Easter 2011

Beautiful For Me

Beautiful For Me

Every girl young and old has to face her own reflection
Twirl around, stare it down
What’s the mirror gonna say
With some luck, you’ll measure up
But you might not hold a candle to the rest
“Is that your best?” says the mirror to the mess

But there’s a whisper in the noise
Can you hear a little voice
and he says


Has anybody told you you’re beautiful?
You might agree if you could see what I see
Oh
‘Cuz everything about you is incredible
You should have seen me smile the day that I made you beautiful for me

If it’s true beauty lies in the eye of the beholder
What my life and what’s inside to give him something to behold
I want a heart that’s captivating
I wanna hear my Father say


Has anybody told you you’re beautiful?
You might agree if you could see what I see
Oh
‘Cuz everything about you is incredible
You should have seen me smile the day that I made you beautiful for me

Close your eyes
Look inside
Let me see the you that you’ve been trying to hide
Long ago, I made you so very beautiful
So I ought to know you’re beautiful


Has anybody told you you’re beautiful?
You might agree if you could see what I see
Yeah
‘Cuz everything about you is incredible
You should have seen me smile the day that I made you beautiful
You’re so beautiful
Beautiful for me
So beautiful for me
Has anybody told you?

Taken

I usually don't like movies that deal with anything along the lines of child molesters, kidnapping, rape, murder, sex trade...you know, evil things like that. I find myself thinking about it and having visuals of certain scenes in my head. I just like happy movies. ;)

So when my husband suggested we watch this movie "Taken" and explained that it is about a girl being kidnapped, I said "Ummmmm, no. Let's watch a chick flick." He decided to watch it and I got sucked into it despite the fact that I tried to ignore it and do my bible study. :)



Basically it's about this teenage girl who goes to Europe with her friend and gets kidnapped and sold into the sex trade (I think that's what it is.) Her Dad didn't want her to go because he was some "Jason Bourne" type character who is highly trained in super-secret-mission-government-stuff and he knew the danger of her being by herself. (Love my descriptions.) She ends up going anyway and lies to him about what she is doing and her circumstances. Turns out she gets kidnapped and her Dad goes and rescues her.

Last night in bed, I started thinking about the movie. I realized it was a picture of what God does for us as our loving Father. He gives us rules and wisdom in His Word for our protection. But when we chose not to follow, he goes after us, rescues us, and redeems the situation. He works despite the times we don't listen and do our own thing. Our God is a good God!

Happy Easter!

Being Healthy.

I like being healthy or at least trying to be healthy. I think it is super-uber important and honestly I think God wants us to take care of what he has given us. I don't think medicine is bad but I think that we can eliminate a LOT of our issues if we just ate the way we are suppose to. So these are a few, easy things that my family and I do to keep our bodies functioning well.

1. Eat VEGETABLES and FRUIT. Not to hard really. Your body needs them. Food that is "alive" is essential to keeping things flowing and moving.
-Raw is better than cooked.
-Organic is better than conventional.
-We do our best to eat them as much as possible with each meal.

2. STAY away from dairy as much as possible. Your probably thinking, "what?" Turns out it really isn't that good for you and you can get calcium in so many better ways. We still eat a fair amount of cheese and ice cream every now and then I must admit. But don't take my word on it. Do your own research and make decisions that are best for you.

3. I like to HIDE NUTRIENTS in everyday things. For instance, I put flax seed in Carter's oatmeal or in smoothies I make for my husband at times. I hide vegetables in mac and cheese or spaghetti or whatever.

4. PROBIOTICS. Changed my life. Seriously. I know that sounds dramatic but I lost a bunch of weight when I first discovered them (another reason I loved my job at Whole Foods a few years ago), maintained that weight without really trying, and I think I have had one cold this season. Your body is created to take care of itself it just needs the stuff to do it.

I even put good bacteria in Carter's juice or applesauce. After Carter had his surgery this Winter, the doctors gave me a prescription for a laxative....I said (to myself), "NOT." We will do it a better way and the kid was pooping like normal within a few days. :)

5. Buy organic whenever possible.

6. Exercise. 

We still eat our fair share of "unhealthy" food but we do our best and trust that little changes each day will add up in the long run. 

Nothing That Important.

My kid is OBSESSED with steering wheels and cars. 

[Insert sarcasm] I have no idea where he would possibly pick this up. (Husband is a car mechanic who loves Nascar.)

These last few days I have spent a good chunk of time just hangin' out in our car (I brought my bible study) while he just in the driver's seat and thought he was the coolest thing ever.

So this weekend when we came across a Nascar Speedpark at the Mills mall, we knew we had to venture in and go steering wheel crazy. 

I mean....look at that face. (Casey looks a bit creepy...sorry.)

Steering wheel heaven. 

It's fun when you know your kid is having fun. I like doing things that excite him. [Until he throws a fit when we have to leave....then not so fun. But that's life, right? I guess he's gotta learn sometime.]

I know I usually don't watch YouTube clips on blogs but I wanted to put this on because I was

C-O-N-V-I-C-T-E-D. I am so far from being like Jesus. Thankfully he loves me despite my SIN. 

Desperate

Guest Blogger: Casey Wiegand

Meet Casey Wiegand. I have been reading her blog for awhile and thought it would be fun to see what she would say about staying connected with her husband. You can visit her HERE.

staying connected as a couple with little ones and all that life brings.

Well, I will be the first to say it is work! I am married to my best friend and the love of my life, but that isn't always enough....you have to choose!

 I met Chris when I was 22 years old and fell in love with him fast. A good looking guy, charming, talented at everything, creative...Godly....he wants to marry ....me?!? Sign me up!!!

I took my vows on June 16 and can honestly say that I signed up for marriage with absolutely no idea what the true purpose of it was/is.

I was entitled, thought I deserved to be loved a certain way (okay I maybe still sometimes have to fight that)....I thought that it was every.day with the love of your life, candlelit gazebos and 100% pure romance and happiness.

:) don't you smile at the naivety.

Once I figured out that marriage was designed more-so to make us holy than happy....I actually wound up happier. 

It is funny how that works. 

Don't get me wrong it is still something I think we all have to choose daily.

It's not just a one time choice. It's a wake up every morning choice.

"Today I will be selfless, have zero expectations, love well....be slow to judge, choose forgiveness and laugh things off."

Then wake up and do it all over again.

I would love to say that Chris and I have a lot of date nights despite having two little kids and both being freelancers, but the truth is...we don't.

The things we do are more recognizing each other's love languages and daily trying to meet those needs. If your "love tank" is filled up daily you are good to go :)!

Chris' love language is 110% quality time. He wants to be with me every second....if he is running to home depot he wants me yelling "we'll meet you in the car"....if he is outside watering the yard, he wants me out there in a lawn chair. Because this isn't my love language, when we first got married I didn't get that. But I have since learned and do my best to meet that need!

Okay & let's be honest what girl out there doesn't want to feel special.....feel beautiful, unique.... cherished.

My guess is that after being married for awhile, after birthing children in front of these guys, having bad days in front of them, being sick in front of them...and the list goes on.... they look at us .....

well, not like they did on our second date.

This was devastating to me.

I want Chris to look at me everyday like it's the first time.

Well, that is a lot of pressure to put on a guy :).... so back to me trying to change. That is what I have learned to fight. (insert me saying I still fight this). 

Remembering to listen to what he tells me.... he loves me, I AM special, I AM unique....he actually loves me MORE now than he did on our second date.

it may not look the same as it did six years ago...but now...it's better.


He loves me well & has made all my dreams come true...couldn't ask for more than that!


I am a lucky girl. :)

Carter Updates.

*He throws fits. He is getting a temper. Plus he can't speak right now so he gets even more frustrated. I guess this is where baby sign language would come in handy.
*He can use a fork to get food. He likes it. Really he likes doing anything he sees us do.
*He's into the cell phone. He had a whole conversation with our realtor unbeknownst (sp?) to me.
*I've taught him to clasp his hands to pray. We do it before we go to bed. It's precious.
*I've attempted potty training. It's going to take a lot of time right now so we are working on it slowly.
*He loves hanging out on our bed rough housin' with Daddy. He also loves pillows. He throws himself on them.
*He gets so excited to go outside.
*Favorite movie: Cars
*He makes the cutest little noises when he talks to himself and has conversations. I'm going to miss hearing it!
*He loves cooking utensils. I think it's because he sees me cook a lot. And he loves checking out cars because he sees Casey do that. They are little parrots!
*He is getting lots of teeth.
*He hates being washed, having his face and hands wiped, changing his diaper, putting on clothes. We've started to have our first spankings around these time.
*Speaking of spankings, the other day after getting dressed which involved a spanking he looked back at me and talked back in his own language. Parenting is starting to get interesting. :)
*During a recent play date with a little boy close to Carter's age, I witnessed the first bit of jealousy. Randy was sitting on my lap and Carter came up and pushed him in his head. Having another baby around might be a bit of an adjustment for all of us.

Embrace the Camera: April 7th: Daddy Edition

Great Marriage=Great Parents.

The only book I really read before having Carter was "Baby Wise." I give it all the credit for a newborn who slept through the night at 9 weeks and who has good eating habits. In fact, I need to crack it open soon and figure out how to deal with two babies and schedules.

But when I read it a little more than a year ago, I was impressed with it's whole basis....."Great marriages produce great parents." The first chapter had nothing to do with schedules, nursing tips, healthy growth indicators, nutrition, tummy time, or anything specific on how to physically handle a newborn.

"....the greatest overall influence you will have on your children will not come in your role as an individual parent, but in your joint role as husband and wife." 


"When a child observes the special friendship and emotional togetherness of his parents, he is more secure simply because it isn't necessary to question the legitimacy of his parent's commitment to one another." 


"...insecurity is fostered by what is not taking place between couples as much as what is taking place." 


"The best years of parenting flow out of the best years of marriage. Protect it!"


So there you go. I love Carter and baby #2 by loving my husband the way God wants me to. Way easier said than done. Not that I don't love my husband but everyone knows that marriage is challenging and loving a person they way they need it takes practice and time.

Good reminders.

Thankfully Casey and I have been able to have a few dates these past few months. We've tried to be intentional about it. We don't go out every week that's for sure but when it works out we do it. [Thanks to those who babysit for us!] I feel like this will only get more challenging with another baby on the way but we're trying. And when we are home, we do try to connect and spend time together.

If you are married and have kids, how do you try to stay connected as a couple? Any good ideas?

Link Love.

Carter loves this.

Currently memorizing.

Could drink one a day of these.

What my husband is currently doing. Since he's been doing it he's not only lost weight but his back hasn't hurt him and his neck isn't as tight. [His back is always hurting.]

Good sermon. [You can listen to the Crossing's sermons through itunes.]

Pinned this on pinterest.

No Walk in the Park.

I heard a radio commercial from a mortgage company the other day that said buying a house was actually really easy.

I laughed. It hasn't been the most easiest "walk in the park" for us. I don't know if it's just us or the economy or the complicated world we live in.

BUT I'm excited to say that the house that we want....refresher....went back on the market Saturday morning. We signed all the papers this this weekend that will hopefully be at the bank (they own it) this morning.

It's a little nerve wracking. But really.....is it worth worrying about? No. If we don't get it, it's not the end of the world. Worse things are happening in the world. Right?  Right. And at the end of this deal (I'm referring to life in general), it won't really matter at all.

Speaking of life, I went to a funeral this weekend. E-M-O-T-I-O-N-A-L. I've never really been to too many funerals. That's probably a good thing actually.  I sat in the service and thought about my husband and my babies and heaven and what will people say about me at my funeral.....scary.  It's good to know that despite all of this craziness on earth God's in control. He has a plan and one day I get to go to heaven. Yay.

They played this at the funeral. I like simple songs.

Guest Blogger: Rylie Renee

My google reader is full of DIY/crafty bloggers. I love seeing what others are doing.    

One of the cutest, crafty, DIYers EVERS is guest blogging! Meet Rylie.  

*********************

"Hello KJoy readers! This is Rylie from My Corner in the Universe. I have a little DIY y'all today... It's super simple to make but most importantly -- it's cute!

Materials:

-Fabric

-Scissors

-Needle

-Thread

-Felt

-Clip

-Glue

Step one:

Cut a circle out of the 'base' fabric (I used burlap).

Step two:

Pinch and sew the fabric... There is no rhyme or reason for this part.

Step three:

Cut out a smaller circle using different fabric.

Step four:

Pinch and sew this fabric on to the base.

Step five:

Cut out a tiny circle.

Pinch and sew this one separately.

Step six: 

Sew the smallest circle on top of the other two... It's pretty self explanatory. :)

Step seven:

Moving to the clip part... Glue a small rectangle of felt on to the clip. (I clipped the clip on a piece of paper as not to glue the clip together.)

Step eight:

Once the glue has dried, glue the felt on to the bottom of the flower.

Voila. Pretty flower hair clip.Hope y'all enjoyed it. :)

Hope y'all enjoyed it! :) 

-Rylie 

I need a baby girl to make cute headbands and onsies! :) Thanks Rylie!

Make sure to check out her blog and other cute, thrifty, DIYNess HERE.