Salty.

This was my photo of the day on my 365 blog and I liked it so much, I'm posting it here.  I'm just crazy like that!
I was trying to find something to take a photo of tonight.  I was looking through the kitchen and saw the salt - PERFECT!  As Christ followers, we are supposed to be the salt of the earth.  {Salt makes people thirsty} Are you living your life so that others are thirsty for what YOU have?

 Yeah, yeah, they're the same picture, but I couldn't decide if I liked texture or no texture the best.  Again, I'm just crazy like that. 

 I hope everyone is having a wonderful week.
BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!!!

Words of wisdom.

Well, at least that's what I like to call them.

Monday night I went to bed and felt like I was asleep forever, but woke up 30 minutes later.  Doesn't that drive you crazy when that happens?  What drives me even more crazy is the fact that I could not fall back asleep.  I was fidgety and squirmy.....so much so that I woke up my prince sleeping next to me.  I decided to get a drink of water, hop back in bed and play a game of Tetris (I'm known in my family as the Tetris QUEEN - 249 lines is my high score!).  1 1/2 hours and a few games later, I was finally tired enough to fall asleep.

During my Tetris time, I was saying extra prayers, asking for extra guidance and wisdom for me and Mike, praying about our future....you know, the magnified kind of stuff that you think of when you can't sleep.  All of the sudden, some words popped into my mind.  Once, twice, three times, four, five, six, seven, eight.......I lost count.  I couldn't keep up with the amount of times this ran through my head.

PROTECT YOUR DREAMS.

Like an umbrella protects us from the rain, we should be protecting our dreams.  We should be keeping them safe from the elements that sprinkle on us each day.  It is so important to protect those dreams inside of us.

I was talking to a close friend the other day and I confided in this person that they were the ONLY person I was telling because I basically wanted to keep it "safe" right now.  They agreed that they were doing the same thing with what they were telling me because there are so many people that would enjoy seeing these dreams shattered.

Then I got to thinking.  There are so many people in this life that do not want to see you do better than them.  They want to keep you down.  They want you to doubt yourself.  They want you to think your dreams are insane.  They want you to fear the future.  They want you to stay in that rut.  They don't want to see you truly happy.  They want you to think your dreams aren't possible.  They want you to be insecure.  They want you to think that your dreams are TOO far out of reach.  They're "just being realistic".  They try to destroy that dream that is inside of you.  To these type of people, it would be pure joy if your dreams crumbled around your feet.

Those are the kind of people you need to protect your dreams from.  It's hard sometimes, though.  You just get SO EXCITED about the future and about dreams that are right on your fingertips and you want to shout it to the world!!!  From personal experience, I know this all too well.

I have learned some things about dreams.  Write your dreams down.  Put them on a vision board.  Share your dreams with one or two people who you consider to be a positive influence in your life. Someone who is going to cheer you on.  Someone who is going to tell you - keep going.  Someone who is going to tell you - you can do it!  Someone who is going to tell you - believe in miracles.  Someone who is going to support your dreams no matter how crazy and insane they may seem!!!  Someone who will help you cultivate those dreams.  Someone who will keep your dreams protected.  Someone who believes in your dreams more than you do.  You know who those people are in your life.....they are valuable and priceless! 

                                                     

GUARD YOUR HEART.

It's SO important to guard your heart also.  We should guard our hearts more than we protect our dreams.  Give and receive love into those hearts.  Be selective with what and WHO you let into your heart.  Keep bitterness OUT of those beautiful hearts.  Keep envy out of those hearts.  Keep jealousy out of those hearts.  Keep anger out of those hearts.  Keep judgment out of those hearts.  There are so many unbelievable truths packed into Proverbs 2 and 4!  Proverbs 4: 23 says - "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life."  Did you read that?!!  It says to guard your heart "above ALL that you guard"!!!!  Our hearts are fragile and precious and so beautiful.

The phenomenal part to this story is this - I subscribe to Brave Girls Club daily truths.  Tuesday evening after I made the props for this blog, and before I went to bed, I checked my emails, and this beautiful truth was waiting for me in my inbox!!!  I couldn't stop crying.  It was a confirmation to me.  It could not have come at a more perfect time!  That daily truth was meant for me Tuesday!!!!!!  

I just want to encourage you to protect your dreams and guard your hearts.  You have one heart and bunches of dreams - do everything you can to protect them.  When the right time comes along, you will know in your heart that you can share them with the world!!!!!!  Dream HUMONGOUS dreams!  Believe in miracles!!!!  You. CAN. do. it.

Simply inspired.

A few nights ago Mike and I went out to pick up some household supplies.  While we were out, I ran across these.

Of course, if you know me, you know I am obsessed with the color green!!!!!  Anything green, any shade of it, more than likely, I will love it!!!  I wanted the green coffee mug because of the obvious - the color.  But, I LOVED what the yellow one said!  I was torn on which one to get, so I got both of them.  They were on clearance too, so I really couldn't pass them up!!

I've been doing a photo challenge.  Taking one photo a day.  Reading one page in my camera manual a day.  And visiting professional photography sites each day.  The challenge is to improve my photography skills by 300% in one year.  I even started a photography blog for this very reason.  When I got the coffee mugs home, the photo shoot began.  I was so excited about it.  These mugs were beautiful and so photogenic.  :)  I was happy with most of the photos I took, such as this one.

 I was happy with the boxed photos until I opened up the box!!!  I was so excited!  Yes, they're coffee mugs and I had a photo shoot with them.  I've never even been a coffee drinker until a few weeks ago.  We were trying some new coffee in the office and I had to taste it - Chocolate Donut Coffee!  It was pretty tasty, but I'm NOW addicted to Caribou Columbian coffee.  Made fresh from the Keurig coffee machine.

Back to the story.  So, I opened up the boxes, and my heart skipped a beat and it also smiled.  There was a surprise.

First, in the rim of the B mug, it said "I believe in miracles"!!  Anyone who knows me also knows that this has been kind of my theme in life.  I make cards and invitations in my spare time, and "believe in miracles" is the quote that I put on the back of EVERY. SINGLE. CARD.  It's been my trademark, I guess you could say.  So, when I opened up that box and saw that in the rim of the mug, I was beside myself. 

The "L" mug surprised me with "It's a wonderful life!"  My favorite Christmas movie of all time.  And, it had an exclamation point at the end of the saying!!!!  Once again, anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE using exclamation points!!!!  NOT because I'm yelling, but because I'm sharing my excitement!  {If you ever get an email from me and I'm using a thousand exclamation points, I'm not mad, I'm just EXCITED!!!!}

As an added bonus, the boxes were wrapped with chocolate brown ribbon that said "simply inspired".  I thought it was cool because I ALWAYS welcome being inspired.  I love being around inspiring people, sharing inspirational thoughts, and reading inspirational blogs and books.....I don't think anyone can have too many inspiring people in their life!!!!!  Inspiration ROCKS and so does this ribbon......

 I was trying to be creative using the ribbon.  I wrapped it around our photo just for something different.  As I'm sitting here writing this blog, something just hit me!!!!  I want simplicity, inspiration and God to fill our cups to overflowing!  To pour over us so we can share and bless others!!!! 

I like this picture because the dark ribbon reminds me of a cup of dark coffee (even though I prefer lots of cream) or a cup of hot chocolate.  :)

I just wanted to share this with you.  I want you to be inspired.  I want you to remember that you can be tied up with a bow of inspiration.  You can stay stuck in your box with your pretty bow.  Imagine how many people need that inspiration and surprise that is INSIDE that pretty little box!!!  The only way to share that beauty and surprise inside that box is to open it up and share it with the world!

Has anyone told you that what is inside you is beautiful and inspiring?  Listen to them. They're telling the truth! 

Inspiration, you are welcome in my life!!!!!

xoxoxxoooooo

I NOW present to you.....2010!

I think 2010 is going to have LOTS & LOTS of amazing miracles and blessings!  These are just some of the things I want to accomplish in the new year!

Here are some of my top resolutions.  And, actually, I'm not going to call them resolutions this year, I'm calling them resolves!  I was going to call them promises because I don't like the word resolution, but I just read this blog post, and I'm calling them resolves from here on.  To sum it up...... 

        Resolution: noun. a formal expression of opinion or intention made.

Resolve: verb. to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something)

 1.  Lose weight and be healthy.  What else would be #1, right?!  I know losing weight doesn't always = healthy, but I'm going to lose weight the healthy way with Body For Life.  It's a great program.  I want to be healthy,  feel better about myself,  and feel attractive for my husband again.  I feel like I've gotten out of control and I do NOT like that feeling.  I want to lose some weight before we have a baby....yeah, yeah, sounds weird, but I want to be IN SHAPE first.  Another reason is a little selfish.  I want to wear cute clothes again!  I want to wear girlie things like this and look SUPER CUTE in them!
 

or a cute little top like this one along with some super cute, great fitting jeans.

and, can't forget these......


it's not a matter of having these THINGS, it's a matter of feeling good about myself again and WANTING to look cute and be able to FIT into these things.  ....okay, the boots....they're an added bonus, I don't need to lose weight to fit into those beauties, i just want them.  really bad.  size 9 please.

2.  Which, should actually be #1.  To be closer to God.....to not only pray continually, but to read His word, study it, learn it, and apply it to my daily life.  I love the peace of mind that comes along with this also.  My heart is so hungry for God, but the day to day life has gotten in the way too often in 2009, and I'm resolving to change that in 2010.  For starters, I'm jumping into 2010 by starting the Beth Moore study on Esther.  I've heard so many great things about this study.  I'm attending this with women I don't even know and that's even more exciting to me - meeting new people who will possibly be some great friends too.

3.  Become the wife that my husband NEEDS me to be.  I think I do an okay job at this right now, but I want to be better.  I have my faults, trust me.  We all do.  But, my promise to my husband for 2010 is to strive to be EVERYTHING he needs me to be.  Wives, we're supposed to help our husbands, be their best friends and their MOST enthusiastic cheerleaders.  That's what I want to be and MORE!  I stumbled upon this blog   the other day.  I was browsing through the posts and the post titled The Role of a Wife caught my eye.  It is wonderful and I love her perspective!  I am going to work toward being a wife like this in 2010.

4.  Devote time each week to guitar lessons.  I have a beautiful guitar that not only looks great, but sounds great too.  I want to put it to use, once and for all.  That guitar has a purpose and it hasn't been fulfilling that purpose thanks to its owner.  Starting in 2010, I will have a weekly schedule of practicing.  I really wanted to get Mike to take a cool picture of me WITH my guitar, but honestly, I haven't had a shower today.  Nothing would look cool with me right now.  seriously. With that being said......official Martin picture is below.  :)

5. Create.  I'm going to work on a project at least every other month - something creative and artsy.  I'm stepping out on a limb on this one because I don't feel creative all the times.  The mood has to strike me in order to be creative.  I guess I'll pray that the mood strikes at least every other month.  ;)

6.  I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to go to Brave Girl Camp!  Melody and Kathy are the amazing women behind BGC!  To sum it up, they are INCREDIBLE women!  Their hearts are 1000% into this and if YOU go, you will NOT be disappointed!!!!!  I attended practice BGC in September 2009 and it was incredible.  In 2010, I really want to attend the official Brave Girl Camp....as bad as I want those boots!  

7.  Photography.  I want to spend time each week getting to know my camera, and learning how to use it to its fullest potential.  I heard about this challenge, and I really want to give it a try.  Take at least one photo a day.  Read at least one page in your camera manual a day.  View other professional images every day.  You can sign up at this link to join in the challenge.  The most difficult part of photography for me, is editing.  I'm just not a fan of it.  I know it's supposed to be one of the most fun and rewarding parts of photography, but it is the most time consuming and annoying to me.  I am going to try to embrace editing this year (or find someone to do it for me.....).

If you're still reading this, THANK YOU.  I know it was long, but I had to put this out there for accountability.  Because, now that this is out there, I have to do it.  I have to!!!  This is going to be a fun, amazing, incredible and miraculous year!  Celebrate 2010 with me!!!!!

O Come Let us Adore HIM.

Yes, another blog post about Christmas.  I can't help it.  I'm going to get right to the point.

I don't like singing Christmas songs at church.

Weird, isn't it?!  The reason we go to church is because of Christmas!  Singing Christmas songs at church....I just don't like it.  I know, I know, it's ridiculous.  That is why I was SO happy when one of my sisters told me the other day, out of the blue, "I don't like singing Christmas songs at church."  I said, "oh my gosh!!!!  Meeeeeeeeee neither!!!  I thought I was the ONLY one!!!"  It was good to know that I was not alone in my thinking.......although I suppose it could run in the family..... ;)

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago at church we sang O Come All Ye Faithful.  Nice, classic tune.  I was REALLY focusing on the lyrics, which is what I do most of the time when I sing a song.  I like to be aware and mean what I'm saying.  The lyrics hit me.  So hard.  I was doing all I could to hold back the tears.

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
COME AND BEHOLD HIM,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Do you ever think about the different perspectives of people at the nativity?  Think about how Joseph felt....the girl he was with was pregnant, not by him, but by a miraculous act of God.  The baby was going to be the Saviour of the world.  They were traveling.  Trying to find a place to stay.  Going here and there.  Looking for a vacancy.  It was cold.  It was dark.  Every place they went - no room.  Mary was in labor.  In pain.  Suffering.  Imagine Joseph tired and weary from traveling and chaos from not being able to find a place to stay.  He knew that this was part of the plan, but after things seem to NOT be working out, was he wondering, and shouting out to God?  "THIS is your plan???  God of ALL creation, This is YOUR plan?!!  Why are you letting her suffer?!  This is supposed to be the King of the world!  This is supposed to be a happy moment!  She isn't supposed to be in all of this pain!  Help her!  You say you're in control!  DO SOMETHING!!!"    "I AM."

Sometimes we forget that He is in control of everything.  We don't think He is working on our behalf.   We don't feel like He is there.  We feel like we're alone and He isn't listening to us and hearing our cries.  We blame Him for things that happen in our lives, when things go wrong, when bad things happen, when tradgedy strikes....He's the first one most of us get mad at.  Things don't work out as we all have planned.  They don't turn out the way we all would like them to turn out.  Things don't happen in our timing.  He knows what is best.  Things always work out no matter what things look like on the outside.  The next time I get irritated and aggravated and annoyed and question why He isn't moving, I always want to hear Him saying, "I am".

O Come let us adore him!

I was imagining myself there.  At the miraculous birth of Jesus.  What would I do?  What gift would I bring?   How close would I be able to get to the King?  What would I be feeling?  What would I see?  What would I say?  What would I smell?  What What would it be like to be there???  What would MY perspective be?

I hope everyone is having the most wonderful Christmas ever!!!!

♪ ♫.....Christmas time is here....♪ ♪

...and this year it has been really difficult to get in the Christmas spirit.  It's been strange.  I mean, I'm thankful for so much and enjoy this time of the year, but just have not been "feeling it" this year.  It's even sad to admit it, but we didn't even put a Christmas tree up....time escaped.  And, having no heat made us not want to do anything.

A few weeks ago we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas.  It's one of our favorite Christmas cartoons.  One of my favorite parts is when they decorate the tree.  All of their arms go up in the air around the tree and just move from left to right really fast, and bam!, it's decorated.  The tree was so pitiful, and they made it beautiful.  Mike said something like, "we didn't even get a tree this year."  Then it hit me, "hold that thought", I said.

A minute later, THIS was our tree.

Last week as we were sitting in the living room, Mike and I were talking about Christmas trees again.  Talking about how we wish we would have put one up, but it was too late to get one, and we wouldn't have time to enjoy it.  So Mike said, "well, I guess I'll we'll just have to enjoy our Christmas Jar!"  We laughed so hard.  He plugged it up, and enjoyed our Christmas Jar and a glass of wine. 

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see

Such spirit through the year...

Baby it's cold outside....and inside.

We are so blessed.  Sometimes I think that is a cliche' that is over used.  It is used so often that I think most people don't even realize what it means anymore.

This year has been kinda crazy for us.  So many things have happened.  Good and not so good.  But, Mike and I have grown so much this year in so many ways.  We have been tested in so many things....too many to write about in one post.  In all of our trials and triumphs this year we have learned one HUGE lesson.

Pray.  Believe.  Receive.

AND

God answers our prayers through others.

The most recent events can be understood from this picture.  Mike will probably not be thrilled with me for posting this, but it's what I saw every night for almost 2 months straight.  And, I didn't get any pictures of myself during this.  (I love you, honey.)

Our heat went out.  We had our trusty heat/air guy come out and look at the unit.  Yep.  It was basically dead.  Had a mind of its own.  If the heat was turned on, FREEZING cold air was blowing out of the vents.  The cost of repairs?  More than we could ever think of having in our account.  We kept praying for God to make a way for us because as time was ticking the weather kept getting colder and colder. 

It was NO fun being in our house for more than 15 minutes because it was so stinkin' cold.  We had 2 space heaters - 1 new & 1 old - borrowed from family.  The sad thing is we could only use one of them (the new one).  The old one blew the circuit (that's another story in itself) when we used it.  During the day and evening, the space heater was in the living room.  At night, we moved it to our bedroom and kept the door closed to stay as cozy as possible. Sounds nice, right?!

Well, there were about 5 nights that it got REALLY REALLY COLD.  God performed a miracle.  Our heat came on 4 of those really really cold nights!  That was the ONLY time the heat worked in the past couple months.  No joke.  During this time, full gear was worn chillin' in the living room......sweat pants, 3 pair of socks, 1 short sleeve t-shirt, 1 long sleeve t-shirt, a polar fleece hoodie, and a scarf.  Mike normally wore his coat, 3 t-shirts, sweats, and socks and shoes.  Again, no joke.  It was flippin' cold!  Seriously, I even considered purchasing a Snuggie.......okay, NOT REALLY........  Every night, laying in bed, praying to God, through the tears, to hear our prayers and perform a miracle.  PLUS, I was getting really tired of heating up my toilet seat with the hair dryer!  I was so thankful for that hair dryer though - it heated up my clothes before I put them on every day, and some nights even heated up the sheets.

Heck, even our CATS were freezing!
                                                                        

Blossom sitting in front of the heater that blew the circuit.                                                                        

Biscuit even welcomed some covers on the couch.










We kept believing that God was going to do something.  We weren't sure what, but 2 weeks ago we received an email that said the check was in the mail.  We were blown away!  Seriously?!  Yes!  A miracle!  Sent from Heaven above from someone who is so kind, so giving, so selfless, so obedient, so angelic, so beautiful, so dear, so loving, so miraculous, and SO MANY MORE THINGS!!!!  You know who you are, and we CANNOT say THANK YOU enough!!!!  Thank you for being our answered prayer!!!!  We love you so so so much!!!  xoxoxoxooooo

We are SO BLESSED.

and

SO WARM.