fall Fashion? I think YES.

No doubt about it. Autumn's nearly here. While we may not have actually crossed the calendar date that says "first day of Fall" ... everybody knows it. Pinterest is exploding with pumpkins, apples, cinnamon, wreaths, boots, and halloween everything. I didn't realize how many halloween boards I was unintentionally following! (Yeah. I've been clicking "unfollow" on all of those. Sorry, ya'll, but ghosts, spiders, and witches are not what I delight in... why would we try to make something 'cute' out of such horrid things? But that's a rant for another day...)

One thing I love about living in the south is that while most of the year is warm, we do get a nice cool, crisp fall season if we're lucky blessed. :D This means we get to dig out the sweaters, scarves, gloves, hats and boots that have been waiting all year. AND we get to update our look a little bit with some layers and warmer wear...

How about this fab new fall line from eShakti.com?


Oooh, some of that stuff is CUTE. Almost makes me wish I had darker coloring so I could pull more of those pieces off. ;) I'm definitely in the "Spring" category when it comes to complexion. Light and warm. :)

If only I had more time to gab about how much fun our Fall Cleaning project is becoming... Today we dusted down the log ceiling and walls of the Master Bathroom with brooms, and I completely cleaned and reorganized the under-the-sink cabinet, drawers, and linen armoire. It feels so good to get the house really clean! :)

Hope your days are sunny and bright as we head for chillier weather!

Overcoming

Dear friends,

I am sorry to say my engagement is over. After I returned home from our trip, it became more and more clear that the relationship was not going to work. In the best interests of both hearts involved, we felt that it was necessary to call it off. Thank you for your understanding that this is all I am able to share.

As you can imagine, the last couple weeks haven't been easy for me... but to my great surprise, they have been easier than I would have imagined. My family and friends have been so amazingly loving and supportive. Instead of going under or drowning in the depths of despair - I discovered that I'm still me. I can still smile and laugh, and I am still blessed.

God has given me so much. He loves me tenderly as his child, and I fully trust in his perfect plan for me. He knows my future and I know it's going to be more wonderful than I can even imagine.

Even if I can't see what's around the bend... I still believe it's a beautiful road to be traveling on. :) And I can honestly say that even if what's ahead are hard lessons to be learned, I know it will be good. I have already learned so much and grown in grace through this experience. Perhaps that's why the Lord allowed it to happen, hmm? :)

My heart has healed. It's not broken. And really, seeing myself stay so strong through this has been eye-opening. I didn't know I had it in me. I know it's God, because I couldn't do it in my own strength.

^ This song started playing on the radio yesterday and it was the first time I'd heard it... wow. My heart leapt for joy inside me... the words resonated so powerfully with what I've been going through. And right then and there I (raced to my laptop and bought the album on iTunes) claimed it for myself. Yes! I am an overcomer. 

As I wrote in my journal the other night... now I'm rediscovering my sparkle. There is beauty and happiness waiting for me to reach out and take hold of it. I have some delightful projects in the works... including crocheting a beautiful pink-chocolate-and-cream afghan for my mother and overseeing a complete redecoration of our house... making it look fresh and updated, as thriftily and DIY and Pinterest-inspired as possible. :D 

Keep me in your prayers, if you would. I appreciate it. :)

Love & Blessings,

I'd Say, My Dear, That You Were in Need of a Project.

Via Pinterest

Hey Readers!

I can see you wrinkling your brows as this post pops up in your blog reading list... "Who is this person again? I can't remember who she might be.... Oh! Oh yes, now I remember. That's the girl who hasn't blogged in forever!" :P

All I can do is shrug and say "I'm sorry!" :)

Since the GHEA convention, life has been just grand and full of happy things, but I haven't been diligent about blogging. That has been shelved in favor of more exciting summer pursuits. We're getting TONS of fresh produce from our garden right now and have already made several batches of mouth-watering, downright-delicious, sizzling summer salsa that is chock-full of ripe tomatoes... as well as blanching beans, pickling cucumbers, frying breaded squash slices, and making blackberry jam.

BUT. I was talking to a really really good friend yesterday and they asked me if there was anything I was working on.
To my complete surprise, I couldn't name anything! I usually have at least ten projects whirling through the air like so many spinning plates (like that one circus act!) but right now I didn't even have one.

Not a good realization, when one someday hopes to be likened unto the industrious lady of Prov. 31! :D

This has made me take stock of what I've been doing with all my time lately. Even with everything that's been going on and the usual household chores, cooking, dishes, laundry, exercising, and sleeping, there are hours of my day that aren't spent in any useful pursuits.

One of those time-suckers is definitely Pinterest. I'll admit it. I often spend a couple hours a day (stretched out in many 15-minute increments here and there) pinning and re-pinning pictures. It's a lot of fun. But is it really that important? Um.... NO. So one thing I'm going to try is to only check my pinterest feed once a day and spend only a few minutes on it. We'll see how that goes!

That being said, I thought about it and realized I do have some projects awaiting my attention! Some of which are:

• Setting aside goods for a YARD SALE... Not only will that help raise some funds for our upcoming summer vacation - it will also help me clear out some of my possessions. I have too many clothes and need to pare down some of them, and thinking about the future makes me realize I've just plain got too much stuff. :D If we were going to move, I wouldn't want to cart all these things around with me!

• Sewing my 'butterfly dress' ... I found some really sweet fabric at Jo-Ann's a couple of months ago that was sheer white with peach butterflies sprinkled on it. Mama and I are going to work together to get it sewn into a lovely dress, over-top of some white muslin. We also will be sewing a new peach swimsuit for me, since the one I made last year is now way too big for me. A good problem! :) I like being slimmer and feeling fit. :)

• Looking for a coat - I need a new winter coat, the one I've got now is very nice but I've had it since I was 13 and it is beginning to show a little wear! I'd love to find a wool coat in a nice shade of warm caramel brown that comes down to knee-length, and now might be a good time to find one on sale.

• Mark's Senior Photos... My brother Mark is graduating from homeschool High School this year, and I'll be doing his senior portrait shots to send out with his graduation announcements. That should be a lot of fun!

• Writing! I haven't opened up my Microsoft Word docs in a really long time, and I think I'm ready to get back to working on some of my novels. I glanced through Ashburn the other day and it's really made me want to work on the sequel. :)

And... blogging. :) I've missed it and I want to be a more faithful blogger... writing at least a couple posts every week. :)

What are you working on?

I Love My Daddy

Happy Father's Day!

I have the best Daddy in the world and have been firmly convinced of this fact for my whole life. My sweet Mom is the best mom ever too, but this day is all about Dads... I love you, Daddy!

:D He's wonderful. 

My father is a man who loves his family and cherishes us. He is always there when we need him. He's a kind, sweet man, who leads us in the paths of righteousness and is committed to sheltering and providing for us as the head of the home. 

Daddy loves his garden, going fishing, spending time outdoors, and kissing Mama in the kitchen. :D  

I love him so much. 

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

I'll always be your little girl.

Love,

Season of Change - A Book Review

The Story of Two Young Stepsisters Comes to a Bittersweet End in the Final Book in the Sisters in All Seasons Series

“Anybody who’s in a blended family and has a daughter who’s 12, 13, or 14 years old really needs to read these books.”—Lynne Ford, WBCL-AM “Mid-Morning”

Brought together by their parents’ marriage two years ago, Diana and Stephanie have overcome a near fatal car crash, school suspension,  wild wolves, and even helped solve a crime—all while “trying” to appreciate each other’s distinct differences.

In SEASON OF CHANGE (Zonderkidz; May 2013; $10.99), things have finally settled down for the teens. Their friendship has strengthened, and the usually reclusive Diana has finally begun to open up to Stephanie. So when they discover their parents are going on a mysterious weekend getaway to “work on their marriage,” they worry that their now happy union will be tested.

While staying at Diana’s grandparents’ lake house, the teens decide to take their minds off family turmoil and focus on having a good time together.

Their plans are foiled, unfortunately, when Stephanie’s mom shows up unexpectedly to pick her up for the weekend.  Meanwhile, Diana struggles to make sense of a crush she’s developing for a boy she thought was just a friend.

With the sisters apart and their parents’ marriage possibly on the rocks, the two learn that they care for each other more than they realized. What will become of their friendship if their parents split?

Kline concludes this charming saga with a bittersweet ending that will have devoted readers reaching for tissues and hugging their families a little tighter. SEASON OF CHANGE is proof that the bond between sisters is truly unbreakable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lisa Williams Kline has written several books, including the first three books in the popular middle-grade series,Sisters in all Seasons—Summer of the Wolves, Wild Horse Spring, Blue Autumn Cruise and Winter’s Tide. She also authored Write Before Your Eyes, the Princesses of Atlantis, and Eleanor Hill. The latter earned the North Carolina Juvenile Literature Award. Kline is the mother of two grown daughters and lives in Mooresville, North Carolina, with her husband. www.lisawilliamskline.com

What I thought:

This story was the last in a series, so some of the references to past events escaped me, but it wasn't too hard picking up where the other books left off. I didn't love this book but it wasn't awful either. I liked reading the scene about Stephanie learning to knee-board behind her step-grandpa's boat, it reminded me of the time I learned how to knee-board with some friends of ours in Florida. :) This story was mild enough for most teens to read, with nothing overly objectionable, although I didn't really enjoy reading about all the dynamics of these blended families... though I realize this is the unfortunate norm in many households these days. I did not think the author did a super job of wrapping everything up (especially considering this is supposed to be the last book in a series!) but the writing style was smooth and engaging.

Blessings,

Man on a Mission - Book Review

A New Book on the Inspiring Life of Astronaut and Physician David Hilmers Teaches Young Readers to Aim for the Stars

Tween-aged readers will embark on an incredible journey through space and beyond in renowned astronaut and physician David Hilmers’ autobiography, MAN ON A MISSION: The David Hilmers Story (Zonderkidz; $6.99; May 2013).

Co-written by Rick Houston, Hilmers, 61, recounts his extraordinary life story– how a young boy from Iowa became a rocketeer and man of medicine and was able to travel to places far beyond those he ever imagined.

Chronicling a bumpy, yet steady, road to success, Hilmers shares never-before-seen pictures of his childhood, his family, mission trips around the world, and his memorable space shuttle flight aboard the STS-26 Discovery in 1988. 

The well-known figure also touches on personal aspects of his life about which even his most dedicated fans may not be aware —the grief he feels for his friends lost in the fatal 1986 Challenger flight and his life-threatening fall down Macchu Picchu.

Through good times and bad, Hilmers has fiercely held onto his faith. He reveals how space travel and reaching out to those in need here on earth invigorated him in a way he never thought possible. “I became aware of how big God was and always will be,” he reflects in the book.

Moving, spiritual, and at times thrilling, MAN ON A MISSION will inspire young space enthusiasts and anyone interested in the life of an astronaut.  It will also provide a deeper look at a man revered by many, a man of God. Together with Houston, Hilmers captures the finest details of his exceptional life, bringing the American hero and his fans that much closer.

****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rick Houston planned to become a minister before he began his career as a journalist. With more than 20 years as a full-time writer under his belt, Houston has authored five books and covered a variety of articles—from NASCAR to NASA. He is also a deacon in his church and regularly contributes to Stand Firm, a men's devotional magazine published by LifeWay. He lives in Yadkinville, North Carolina.

ABOUT DAVID HILMERS: David Hilmers is a retired NASA astronaut who served between the years 1980 and 1992. A former U.S. Marine, he received a B.A. degree in Mathematics from Cornell College and a M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He later earned a Doctor of Medicine from the Baylor College of Medicine and a M.S. from the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center. As a Colonel for NASA, Hilmers flew in four missions to space, including the STS-26 Discovery, which was the first flight after the Challenger flight of 1986 resulted in seven lives lost. He currently serves as a faculty member of the Medicine/Pediatrics department of the Baylor College of Medicine. Born in Clinton, Iowa, he now calls Houston, Texas, his home. Hilmers has two grown sons.

What I thought:

This was a good book overall, I found it interesting to read about Mr. Hilmers' life and he seemed like a very dedicated, hardworking man. The details about the space programs and techniques were also interesting. I don't read a lot of non-fiction but this book held my interest until the end. I thought it very admirable that this man turned to medical efforts and helped poor people in missions work. The only thing that I was not impressed with was the fact that Mr. Hilmers and his wife divorced after many years of marriage - and it sounded like he put all his work before his family. For that, he gets a thumbs-down from me. :(

I would recommend this book to anybody interested in astronauts! :)

Garden Goodness

We are very excited about our garden this year. :) It's looking very promising! Daddy jumped on things early and planted some great stuff, including lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, golden zucchini, potatoes, peas, popcorn, and green beans! And the wild blackberries are clustering more thickly on the bushes than I have ever seen before.

How does your garden grow? :)

A Lovely Visit

My heart is so full right now! It's been a very happy couple of weeks. God is so good!

I know a young woman who shines a smile bright with the joy of the Lord, but I almost always see it in pictures on facebook and hardly ever in person, so I was beyond delighted when it worked out for my family and me to drive down to visit my sweet friend McKenzie last Saturday! She and her family fed us hotdogs and all the fixin's and we brought our favorite coleslaw, and we all had a marvelous time! We played frisbee and took pictures and talked and talked and talked. :D I even coaxed a smile or two out of their newest little blessing, Macheus... he is an adorable baby!

Here are a couple of pictures of our wonderful day. :) And there are more on McKenzie's blog!

The lovely white picket fences and shady groves of Pecan Pastures!

Look at all that room to play! :) 

The whole gang! We make a great group all together! :D

Behind the house is the wash house and the horse pastures... farther back is the barn. :)

This is the back of the house... the boys ate at that picnic table back there. :D Us girls ate at the wrought-iron table in front of the house.

My sweet friend and I standing on very uneven ground... McKenzie is several inches taller than me!! :D

Love you, McKenzie!! :) 

(Bahahaha!) We both took selfies at the same time with our separate phones. 

McKenzie in front of the house... such a lovely smile! :)

Before you get any ideas, folks, that there is sparkling peach-pear juice! :D It was very tasty and the perfect thing to sip underneath the golden-dappled shade of the pecan trees and have a wonderful chat. :)

What have you been up to lately?