Tulip Girl

I can officially start getting my autumn stuff out. I am eager to buy an orange spice candle and a pumpkin pie candle and an apple cider candle from my SIL Laura who sells Cold Canyon Candles. I have all my things ready for the Autumn wreath at my front door. What an awesome time of year. The weather was cool and crisp. We weren't the only family taking a walk this evening. We even made some new friends who also have little girls. I love my neighborhood. To fill you in on the schedule for this month. Guest Blogger Monday Sept. 7 Pastor Todd Estes Sept. 14 Michelle , Julie , Laura Sept. 21 Pastor Warren Baldwin Sept. 28 Kristin at Beautifully Imperfect Giveaway Thursday I will be participating in the DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land as well as Transformation Thursday at The Chabby Chic Cottage . There will be awesome Kiss&Koos' burp cloths and baby blankets as well as some jewelery made by yours trully. Inspiration Friday I have been involved working with CASA (Co...

I am so excited for September 1! Not only am I super excited to start the Autumn season in all its beautiful colors, apple cider, cozy sweater glory, September is a big month around here this year. There are going to be guest bloggers and giveways. Autumn is my favorite time of year so around here, I think this is a great way to celebrate. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've been praying recently about finding those who can encourage me to go deeper in my faith. Don't get me wrong, there are wonderful encouragers in my life that I am quite thankful for. The encouragement I'm talking about though is step on my toes, move forward, accountability, go deeper encouragement. So when I found Kyria.com by Christianity Today you can bet I was super stoked. There are articles and blogs encouraging deeper more personal friendships, challenging thoughts on prayer, church culture, and Christ focus vs. self focus. This digizine is open access until October. An early subscription discount is...

As Dan and I realize that moving isn't in our near future, we have dug back into our life where we are at now. Unfortunately we pulled away from relationships, ministry and other things for six months so we are now reaping the consequences of that choice and let me tell you, that is a bite in the butt. I am very passionate about influencing others towards a passionate love for God, a love for His word and realizing I missed out on serving God and loving His people over the last six months, that hurts. Though I turned away from all that these last six months could have been, I am thankful God does not give up on me as easily as I give up on Him at times. Dan and I have been having some awesome conversations on what a purposeful walk with God looks like, one with a fierce determination to choose Him every time . We haven't chosen that in the past, but we are not without knowledge we can choose that for our future. I have been praying for those that can hold us accountable, ...

This texting and driving awareness add was recently aired in the U.K. I think this video is important for all ages. Teens text but so do adults texting friends, writing e-mails for work etc. For a bit more and a discussion on this video, visit Warren Baldwin's blog .

On my side table is the book, A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah . Ishmael Beah was born in 1980 and then made his way to New York in 1998. During the time in between he witnessed the slaughter of his family in his war torn Sierra Leone, was forced to become a child soldier, witnessed unspeakable things, did unspeakable things and was able to make his way on his own with meager funds to the United States, finish high school and graduate from Oberlin College with a B.A. in Political Science. According to the Note About the Author, "He is a member of the Human Rights Watch Children's Right Division Advisory Committee and has spoken before the United nations, the Council of Foreign Relations and the center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities ( CETO ) at the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory." I love his book and go back to it often when I feel myself sinking into the complacency of daily life and the temptation to allow the daily grind to take precedence over my pur...

The article My Baby is Like a Narcotic by Katie Roiphe is one definitely worth reading. Katie Roiphe , a writer and professor at New York University writes about her experience as a new mother only weeks after she gave birth. As I read this article I both related to aspects of her experience, appreciated her personal perspective and contemplated points I both agreed and disagreed with. As unique as each baby and mother is a unique experience for each. Roiphe questions the Feminist approach to baby's the opinions of mothers and the amazing narcotic that a newborn baby can be to his or her parents. I relate to this concept of a new baby being something like a narcotic. Sarah has given me such a strange new mixture of super human confidants and weakened ability to function all at the same time. My whole way of thinking, what matters to me, my confidants , my very core was altered as if some sort of molecular change had taken place in my personality, my character my everything...

Seriously!? Seriously!? I thought temper tantrums didn't start until ateast two. Boy was I wrong. I wonderful, beautiful, adorable baby girl at merely six months grits her gums (plus two new teeth) yells and kicks her feet in frustration when she doesn't want to take a nap or the bottle isn't getting to her fast enough. Temper Tantrum? Separation anxiety? Teeth? Babbling? Sitting? Okay well, I'm excited about those last three but I'm not ready I tell you, I'm not ready! They really do grow up way to fast. Oh yeah, that and Miss Wiggles and Mr. Leo the cat have become pretty good friends. When I go to her room to get her she always looks for Mr. Leo and he is always right behind me. Wouldn't you know, the reason she woke up prematurely from this morning's nap is 'cause Mr. Leo decided he would join her. I forgot to make sure he came out with me. He curled up at the end of her crib and she couldn't see him and it made her mad (which is ...