Like most women, my jewelry and accessories were out of control.
I could never find a good organizational system for my necklaces in particular. I wanted them to just hand, not get tangled, and I wanted to be able to see each one of them at a glance for easy wardrobe accessorizing.
So, I got this idea.
Two cheap cork boards, combined with dark brown spray paint, cute material, hooks, and a staple gun and ... VOILA!
Beau gave me a hard time about how I was going to accomplish this. We argued a bit about how it was going to work, which made me more determined to make it work.
No, it's not prefect. Don't look too close because there are a lot of flaws, but it's just what I needed.
I'm quite proud that I used a hammer, drill, anchors, and a level all in one day.
Tomorrow I work on my rings and bracelets, along with my bathroom vanity cabinets. Another long day of organizing.
Beau continues in the kitchen. I can't wait to show you once it's done. More paint goes up today. I'm a happy woman.
(For the sake of argument, let's say your main gifting is baking pies.)
And let's say you constantly complained about your pie-baking ability. You've tasted your pies and thought your pies weren't as good as the other pie-bakers around you, Their pies were delicious and way richer. Yours was just OK.
You even started to feel embarrassed about bringing your pies to gatherings because they honestly weren't as good and you even thought you saw someone grimacing after their first bite.
You started to think you'd really like to just hide your pies. Then, no one would ever have to taste them.
But the problem was that you still loved baking pies. And you're not sure if God wants you to stop baking them. After all, these pies have something to do with eternity. (because they're not really pies, you know)
Should you just bake pies for those close to you who love you no matter what your pie tastes like?
Or should you keep trying to bake better pies even though they pretty much stay the same?
Or just bake the dang pies no matter what because that's the gifting God's given you and you should just be content with what you have?
I think whatever giftings God has given you, you just have to surrender them to Him. I'm thinking He knows what to do with them and He will let you know if you should stop.
We were pretty much consumed with Easter production this weekend where we saw over 70 salvations. Pretty amazing. That's what it's all about!
That makes me donning this costume worth it. Let me introduce you to me and my Peeps.
Yep. I was a Peep. Long story. I'll let you know when the production's up on the web so you can see it for yourself.
The highlight of the weekend for me though was getting to see my daughter compete in the Fine Arts Competition at the Louisiana District A/G Youth Convention.
She competed with her group in the human video competition which advanced to Nationals in Phoenix this summer and she competed in the worship band competition.
I am extremely proud of her for even entering the worship band part of the competition. The band worked mostly on their own and two of the band members only learned their instrument for the competition. They did not advance, but I think I'm more proud that they did this and can now work harder for next year. I think it was great! I also think that my little girl has a definite calling on her life in this area. I can't imagine doing what she's doing at 13 years old.
Here's just a snippet of the video from my phone (not great). K Belle invites people to worship up front, plays keys, and led the first song, then sang harmony on the rest.
Easter is about the resurrection, but we can't have the resurrection without the cross.
The resurrection is our hope, our victory.
But, the cross shows love ... unimaginable love ... love that, at times, is difficult to comprehend.
Thinking of handing one of my daughters over to be tortured for anyone that I deeply love is an impossibility for me. I honestly can say that I could not give their life for anyone else's.
The love God has for us is really indescribable. It's amazing. And, it never ends.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 8:35-39
I want to celebrate in the resurrection but never forget the cross and what Jesus had to go through for me.
I often discover new items of goodness that I simply must share with others. Hoping you will love them as much as me. Only don't buy all of them up, please.
Even though I almost did this very thing this week over this peanut butter.
This is absolutely the most delicious peanut butter I have ever eaten.
Don't believe me?
We have a divided household when it comes to peanut butter ... two creamy-lovers (including me & La Petite Belle), and two crunchy-lovers (the other two). This may no longer be a problem since they've tasted this. Beau and I fought over the one jar I had bought last week. I had to head back to the store to get more this week. Worst part is that the only place I have found it is WalMart ... the place I avoid at all costs. I made a special trip to WalMart and bought two jars, even though I debated on buying all four that were left on the shelf. Needless to say, I do love this peanut butter.
(The next two things I discovered on our recent girls' trip thanks to my friend Jeri who bought them.)
Easter candy has always been my favorite candy. No question about it. The Dove truffle egg for the past several years was my all-time Easter candy weakness, but these two have left me speechless ... mainly because my mouth is full.
#5 Claussen pickles
No, I'm not pregnant. But, these babies have the crunch I crave. I won't buy any others anymore. And, I do crave then lately.
#6 - International Delight Almond Joy Creamer
You'll thank me after your first cup of coffee.
#7 - Jennie-O Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Breast
Again ... only found it at WalMart. When I am there I make sure I get some (along with the peanut butter). My favorite deli turkey!
#8 - Del Monte Fruit Naturals Red Grapefruit
I pretty much eat this every day. I buy the eight-pack from Sam's and CANNOT get enough.
#9 - YoCrunch Greek Yogurt
I love Greek yogurt. I find it fills me up longer and I like the creamier texture. Add some granola to that and you've got a winning combo. Guess where's the only place I've found this? Stinkin' WalMart. Ugh. It's inevitable. WalMart rules the world.
#10 - Annie's P'sghetti Loops with Soy Meatballs
(This one's for La Petite Belle.)
La Petite Belle would eat Spaghettio's for every meal every day. And, ya'll that stuff ain't good for ya' ... lots of calories and lots of sodium and not many nutrients. I was nervous about buying these thinking she would notice that the meatballs are soy and not eat them. But, alas, she loves them (I don't think she knows yet.). Yay! Mom wins!
Anything you can share with me that I need to try?
K Belle won Superior and Gold for this stamp she created using foam and a cutter.
She's got talent. A month or so ago she won a similar award for her poem about her dad. You should hear what I heard her play on piano last night. And let's not getting started on her sweet voice and acting skills. Pretty great.
Now, if I could just get her to care equally for her her homework and the condition of her room.
And by life, I mean ... home, work, and personal organization in my spiritual, mental, & physical self.
When one of these areas is out of whack, I can go a little looney and feel like I'm falling apart. I'm sure that's not normal, but it's me or at least the perfectionist superwoman part of me that plagues me day and night. But, it's true that when all of these things are in synch, life is good. Organization makes me happy.
There are not many times when all these areas do line up. As you know, life doesn't like to go by our rules. Life likes to run rampant and fight us on any type of organization that we might try to accomplish.
So I've decided to get vigilant about it.
Yesterday I bought this book:
Don't let the title fool you. I am not a disorganized person. Not at all. I just have a compulsion to continuously organize in new and more efficient ways. I kinda get a high from this.
Am I the only one whose heart's all aflutter when looking at these lovely pictures?
(This pic is from the actual book ... the rest are other amazing ones I love.)
I'm sure there's a name for this condition. But until then, I'll keep re-organizing.
I'm pumped about getting some things done in this house.
My home has been in a constant state of chaos, creating much irritation for me. Our kitchen is still a work-in-progress and we, like everyone else, are extremely busy during this time of year. I stand by my standard "as soon as (fill-in-the-blank) is over" I will get started on this. My "fill-in-the-blank" for right now is Easter.
But, it will get done. I think I can get this house organized in one week. We're talking extreme organizing.
First step from the book ... get out the label-maker. Well, seeing as I don't own a label-maker (I didn't think people actually still owned those anymore.), that should take at least a few days. This process may take longer than I thought.
I just came back from an annual girlfriends' beach trip. It's our fourth year to head on out to one of the girl's dad's beach house on Dauphin Island (AL).
The house is amazing, steps away from the water ... the gulf on one side and the bay on the other.
This trip is important to each one of us.
As wives, mommies, and working women, it's quite difficult for us to get away. We search for dates. We get irritated when we can't seem to find one weekend that will work for all of us. Then, it happens ... we compromise, plan it, and agree to make arrangements for our families. Those arrangements can mean many difficult things like having grandparents take over in school carlines and homework, missing family weddings, trusting husbands to fix ponytails and not allow their children to attend church in mismatched clothes and ratty flip-flops, and simply trusting beloved family members & friends to tote our kids from one activity to another. It's asking a lot, I know.
But, we did it. And, we do it every time.
Why?
Because of how important our friendships are to one another.
Friendships take work and effort. Each person has to invest time.
There are times that we disagree or even hurt each other's feelings. That's when the work begins. Do we give up and walk away from our friendships? No. We push through. We've invested too much to let go. Because good friendships are few and far between. We want these to last. We want to be in our eighties still having coffee together, attending our accountability & Bible study time, having girls' nights, making beach trips, sharing our hearts, and most of all, just being available and ready to help each other if needed.
I love these girls.
Remember to take the time to invest in the relationships you have. It's so important. (and fun too)
I had a most fantastic weekend! Joie de Vivre is over, but great moments remain.
Because I am quite exhausted and am overwhelmed with all the things I have to do at home today, I will leave you with my absolute favorite part and will post pictures tomorrow.
Getting to hang out with Nancy Alcorn was incredible.
To hear the stories of the girls that have been rescued and saved through Mercy Ministries was amazing.
Nancy spoke at Joie de Vivre and our weekend services. All services were powerful.
Nancy inspired each of us to imagine what it would be like if we dreamed to do what God has called each of us to do. We all have a job and a mandate.
We should not let fear get in our way. Let's face it ... fear is the main reason we don't do a lot of things when it comes to God. It's way easier just to sit back and do nothing.
But we can't ... no matter how much we want to. We've got to step out and step up.
These two Scriptures encouraged me to trust that I'm where God wants me to be and helped to release me from some fear I had. Each one of us is called and anointed to preach the Gospel. It's our job as Christ-followers. We may not say everything perfectly and that's OK because people can see our heart if we show them. Share your heart and God will put the right words in your mouth. Just be a willing vessel.
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners
Isaiah 61:1
I have put my words in your mouth
and covered you with the shadow of my hand
I've always loved to sing. Even as a child, my mom said I would sing ALL the time.
I liked singing as a child. But, I only liked it when I sang alone. Never in front of anyone.
I can remember the feeling I got as a child when I sang my first solo "O Come Little Children" ... pure terror. Dry mouth, throat closing up, heart palpitations, sweaty palms, and shaking ... not fun.
As a teenager, I sang in chorus and was given many opportunities to sing solos, but always had an urge to vomit beforehand. Fear can really get the best of you.
Even when I reached adulthood, I would get extremely sick to my stomach. No matter how much I sang, it was still there.
If I knew I had to sing a solo, I would not eat all day to avoid any possible stomach discomfort. It was bad, ya'll.
Then, the desire to sing really just went away. I was busy with other things at the time anyway. I was finishing up college and was a new mom.
I stopped singing for about four years.
I was brought back to the place I was as a child, singing alone and in the church congregation only. I was content with that. It was comfortable.
I started singing again once we'd moved back home and were attending our home church.
Because I hadn't really sung for so many years, I felt inadequate and those feelings of insecurity and vomiting returned, especially when I had to sing a solo. Sick for the entire weekend over it.
Time passed. I kept pushing through my fear and it did get a little easier, but I'd still get sick. To be honest, I still get a few butterflies beforehand, but I just do it anyway.
However, the one time I feel no fear ... and I mean NO FEAR ... no nervousness, no sickness, is when I'm singing worship songs. Even if I'm the only one singing the songs, there are no nerves to bother me.
I feel comfortable. I feel safe. I feel happy.
It's what I love to do.
I really do love to sing to the Lord. No matter what's going on in my life, that's the one time I can set everything aside and just focus on Him.
He is the reason I sing.
Psalm 63:7 - Because You are my help, I will sing in the shadow of Your wings.
I got to lead this awesome song this weekend. I thought about what our united voices in praise must sound like to God. I love the lines of this song that say, "This is the sound of the redeemed rising up to praise the King ..." and "We the redeemed, hear us singing ... " Our desire should be to get the Lord's attention with our praise. Hear us singing, Lord.
For the past several months, I have lost all control in the area of my emotions. It's quite ridiculous.
I could be just talking about some random thing and the next thing you know, there are tears. What in the world?
And, I'm not talking just watery eyes. I'm talking full-on ugly cry.
I'm all about becoming more sensitive because honestly my tendency is to be the opposite. To a fault most of the time. I truly believed the words to the old "Big Girls Don't Cry" song.
For years, I rarely cried. Years, people!
Now, it's daily. I'm not sure how to respond to this new emotion. It kinda throws me off my game.
I know what you're going to say ... "Mama Belle, you're kinda gettin' up there in age. It's your hormones."
I'm sure that does have something to do with it. Hormones do crazy things.
But, even my sensitivity towards the Lord is heightened, which is welcome to me. The day I start taking all He's done for me for granted will be a sad day indeed. I actually think I grow more thankful as I get older.
I know that the added stress I've had lately may also play a part.
I'm going to put this newfound reaction to a test:
As soon as my life slows down, if that ever happens, I will use some of that old-lady-hormone cream someone recommended months back. Then, after a couple of weeks, we'll see if the crying continues or stops altogether.
I am bound and determined to figure this out. If it's the Lord, I can't wait to see what His purpose and outcome will be.
I'll keep you posted on the progress. Until then, let me grab another box of tissues.
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