Keep Making Me

There’s this song. Every time I hear it, I tear up. It’s about a daily struggle that most of us encounter every day. Surrendering our lives to Him. To following hard after him every single day.

In a world that wants to hide everything having to do with God, Christianity, and boldly living out our faith, I find it refreshing to hear of groups that still write songs that cut to the core of human nature. Sidewalk Prophets does it over and over. When many bands are looking for the right sound, or the right phrases, or the right look, they are looking for more. Not just the right message, but the real message.

Click here to listen to Keep Making Me by Sidewalk Prophets.

25!

In honor of turning 25, I thought I’d share 25 facts about myself.

1. Do you have a middle name?
Yes, Marie.

2. What was your favorite subject in school?
Math (I’m weird and I know it)

3. What’s your favorite drink?
Lately, it’s been coffee. (I can’t believe that phrase has come out of my mouth…err fingers)

4. What’s your favorite song at the moment?
Keep Making Me by Sidewalk prophets.

5. What would you name your children?
I have no idea what I’d name my next child. I thought I was sold on a girls name, but not too much anymore.

6. Do you participate in any sports?
No. I’m not very coordinated.

7. What’s your favorite book?
A tie: both by Francine Rivers, The Scarlet Thread and The Atonement Child.

8. What’s your favorite color?
Fall colors.

9. What’s your favorite animal?
I’ve always been fascinated by koalas.

10. What’s your favorite perfume?
Whatever body wash I happen to be using. Ha

11. What’s your favorite holiday?
I don’t think I really have one at this point…

12. Have you graduated from High School?
Yes I did.

13. Have you been out of the country?
Nope. Barely been out of the state.

14. Do you speak any other languages?
I know some Spanish, although it’s been years since I’ve used any of it.

15. Do you have any siblings?
3 sisters, 1 brother. I’m the fourth of 5.

16. What’s your favorite store?
Goodwill!

17. What’s your favorite restaurant?
Cheddars.

18. Do you like school?
It depended on the day and the subject.

19. Who are some of your favorite YouTubers?
None really. I don’t watch too much on YouTube.

20. What’s your favorite movie?
Toy Story

21. What are some of your favorite TV shows?
HIMYM, Big Bang Theory, NCIS, Boy Meets World, Full House, Rules of Engagement…

22. PC or Mac?
I find PCs more user friendly myself.

23. What phone do you have?
iPhone

24. How tall are you?
5’2″ish

25. Any pets?
Not anymore.

Just because I think we all need a laugh.

Breathless

In this world, there is an enormous amount of sadness, pain and suffering. It’s around every corner. We hear about it on all the news stations. It even breaks into our peaceful and happy times. But that can’t be all that’s in this world, right?

Right we are.

If we stop and look around we’ll see more than just beauty. We will see that this world can still take our breath away.

(Note: this picture was from the summer)

How about it? Take a look around. Soak in the beauty. Be awestruck by the intricate design. After all. Admiring the masterpiece is an amazing way to worship.

A taste…

…of the dream

This was the view out of my back door a couple days ago. This is the primary reason I have yet to leave the house since Saturday. This is how the taste became a reality.

Since the beginning of my journey into motherhood, I’ve had this dream infused into my heart. One that I so badly long for that it’s brought pain, tears and a couple fights. Dreams of being at home, all the time, taking care of my son. Being the one to see all his firsts.

Unfortunately, that dream has not become a reality. There have been times in the past year that I have been tempted to throw all caution into the wind and just do it. Then the mail comes.

But since this snowpocalypse, as it’s lovingly been called, I have gotten a 7 day mini-vacation. A look into what
this dream would look like. I’ve seen steps. I’ve seen 3 ft spaces crossed (twice). I’ve heard nigh nigh (new phrase) countless times. I’ve watched as he’s played with his Christmas blessings and momma’s creations.

Now, because it’s been a break from work, and not a permanent shift, I know I haven’t gotten the full idea of what it’d be like to be a full time stay at home mommy. Instead of feeling obligated to do chores around the house, I rested!!! I know one friend who’s proud of that.

I took this time, began the year out with my one year bible, crocheting, movie days with my boy(s), blogging (finally broke the block, now it won’t stop flowing, who am I to complain?)

While this dream is still a good distance off, I fully believe that I will be able to take steps to get there. First, pay off some bills, start saving. Second, cut back at work by a day or two. Third, continue saving. Fourth, cultivate a passion for house keeping (those of you who know me, know I either HATE cleaning or go totally OCD to the point that it takes me days to clean one room). Fifth, continue alternating between saving, paying off bills and cutting back at work.

This may take a year, two or more, but I believe that it will be a reality one day. So long as it’s a calling on my life, the Writer of my story will always lead me to the perfect scenario to get us there.

When lyrics aren’t reality

Growing up there was this one song. A song I could never get sick of hearing. A song that in my heart I believed was true. Or maybe, I hoped it was true so intensely that it became a belief in my life.

As a child, I didn’t have a plethora of friends…and honestly I still don’t. The only difference between then and now is that I choose to keep only a small number of friends. Through middle school, I can remember only having 3 friends at any given time, not by choice.

I wanted sooooo badly to be part of the “in” crowd. The issues were: I wore hand-me-downs, not the latest styles. I didn’t have the latest hair styles, or the hair to even consider any sort of hair style. I didn’t say the right words, or if I used the right words…they were in the wrong order. The list could go on and on.

I often found myself to be on the outside of the crowd. Usually a style behind…or 5. I prided myself in being the teacher’s pet. I found identity in being the quiet one, the loner, the ear for others.

Few people knew me for me.

This song was my hope. My comfort. My guarantee that I would indeed have life long friendships. After all, the lyrics are:

Friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them

As I have gotten older, that very line haunts me. For two reasons. First, I typically see faces of former friends (followers of Christ as well) who are no longer in the friend area…and if those lyrics are true, the friendships would still be alive and well. Second, through said friendships, I have learned that sometimes, sometimes God leads one to let go of friendships for many different reasons. Usually unique to the particular relationship.

This topic of friends has been on my mind a lot as of late. The progress that’s been made, even in the past year, is astonishing. Walking through, stressing over, and crying about a fading, failing friendship is what I’ve known. What I’ve done so often in the past. To the point of annoying my other friends because I became a bit obsessive about it.

But not so much anymore. Recently I’ve had friendships fade to practically non-existent. The only reason it’s bothered me, is because it hasn’t bothered me. I’ve also had others shift. Before, it would have typically been a life altering, stressed filled, analyzing ball of fun for me. Now, I was able to allow it to happen, to believe (really believe) that it is for the best. Best for them and best for myself. I have one very close one that is likely to drastically change by spring instead of feeling frantic, there is peace and excitement. I have had several start or blossom in the past year as well.

So, no longer do I believe that friendships are eternal just because God is in it. However, I do believe their impact is eternal. Now, I choose to follow His path for my friendships. I give them to Him to decide how they need to fit in my life, my circumstance, my journey. Or if they don’t need to be at all.

So this I ask you friends, is there a saying you used to cling to, that now you just find silly?

Finding Nemo Parenting

Earlier today, I stumbled upon this article for what I believe to be the second time. There are several points I agree with in the article. What i find most fascinating is learning how other cultures differ from our own.

After reading this, my son and I had “Finding Nemo” playing. Parallels galore in the movie. Who woulda thought that this innocent children’s movie would reiterate the concept of cultural differences?

If you’ve seen it, you’ll follow this really well…if not, take some time, relax, watch the movie and join me back here. I can wait.

Are we all here yet? Yes?! Okay! Good.

The movie begins with a tragedy. It leads Marlin to be extremely cautious. Not only in his life, but poses them onto his son’s (Nemo) as well. All of the scenes during the beginning of the movie, we see a struggle.

This struggle is common in today’s society as well, the child wants more freedom, the parent too scared/fearful of potential tragedies that could be lurking around every corner. This leads to a rebellion by the child, which leads to a tragedy.

The second tragedy sends the parent on the journey of a lifetime. He meets all sorts of other fish. These fish see the ocean in a different perspective than he does. For them, the ocean isn’t dark, scary, full of tragedy. Instead, they see options, adventure, and beauty.

On this journey, Marlin is forced to take risks. Risks that petrify him. Risks that, in the end, change his entire perspective.

First he meets Dory. Probably the most beloved of all the characters in the story. She teaches him what true friendship is.

While on this journey with his new friend, he meets a whole group of turtles. They’re traveling through the ocean just like he is. At one point one of the kid turtles gets tossed out of the safety of the current. Marlin begins panicking. Crush teaches him to open his eyes and see every potential tragedy as a chance to learn.

Just as Marlin begins to calm, the small turtle finds his way back into the current. The child excited, proud and energized. The father expressing all the same emotions. When Marlin questions him on how Crush knew it was time to let him go, Crush answers with a simple, yet profound statement.

The movie ends with both son and father happy, living life and taking risks together, and Marlin’s outlook completely changed.

Now, I believe that boundaries are good things. The only issue I have is when boundaries become for our benefit, and not done out of love for the other person.

What makes a story?

Each of us has a story to tell. Often, it’s the intensity, the emotion, the realness of our story that engrossed people. In fact there are many authors out there who make their living off this very fact.

Let me ask you this, the stories that stick with us the most, impact us the hardest and make a lasting change, what makes them so special? Perhaps it’s relatable. Maybe it’s so bazaar. Then again, maybe it’s because there’s something bigger at work. Something more mysterious lurking beneath.

Let me share with you a gem that was shared with me:

It’s been a few weeks since hearing this phrase. Yet, anytime I take a gander at the notes I took on Christmas Eve, this simple message resonates. So easy to memorize. So hard to act on.

Tell me, what do you feel when you read this sentence? What does it motivate you to do? How can it impact the mundane parts of your life…your story?

Boundaries of love

Reading through the first 6 chapters of Genesis, I start seeing all those huge numbers of years and wonder what on earth did they do with that time. There HAS to be some amazing stories that develop in that amount of time.

Then, I realize that there really is such a thing as too much time. The more time we have, the more opportunity there is for boredom to creep in. Once boredom creeps in, it’s only a matter of time before trouble starts. That’s exactly what God noticed too because we read:

Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3 NIV)

This wasn’t the first boundary, but it was definitely the most limiting of them so far. If we really read into this verse, we see that God placed this boundary for our own good.

How amazing is it to think that the God of the universe would choose to limit our days in order that we may experience life with Him fully, but not long enough for it to go sour? Only love would set limits like that. No matter how painful these limits are to set, love sets them for the other person’s good.

We must learn how to say yes when it’s important to. However, more importantly, we need to say no. More often, it’s the no’s in our lives that are crucial, vital, life-changing.

The question we must ask: are there things we need to say no to, that our no’s may lead to bigger yes’s down the line?

Books of ’14

I’ve never posted much about the books I read or plan to read, but I thought that since reading is such an easy way to make life more magnificent, that I would share a few on my list with you.

I’m on the last chapter of Not a Fan with a good friend. Supposed to be finishing it up this week. If you’re looking for a book to challenge your perspective, boy does this one do it.

Yesterday, I started a challenge that I’ve undertaken before. High hopes for this time around. With the right support I know I can make it through.

One of my closest friends and I have decided to investigate what I looks like to really choose to follow His plans and not our own. In order to do this we thought we’d check out one of Lysa Terkeurst’s books.

And lastly, a group of us are challenging our way of craving. We are looking at how to replace those cravings with healthy, Godly ways of satisfaction. Ironically enough, it’s another book written by Lysa.

I’m sure there will be more books to come and go in 2014, but these are the 4 I’m definitely looking forward to.

how about you? What books are you going to challenge yourself with? Or read for pleasure?

Well hello there 2014

This year holds a lot for us.

New milestones, traditions and memories to be made. Changes are bound to happen, although no more job changes this year (hopefully), sadness striking is almost inevitable, and joys abound. Also chapters are likely to end.

So much happiness, a great amount of strength from above, and courage enough to take that first step in His direction. So many lessons are sure to lie before us. Some easy and fun to achieve. Others painful and sad. Few quickly ending. Most dragging out, seeming to go on without end.

Growing. Eyes opening. Seeking to have the senses to gain more understanding of who He is. To see Him in the mundane. To hear Him in the silent whispers. To feel Him everywhere that surrounds.

That is how to make things

The start of my #3aday2014 gifts list

1-the way lil man’s face lights up when our eyes meet.
2-being able to see Andrew walk his first gap (more than 1 or 2 steps)
3-my husband’s job–not only does it provide for us, but he thoroughly enjoys it.

How are you starting your new year ?