It's Tuesday! Yeah Monday is over! I don't know why but Monday's always feel long and tiring. I'm happy it's the next day in the week.
This morning I read a verse that really applies to the here and now:
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Deuteronomy 31:6
It's a scary time in our economy right now, with the home market so unstable, our financial institutions crumbling, elections coming ever closer...there is so much going on with so much uncertainty. It's easy to feel scared and unsure, but this verse is like a warm blanket in the cold. How reassuring that God is always with us. Even if the world crumbles and falls God is there to hold us up and help us stand. I'm thankful for our God that is faithful, with so many promises for us, it makes me wonder why don't I spend more time reading about those promises instead of watching the news that seems to change by the minute.
This week is kind of a challenge, the gas shortage is definitely scary since I can honestly say I have never been in this kind of situation before, where we ran out of something. I find myself thinking about people that truly go without vital things like food or water and it's a humbling experience to say the least. Trust in the Lord comes to mind and I know it's these times we really get to see God's faithfulness.
But it's sure to be an interesting week as Jonah is out of town for a few days, I get to putter around at home filling my time :) I'm looking forward to working on some artwork, it is always a treat to sit down and paint. Jonah's birthday is coming up Monday so I get to plan a lavish dessert for him! I love celebrating with Jonah!
Have a good Tuesday, whatever may come.

Airfare

It's that time of year again, to start thinking about traveling plans.....ugh. I miss my family and it's sad that we can't afford the airfare to fly to NY more often, but it's just ridiculous how much of a ripoff the flights are. If we were rich and had our own plane that would be one thing. I think paying the price to travel is always going to be something I dislike. Maybe I am being cheap? I don't know I just can't justify the $100's of $'s it takes to get from point A to B. I guess it doesn't help that we have driven the last two years to NY. In fact now that I think about it, the overall cost of driving and hotel was probably getting close to what we are spending now on airfare.hmm.
I did enjoy our road trips though. They are always fun because you get to watch the world pass you by through the car window, and you have the luxury to stop and take in sights if you have the whim to do so.
Flights are a different experience altogether.
Arrive at the airport, find parking, drag your suitcase and overly-stuffed-shoved-together-at-the-last-minute-carryon-that leaves a nice welt on your shoulder, into the long line of restless holiday travelors, sure to be with their family full of small children that are just as grumpy (but much more antsy) as their parents. Then you proceed to check in your baggage (after dragging it through the security line to be checked) and then you start your trek to the gate. Finally when your plane starts to board, if your fortunate enough for it leave on time(which does manage to happen sometimes) you may be the lucky one to receive a nice pat down from security similar to a frisking from an officer :) Then it's onto the plane to locate your seat which hopefully isn't lodged between two very large people. Okay so it does sound like a negative experience, but it's not the worst. It is certainly a lot faster than driving! And you get to see others in a light you don't normally have! Yes flying is enlightening.
Seriously though, I miss my family and it's sad it is so far and few that we get to see them! I'm looking forward to visiting and meeting the 'new members'-my parents animals they have adopted. I'm looking forward to Mom's cooking, Laura making me laugh, Dad picking on me :) and just normal events in the household. I know Jonah is hoping to see some snow too, and looking at the old telephone booth my dad has stored in the barn, perhaps to think of some antic to getting it home to our little abode...
It will be wonderful to be in the country again, it may be the last time in that old house, at least Lord willing if it is to be sold in the future (which I know mom and dad would love).
So I plan to really enjoy the time with family because memories are more and more precious the older I get. And as far as airfare goes, yeah it's worth it.

gas shortage in ga

Because of the hurricane that hit Texas we are suffering from a gas shortage here in ga. It's kind of crazy to have to search for a station that actually has gas. Thankfully we found a station that had some pumps still working with gas! We got in line and filled up! Praise the Lord we made it to a station that is still running.

favorite things

One of my favorite things, horses.

These were some beautiful horses we would watch feed in the wee hours of the morning at the ranch in Utah....

just another Tuesday

Is it only Tuesday? It's sad that the weekend is so far off in the future right now. This day has been a terrible Tuesday. And I like to be optimistic. It just started off late- we both slept in and woke up 10 minutes after we should have already left. From there it was doomed to be a late starting day. Work today feels more like babysitting, and I'm still having a sugar crash from the sweet pastry breakfast we ate in the car. It's days like this we would rather go back to bed and start all over again. But it's a day to learn new lessons about patience, gratitude, appreciation. Like patience with others no matter how petty the situation, gratitude for what I have because it does come from God, and appreciation which actually is the same as gratitude now that I think about it. But these moments make life fun and really help you look forward to the right days, when you get up on time.

Favorite things

There is nothing as good as fresh, home-made apple danish to welcome in the fall season.

What's funny is that two of my sister's made the same favorite dessert in the same week- although we live miles and miles apart. I'm so thankful mom taught us how to cook and bake from scratch!

Fall is in the air

I have faithfully used my new Fluidity machine twice this week. What a good feeling to exercise but also do what I had planned! My muscles are a little angry at me for making them move, but I do feel better and more stretched out.
A good week overall, and now here it is Friday, and we are so excited the weekend is here!! The weather has been changing here too, which I love, because it is turning to fall. Mmm, I love this time of year when the leaves change, the air is crisp, apples are in season, hot chocolate is on the grocery list, and hints of Christmas are popping up. It's the season for photography that is for sure, I love capturing color and it's bareable to be outside now, without feeling too hot and muggy.

Georgia sure is a beautiful state with warm weather, but I do miss the crispness of the north at this time of year. All the apple orchards too! Fortunately I found Harry's Wholefoods store that sells seasonal produce from all over, so I am able to buy my much beloved Courtland apples, to turn into danish, and homeade applesauce. I'm such a country girl at heart and it's funny because we live in such a metro area compared to where I grew up. The older I get the more I realize how much I appreciate where I grew up. Sure it was out in the middle of nowhere in the country, but it sure was beautiful and green. Here it's a bit of a fight in traffic wherever you go, but we have really learned to love having everything so close, walmart, grocery stores, gas stations, theatre's, the mall. Even our church is 5 minutes up the road. It sure is nice not to have to drive far. But my heart still misses the country...maybe someday we will have that horse ranch and a cute cottage with my own little garden, and a few little kiddos....mmm someday!

Pray for your husband!

I found this online devotional last week that I really thought had some good information in it. It's taken from a book that is writtten about praying for your husband. I think it's so important to really pray for your husband because there are so many battles he has to face in the world. Marriage is really not the norm nowadays as sad as that is. Satan has really worked his way into this precious relationship meant to symbolize our own relationship with Christ. With the rise of divorce and homosexual sin marriage is somehow being smothered out. I won't stand for that. I love my husband too much. It really makes me angry how much Satan has prevailed and also fills me with a fierceness to do what I can to protect our marriage, our relationship, our love.
One day when we have children that look to us as their example, I want to be able to show them what real love is. I don't want them looking to the world for an example, I can only imagine how it will be years down the road.
Here is the link, take a look and pray for God to teach you how to do maybe just one more thing to protect your marriage: http://www.crosswalk.com/marriage/11581371/

My fluidity!

I am not one to watch those cheesy telemarketing commercials, but for some reason one day I was flipping through channels over my bowl of cereal and I came across this fabulous exercise machine called the Fluidity. It's basically a dancers bar that comes with dvd's and other trinkets to help you work your body into a 'dancers body'. How fabulous is that? And the examples of course were like: "before I used my fluidity I was so blah blah blah, and now I can't believe the difference! " yes I know very typical. And normally I just breeze on by channels like that.

When I was a little girl I used to put on my tights and body suit, flip on a record of classical music (wow records are so old now) and pretend that I was performing ballet for a grand audience of whoever happened to be there- my sisters, our cats.

But I always dreamed about ballet, and how graceful it is. Even though I am not taking up ballet, I still thought it would be neat to learn how to stretch and exercise with flexibility and strength. Plus I can get a good workout too!

I saw that dance bar and thought hmm I would like to have one. And the price they advertise it for is so lowww...or so I thought, until I looked it up online and saw how expensive it was. So I have been diligently searching Craig's List for my very own fluidity. And I found one nearby! Yesterday we drove over and picked it up and I got it for almost half the price! My husband is so sweet and supportive of my semi-online-telemarketing-purchase.

I'm so excited. It's sitting in our little apartment now taking up entirely too much space but it folds down so it can fit under the bed. I just have it sitting out waiting for me.

I can't wait to try the first dvd and see if it really gives you that 'dancers body'. It will be a good workout at least!

I will post a picture of my lovely fluidity. And it's now my goal to work out twice a week. I wrote it here so in some way I can be held accountable for it. Tuesday and Thursday sound good.....and so my progress will begin tomorrow.

what a good quote

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
~e.e. cummings

Timing

It's been a long week of waiting. Waiting for the agent selling the home to get in touch with our agent, but finally we received our much prayed for answer. Some one else put a contract on the house, so as disappointing as it was at the moment I felt a peace about the whole situation. Sometimes it takes a stubborn closed door to show us that God is saying no in a not so subtle way. I have been reading Phillipians this week and 4:6,7 has stuck out to me: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
What a true verse this in my own life, it is so applicable. But I just wanted to post an update here. In the meantime we will keep praying for the right house to open up and I know God will provide something so great for us.

for the little babes in my life

So I have had this random phrase running in my mind all day. It's been a while since I felt a poem in me. Today I did. I haven't written a poem since I was a teenager. I used to love poetry and it would come so easily to me to rhyme together phrases and use descriptive words. I can see pictures in my mind with words. It's funny but that is how I remember things, places, names- all by pictures in my mind. Maybe that is why I am an artist, because I am so visually oriented. Maybe that is why I love coloring books, childrens books, fun and colorful design. I'm so visual it's kind of ridiculous, but it's what inspires me and drives me and gives me passion. That is why my photography is unique, because pictures tell a story. They tell the story your telling. I think that is why I love beautiful and descriptive Bible verses. God the most awesome Artist of all, felt that way too. That's a cool thought.

Steps

Pitter patter, tip toe,

watching, hearing, learning,

grow.

pitter patter, tip toe,

almost standing,

here I go.

pitter patter, tip toe,

running, racing,

never slow.

pitter patter, tip toe,

taller taller,

where did you go?

pitter patter, tip toe,

years fly by, 

where did time go?

pitter patter, tip toe

all grown up, and on your own,

always always in my heart,

my pitter patter, tip toe.

Welcome to the world!

Our new little nephew was born yesterday evening, and I am so excited about his arrival. It was a long wait, as we thought he would be born last Friday, but he had different plans.
His name is Pearson, and already he looks like his mom with her eyes and mouth. I can't wait to really see him in person when we make the drive to KY.
Babies are such a blessing from God, every one is a miracle.

Waiting on God

Lately I have been learning a lot about waiting on God. This week especially. We found a house and it seems like it could be a great deal financially- but is it for us? I have finally reached the point where I am just stepping back and really letting go of the situation. I'm trusting in God for His direction, timing and answer. It's exciting to see what will happen, maybe we won't get it and someone else will, and that's okay because it wasn't meant to be ours anyways.
I'm so thankful that God has protected us through the years.
Every morning I arrive at work early so I have a few minutes to read an online devotional. Today I read from Charles Swindall- http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/daybyday/
It was relevant to my circumstances now. The example given was Esther and wow what an example to follow. She had so much wisdom and self control to hold her tongue and listen- to what was going on around her and to God. In this fast paced world it's so easy to live in the here and now and not focus on tomorrow. But God does not even notice time- how unbelievable is that in my little vision.
I'm slowly realizing how important it is to live in the now but also to plan wisely for the future. I don't want to be so rushed in life I can't enjoy the moments and isn't that what makes life exciting? Remembering all those funny and memorable moments.