Day 38: Song lyrics that you find some meaning in.
"Remind Me Who I Am" by Jason Gray
Day 39: What are some of your biggest pet peeves?
Babywearing incorrectly or unsafely and not properly installing or using your car seats correctly. The "recommendations" should be RULES and REGULATIONS. Do your research people!
Day 40: What is the hardest challenge you have been faced with?
It's both the hardest and the BEST challenge... becoming a mother. There are SO many ups and downs, especially now that we have entered toddlerhood! It's overwhelming! It'll be interesting adding a newborn to the mix in November!
I'm WAY WAY WAY behind on this... To explain a little, Justin and I had a long discussion about if we were done having babies after Bubby is here. For the time being, at least until Bubby is 4 or older (Boogie would be about 6 or older) we have decided that we want to settle as a family of four and then re-evaluate. This will give us a chance to enjoy the two we have and focus on them while they're little, take them on a few vacations without toting a newborn around, and then if we feel like our family is incomplete we will go from there. So, since Bubby is very VERY much a boy I have completely de-stashed all of her clothing, at least... I've almost de-stashed all of her old clothing. It's been incredibly frustrating really. I thought it was a brilliant idea to try and sell them on local yard sale pages on facebook, but it's just been very stressful and annoying. People backing out at the last minute for various reasons, people getting mad because they "claimed" something before someone else (at least they THOUGHT so, however they were wrong!). So... I'm meeting a very nice momma today who is expecting in November as well, and another momma later this week for the newborn clothing, and one more next weekend and hopefully she'll take the last of my loot! All of these funds are going towards newborn cloth diapers for Bubby. Woo! It's been a LONG LONG weekend! Anyways... I'm just going to do one long post for the days I missed on the Summer Blog Challenge, so if you're still reading... bear with me!
Day 29: Write a "How to" Post...
Oh geez... lol... How about I share a how to post I wrote a while back on how to make homemade baby legs? It's very easy, even if you're a complete novice at sewing (which I am!). You can find it HERE.
Day 30: Post a photo of an outfit that either is your style or you wish was your style.
Oh Pinterest, how I love you! So this outfit minus the jewelry and add short sleeves to the shirt.
Day 31: Talk about something eco friendly that you already do.
We cloth diaper! I love love love it, even though I'm having a hard time keeping up with regular laundry lately, let alone diaper laundry! I'm really excited to get newborn dipes for Bubby so that we have diapers he will actually fit in from day one! Boogie didn't fit into her stash of one size diapers until almost 10 weeks! That was a long 10 weeks of yucky sposies :(
Day 32: Share a poem you've written or just one you like.
My favorite poetry is from the book of Psalms... nothing is more beautiful then poetry for Christ!
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Day 33: Travel & plans you have for the summer.
Nada. We MIGHT spend a day in Gatlinburg... but other than that we are staying put. In October, if the midwives say it's ok, we'll all be going to Raleigh for 3 days when Justin goes to take his certifying exam. So... that's our mini vaca for the year!
Another song by Francesca... this one is powerful, both in lyrics and music!
Beautiful, Beautiful
Francesca Battistelli
Don't know how it is You looked at me
And saw the person that I could be
Awakening my heart, breaking through the dark
Suddenly Your grace
Like sunlight burning at midnight
Making my life something so beautiful, beautiful
Mercy reaching to save me, all that I need
You are so beautiful, beautiful
Now there's a joy inside I can't contain
But even perfect days can end in rain
And though it's pouring down, I see You through the clouds
Shining on my face
Like sunlight burning at midnight
Making my life something so beautiful, beautiful
Mercy reaching to save me, all that I need
You are so beautiful, beautiful
I have come undone
But I have just begun
Changing by Your grace
Like sunlight burning at midnight
Making my life something so beautiful, beautiful
Mercy reaching to save me, all that I need
You are so beautiful
Like sunlight burning at midnight
Making my life something so beautiful, beautiful
Mercy reaching to save me, all that I need
You are so beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
I hope to show my daughter how BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL she is, not only on the outside, but on the inside. And that's all because of God's mercy and grace!
Francesca Battistelli is one of my all time favorite singer/musician/songwriter... so many of her songs touch my heart more than I can say. The first time I heard one of her songs was when I heard "Free to be Me" on the radio. I was hooked! This song, "This is the Stuff" is one I heard recently and I LOVE it....
This is the Stuff
Francesca Battistelli
I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
I know that I am very guilty of letting the small stuff get to me, and forgetting that through everything God is using it to teach me... and through it all, I am SO blessed. All those little things that drive me crazy, I have to just let them go and give them to God... find that song on Youtube... and be blessed!
I'm hooked on this song called "I Will Follow" by Chris Tomlin... the words have spoken to my heart and I've been humbled.
Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow...
All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone
Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you
Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone
In you there's life everlasting
In you there's freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
And I will follow
I know that in my walk with Christ I have fallen over and over again... I am not consistent in my one on one time with Him, I do not pray enough, I do not read enough, I don't do ANYTHING enough. I'm going to work harder and find ways to remind myself to make Jesus FIRST in my life. I want to go where He goes, I want to stay where He stays, when He moves I want to move. I want to love who He loves, I want to serve who He serves... and when my life on earth is over, I want to follow in His footsteps. Again... I am humbled.
Introducing... the beautiful! The fabulous! The amazing! .....
My guitar! Ok yea, that was lame... but I love love love love my guitar. I bought her with my OWN money in high school... by far the biggest purchase I EVER made before moving out and living on my own (with my wonderful husband ofcourse).
I'm in a singy/musical mood today... so go check out this song by JJ Heller. It's called What Love Really Means. You can listen to it on her website or her facebook page. She has an amazing voice, I only wish I sounded as amazing as she does!
Ok yes... I've been down in the dumps lately. I'm still a little bit sad/frustrated at the moment, but I did a little bit of worshiping today and that perked me up a bit ;-)
Anywho, for the 20 bazillionth time I attempted to plan my school schedule for the next few semesters... and discovered something brilliant! If I take extra classes this summer I could possibly transfer next Spring instead of next Fall... and graduate a semester early. Um.... yes please? And at hearing "transfer a semester early" Justin said.... REALLY??? So he's excited... to say the least. Now, the only thing I'm worried about is if I do transfer is finding an apartment/house to rent in the middle of a school year in a COLLEGE town. Yea. So what may happen is I may have to look into taking online classes through Western, or possibly taking some extra classes that would hopefully transfer at AB Tech. Ugh! Decisions, decisions.. luckily I am taking a mini roadtrip to this wonderful new school I have fallen in love with the one and only mother of the Flint Monsters :) who is an alumni! So I'll have a better idea of what to do after that.
I finally got caught up on assignments... two spontaneous trips the last two weekends have thrown me for a loop... luckily everything got turned in on time! LOL! Tomorrow I'm hoping to visit with an old friend and possibly enjoy some sunshine with the Flints.... or if they can't come with my homework (yay?)...
Instead of a bible verse today, I wanted to share this with you...
I did it. I finally gave my notice at church tonight. January 26th will be my last night working for CR. Do you hear me sighing with relief? I've been so stressed and annoyed with everything... ugh. And not only that, but my school workload this week... phew! I read so much information on anthropology, world civilizations, precal and how to write papers based on literature research I might have lost a few brain cells instead of gaining a few. Needless to say, this semester is going to kick my butt! I haven't had much to post lately, but I still feel like I need to update now and then... if not for anybody but myself. I found myself reading past entries... some as far as before our marriage... and it amazes me how much I've grown and changed. It also made me realize how blessed I am. A friend of mine and I were chatting the other day about how God's timing is always perfect, there are no flaws in His plan. I have no doubt that everything that has happened in my life has had a purpose, and every choice I've made has meant something and set forth a new journey for me to endure. I listened to Barlow Girl today, and this song touched my heart:
Thoughts of you
And how you've changed me
Fill my mind
Without You where would I be
So even though I've tried to express my thanks
It never comes out how I hoped
I want to say so much more
so with these simple words I'll try
I love You
My heart is Yours, only Yours
I long to give You all of me
My everything, my everything
God I never could repay You
You gave everything
Without You where would I be
You still loved me even when I
Pushed You away
You stood there and waited
Till the day I'd return
So even though I've tried to express my thanks
It never comes out how I hoped
I want to say so much more so with these simple words... I'll try
"Worlds Apart"
I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but loveto give and die
To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache
Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees
All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believeIn the mercy that covers me
Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all aparttake it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart
If you don't know so already, I am the childcare provider for Celebrate Recovery at our church. We have about 12 kids ranging in ages from 1 year to 14 years (I know, BIG difference). Well we have recently started a new bible study that sort of follows along with the adults bible study, except ours is called Celebration Station. Last night our lesson was called "Powerless" and we talked about how Jesus calmed the storm. If you don't know this story already, you can read it in Luke, chapter 8, verses 22-25. Essentially, Jesus and His disciples are sailing across the Sea of Galilee when this huge storm develops. Jesus is sound asleep while His disciples are freaking out and yelling, "We're going to drown! Master wake up! We are going to drown!" When Jesus wakes he simply says, "Why can't you trust me? What happened to your faith?" and he asks the storm to calm and the waves to level out... and all is well.
I know that lately, especially with the economy the way it is right now, we are all facing storms of our own. But we should know by now that Jesus is faithful, He is always there no matter our circumstances... and I just wanted to share that with YOU tonight. If God led you to my blog tonight... then maybe this is what you needed to hear! God Bless.
So this week has been rough... well who am I kidding? This YEAR has been rough! So I've been down in the dumps and ofcourse feeling sorry for myself. And then I hear this song...
It's like POW! In your face Sarah! I will praise you in this storm... and that's what I should be doing, so last night I did. I even made a video of myself singing (but I will NOT be posting it... because when I start REALLY singing and feeling it... I look CRAZY!). So here I am. Letting everything go.
I was sure by now, God, that You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say amen and it's still raining as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away. And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry to Youand raised me up again my strength is almost gone how can I carry on if I can't find You and as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you"and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
Everything you read here is the naked truth... my life in a nutshell. I'm a mommy, a wife, a homemaker, a baker, a teacher, a nurse, a chef, and much much more. My job never ends!
Please feel free to email me with any questions or comments you don't feel comfortable posting on my blog. I'm also open to reviewing products and holding giveaways as long as they coincide with the topics my blog covers! Thanks!
