How to have a good Thanksgiving

1. Don't waste any time taking an outfit picture.  Consider a family picture even better.

dress: old navy   necklace: carolineg  boots: dsw 

2. Chase your niece and nephew around to try to get a picture with them. 

3. Once you catch them don't give up.  Even if they cover their eyes or don't look at the camera.

4. Count your self very lucky when you finally get a good one.

5. And even luckier when they jump into your pictures without being forced.

6. Take at least one picture of your meal.



7.  Do lots of sitting around, watching episode after episode of Friends or admiring a fire and Christmas decorations.

8. Be so thankful that Christmas is four weeks away and you get to do it all over again!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Surrender

dress & shirt: old navy   sandals: target

It's been far too long since I had been running outside and while I was camping I was reminded how much I miss it.  I think I've avoided "quiet" time a lot this summer as I often end of feeling sad, scared and upset when I just sit and think about what I am going through, and what our future may be.

I was reminded while running how important it is to continually process what I'm going through and open my heart to whatever the Lord wants to teach me.

I believe that God uses trials to bring us closer to Him and to teach us. 

As I've been in the same trial for over a year, I believe the most important thing I've learned is to surrender. 

Surrender 

my plans

my desires

my control

my timing 

and to trust that God has His perfect plan and His perfect timing.

And whether I learn one more thing or ten more things before he blesses us with a baby, 

I need to give up trying to figure it out. 

I need to stop planning after each "lesson" I feel I learn and think that maybe now God will give me what I want.
I need to surrender my frustrations and anger that we have been in this same place for what seems like so long. 

I need to stop planning out my future month by month of what I think would be the perfect plan. 

This song continually ran through my head while running and is a great reminder of what I need to do. 

1. All to Jesus I surrender;
   All to Him I freely give;
   I will ever love and trust Him,
   In His presence daily live.
   • I surrender all,
     I surrender all;
     All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
     I surrender all.
2. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Humbly at His feet I bow,
   Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
   Take me, Jesus, take me now.
   
   
   All to Jesus I surrender;
   Now I feel the sacred flame.
   Oh, the joy of full salvation!
   Glory, glory, to His Name!
   
   I surrender all, 
   I surrender all;
   All to Thee, my blessed Savior, 
   I surrender all. 
   
   

   I need to open my hands and surrender to Him.  
   
   

On your heart Tuesdays
we encourage

Birthday Girl

dress & scarf: old navy  shoes: target

Wearing leopard flats and a polka dot scarf is about as far as I've come with the whole pattern mixing trend.  I have a long way to go but you have to start somewhere, right?  

May is a full month of important dates and celebrating for us!
Friday was my niece's first birthday.   

Lena Jane -

You are the sweetest, cutest, happiest, most precious little girl I know.  I feel honored that we share a middle name, and get beyond excited when people tell me you look like me.  I can't wait to be the aunt that you can call to tell your secrets to and hopefully that I can give you advice.  I look forward to shopping trips, sleepovers and celebrating you and all the things you will accomplish.  You are more loved than any little girl I know and I am proud to be your aunt. 

Happy first birthday! I wish you didn't live so far away so I could celebrate you in person. 

I love you!  

Love,

High Five for Friday

 

dress & jacket: Old Navy   flats: Target 

1. I was happy to discover that I could wear this dress like a skirt, expect for the fact that there is a little tie as part of the dress around my waist.  Hence the string going down my shirt, and it annoyingly kept hanging out all day. 

2.  Did you notice the sweet new links and buttons on my blog? I am SO happy with my new design.  I was lucky to find Chelsea, who just started a blog, and has some awesome graphic/designing skills and helped me out.  She sent me the images so fast and told me how to add them to my blog.  You should go check out her blog too!  Thank you Chelsea - you are awesome and appreciated!

3.  I made this chex mix for Lauren's bachlorette party.  It was delicious.  

Chris even said it was the best dessert ever.  

But if you recall that happens often. 

recipe here

4.  I pretty much turned into Viola Swamp at school the last two days.

Do you know these books? 

  

Summer countdown: 27 school days 

5.  I found two different bird canvases that I liked and combined them to make this:

It is now hanging on my wall right above my sewing machine.  

I love how it turned out and love the reminder that God is my refuge.  

Happy weekend!

High Five for Friday
One Artsy Mama