Tulip Girl

Funny Pics at pYzam.com

I just told D that the title to this blog and he got such a sad look on his face. Well, since the Xterra is no more, we had to get a new vehicle. Well, in lew of "God be willing" future events, (i.e. children) we decided we needed a more sensible vehicle with good gas mileage and well, a family vehicle. I now am the proud owner of a dark blue 2008 Nissan Altima. D gets to drive my Cavalier. In all seriousness though, now both cars are officially ours since we will trade of depending on what our schedules look like. D has to drive three hours to get to one of his facilities he manages so he gets the Altima since the Cavalier doesn't have cruise control. I don't mind. I do like the Altima though. It is very nice to drive a car that doesn't have an incessant rattle. In other news, my sister M got an A on her first master's paper. Go M! I just received back my first story in my Children Literature mentoring program. My mentor seemed to like me story. I...

I think I'm going to be a little snarky for this blog. Sharing with you my passion for choosing the right word for everything is sharing a part of me, bad or good I guess,... okay a very judgmental part of me, but a part of me none the less. I can hear D now, "You know what I mean!" I desire very much to see people...happy or joyful? I want to see people be successful... in growing spiritually or growing in life. I want to teach abstinence or sexual integrity. I love it when what I buy is... cheap or inexpensive. I think the joy vs. happiness is a common one. Happy is a feeling but joy is deeper rooted, knowing truth despite the misleading evidence. I know people don't like me or maybe my circumstances are bad but I know that I am the daughter of the King of Kings and I have eternity with Him to look foreword too. Recently a couple terms have come to my attention; sexual integrity and Christ Follower. I kind of like those. Sexual Integrity seems more encompas...

I have now figured out how to change my template using templates from other websites. This is so easy and so fun. I hope that these beautiful river rocks are soothing to your eyes. I am reminded of the Living Water that God offers us through a personal relationship with Him. He is my life sustainer. Because of God's Living Water I can be filled with joy when my circumstances are much like a desert. (See very bottom of blog and John 4.) I wanted to let you all know that I am really enjoying my time at the Pregnancy Resource Center. It is so much fun. The ladies there are such amazing Christ followers. I am blessed to see women working together to help young women and their babies. I am also excited to see that the men are not forgotten. There are men counselors and services for men who are seeking out guidance in being the Daddy that God has created us to be. There is also STD testing and an on staff nurse and ultra sound machine. I am so excited to be a part of this mi...

Okay, granted this isn't as edgy as the last template I had, but I am finding that I like changing the template. I have yet to figure out how to change the template from options from other websites, but believe you me when I do, these will never be the same for long. D got in a car accident Friday morning. I found out when the car rental place called me when they meant to call D. I was a little freaked out. He is doing just fine. He wasn't going very fast at all, but by the nature of the accident, the call is totaled. I am bummed about this because it is the Xterra. Now we are down to my little Cavalier. :( We rather replace that one honestly. It's all good though. I am just thankful D is okay. Cars are replaceable. My husband is not. I am thankful today that God has given D and me some very good friends here in Richmond. We officially joined a church today. Yeah! Praise the Lord. We are excited to be a part of Friendship Baptist though we did go back and for...

Just an update, D and I are pretty sure we have found a church. We will let the pastor know on Sunday that we are committing for a year to go to this church. It's really small. I think that it will challenge us out of our comfort zone and become more active together in ministry. We will see. Our house is coming along nicely. We are saving up to put crown molding in the living room and our bedroom. We are going with Dental molding for the living room. I went to four furniture stores yesterday in my search for the perfect yet affordable chair and ottoman. Dan and I went to one this past weekend. That's five total this week and it's only Tuesday. I think I may have found one, but it's blue and so are the walls in our living room. Maybe it will work I don't know. The perfect one I found was going to be a thousand dollars all together and I don't think I could spend that on a chair so the search goes on. I am well into my training at the pregnancy center....

"My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour?' But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Thy name." John 12:27-28 (NASB) At this point maybe I shouldn't be, maybe I should expect it, but still, I am amazed when God speaks, when He orchestrates events or things to bring me back to him. I have gotten distracted with earthly circumstances and expectations and disappointments and I have and am struggling to refocus. This resent move has shook me in ways I hadn't expected. I knew God was calling us to our new home, but I did not expect the foundation for what He is building here to include humbling me. I find myself flat at the foot of the cross wondering what happened. I had achieved a comfortable set life with church, friends and ministry; working with college kids and helping women in crisis pregnancies. Well, now I am starting all over new church which is completelly different than what I am used to, ...

I just changed my blog site. I wanted something a little edgier. I have recently been trying to change things up a little bit. I went in search of a goal for style. Don't ask why because I doubt the answer is profound. Well, okay, I love clothes and it's a good artistic outlet. I like art and I am my own canvas I suppose. I thought maybe a cross between Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and black Victorian sounded creative. Then I thought I should change my blog in the process so here it is. For now anyway. :) I'm no good at sticking to one thing. I have a tendency to rabbit trail not only in conversation but in trying to decorate or coordinate. I seem to always end standing so I think I've done okay.

I have come across an amazing artist, Brooke Fraser. Her lyrics are as strong as her voice. In the pop culture of Christian music, repetitive one liners are very popular, but Brooke's lyric's are thoughtful and meditative. Arithmetic is a simple reminder that as God does not keep score, we need to remember to not as well, while Albertine challenges us to action that is selfless. So far these are my favorite songs. Visit her website to hear these two songs as well as a few more gems from her collection at brookefraser.com I have heard that she is planning a tour in the United States (she is a New Zealand artist). I am hoping there will be one close enough to me to go to. On another note, D and I are doing Bible studies on purpose. It is so awesome to finally have some awesome fellowship over God's word. The hunger pains in my heart were getting quite unbearable. I am encouraged and am excited to refocus on God's purpose. Man's purpose is so selfish. I have...

Today is my brother, Justin's Birthday. I want to dedicate a post to him today. I want to share with you all a gift that God has given my brother. I was meditating this morning on creativity and how it's a God given gift and can be used for either selfish gain or for glorifying God. God revealed to me this morning that He is the ultimate designer, artist and creator of all things. Some of the things that come to mind is the beauty of a volcanic river as it flows into the ocean; the red molten lava flowing through a black stark landscape of cooled lava and the steam rising off the blue-green water of the ocean. I see in my mind the graceful lines of a spider monkey as they spreads their bodies to move from tree to tree in death defying acrobatics. I love the play of light on dolphins and whales as they move steadily just beneath the oceans surface. All of these working master peaces are testimony to God's creativity and I am reminded that there are people whom God has ...

The end of the week draws near and I am excited that a good friend, E is coming to visit me. Please pray as D may be heading to DC this weekend for a great event for the men of our nation as they gather on the Mall. I have been praying and anticipating this event for D for quite some time, but he is not sure he would like to go so please keep him in your prayers. I know this could be a great opportunity. It's good when we get out of the daily norm and spend time with spouses to keep the relationship healthy. A relationship with God is no different. Just as women get retreats with their churches, men need them as well. Getting away from where life's responsibilities distract is a very good thing. I prayed through the Beatitudes the other day and I thought I would share it with you. Maybe my prayer could help boost or inspire personal meditation or prayer on these very important verses. Dear Lord, I pray You make me poor in spirit so that Your Holy Spirit will shine rich ...

Wow, church searching, house painting, Pregnancy Center training, planning and tempt taking for a baby. I am ready to get away and relax. I am looking foreword to Thanksgiving weekend when Dan and I are getting away to a Bed and Breakfast. I am ready for a get away since a good stiff drink is out of the question. If only I could share with you the chaotic path I have been on as I am determined to get pregnant. Any one who has been down the road of basal thermometers, message boards, articles, and ovulation calculators know exactly what I am going through. Besides the fact that it's actually stressful, it's pretty funny. I am actually going to end it at that for now. Why does living life have to be just so daily? I had such a wonderful time praying through the Beatitudes this morning. It is the trials that make the sweetness of joy palpable. I think that it's a no brainer if your raised in Sunday school, it's a mantra you know well but Jeez Louis, I feel like I...