busy, busy, busy

Wonder where I have been!?

Well the last time we met here I mentioned that we were about to have our final Foster Home walk through...

Then it happened, our phone rang and things forever changed.  We officially began the BUSIEST SUMMER OF OUR LIVES with the addition of two precious kiddos!

The garden fell victim to desertion (and too much rain) shortly after.  So thankful for the abundant harvest early in the year (especially since we grew by two mouths!)  We are still getting okra and peas, but that's about it!

The puppies have grown up! Fast!!!

Brett finished his 3 weeks at church camp and then we squeezed in a week long mission trip, a week at nationals, a week of VBS, a family reunion, watermelon festival fundraiser, 2 camping trips, "back to school" (our first time to experience that on the parental end) and a baby anyday!!!

Bring on fall!!!  & BABY PLEASE!!! (3 days to due date)

Stop Following Your Dreams

It's graduation season!

Aisles are filled with cards that read "Congratulations,"  "You Did It," and "Follow Your Dreams."

and I'm wondering, is this really what we should be telling them!?

not just our graduates, but anybody striving for success in this thing we call life!

If I think back at the "dreams" I had at the end of high school, and the end of college, it is there that I discover is the start of what creeps in as a feeling of failure.

Better yet, maybe what we need to ask is how are we defining failure, and/or success?

Over the course of conversations, I realize that a feeling of "unsuccessful'ness," even if not considered failure, comes from comparing our current situation with the expectations we once had.

This is not an recommendation to throw out all desires, goals, and aspirations...

But maybe we should redefine success...

King David, left his son Solomon with this...

"keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn" - 1 Kings 2:3

Can we agree that "prospering in all you do" sounds like success?  Scripture says to achieve this follow the Lord and His teachings. That's it, no minimum salary, house size or car payment, no maximum number of failed attempts, plans, or re-dos; just following what the Lord has for us, however different that may be than the person next to us.

Solomon later reflected on that life lesson in these words...

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man” - Proverbs 3:1-4

The first step in following God's plan for our lives is accepting His gift of eternal life through His son, only then can true living begin.  A life lived in Jesus is not without trials, but rather with hope.  As our lives are transformed by the spirit of God, we begin to be filled with fruits such as love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  It is through the growth of these fruits that we live by the two greatest commandments, 

 "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:30-31

We do not become immune to trouble and hard times, but rather push through them with God's grace, wisdom, and peace.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" Romans 8:18

When we push and strive for what the world defines as success, we can begin to loose sight of eternity.  I have been in circumstances where following God's plan seemed crazy,  when choosing His path looked like the opposite of success to the world.  Sometimes I walked with Him anyways, other times I took the wide path, only to find out that is was eventually dissatisfying and often heartbreaking.  

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? - Matthew 16: 24-26

We must stop following our dreams, but rather invest all our aspirations and desires in God's perfect plan for us!

Trust in the LORD and do good;
         Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD;
         And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
         And your judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him

Psalm 37:3-7

This feeling can't be wrong...

So yesterday was a pretty rough day.  I had to say goodbye to my best friend of 10 years, my sweet Dixie... and hold it all together at work.

Then last night, it continued.  After just less than 2 hours of sleep I woke up with a toothache, and remained in the awakened - not resting state - until the alarm went off to come to work.  

Today...did not look to be any better! 12 hours to go, with only a few hours of sleep...

At lunch, I had to go pick up a prescription and when I walked outside I was greeted by the most beautiful day.  It is actually bringing tears to my eyes to think back on how much I needed that warm embrace from the Father.

Shortly after I pulled out of the parking lot, a song came on that I have not heard in awhile...and it was meant just for me...

"And oh there's something 'bout the way
Your sun shines on my face
It's a love so true I can never get enough of You
This feeling can't be wrong I'm about to get my worship on
Take me away
It's a beautiful day,
It's a beautiful day"

He never fails... when my heart starts to sink in the crashing waves, He always grabs my hand and brings me back to His embrace.

He is so good, and so faithful...my eyes are filled with a different kind of emotion today.  The warmth of His arms wrapped around my heart.  So glad I know who holds my tomorrow when my "today" is falling apart.

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Sure will miss this sweet girl.

Song: Jaime Grace -"Beautiful Day" 

Happy 2 years Brett {& our wedding story! (with pictures)}

April 30th, we have been married for 2 years!!!

I realized I haven't officially shared any details from our "wedding!"  So 2 years later, welcome to our wedding story!

I was on month 4 in Central America when I began to feel like God had something a little different for me planned.  Read that part of the story here!   and here!

So the plan was made, we would get married the day after I returned to the states.  Once the "when" was decided, the how & where, had to be lined out.  My team was traveling through Los Angeles, CA on their way to Asia.  Since that's where I would part from them, Brett decided that he would meet me there.

Some details took some creative thinking, after all, I had been living out of a backpack for 4 months, not exactly the "wedding preparation" we generally think of!  However, I was never picky about wedding details and had always assumed I wouldn't have a very extravagant one (if one at all) anyways!

-My wedding band was taken care of b/c it came as a set when he bought the engagement ring.

-His wedding band I had to get creative, after all I was in Costa Rica with little to no resources.  We visited a artisans market where a "vendor" had some handmade rings made from coconuts.

-I found a dress online that he picked up for me (yes girls, he went and bought my "wedding" dress.)  It was a simple lace summer dress from Maurices.

-Brett reached out to some LA local pastors through our association and lined all that out.


So, Brett had to pack a wedding day bag for him and myself (first lesson in trust right!?) and got on a plane to LA!

After a trip to target for some last minute wardrobe essentials, we headed to Pasadena.  One of the biggest details our families get a kick out of was the bouquet.  We stopped along side the road and picked wildflowers.  There was a landscape crew cleaning up a flowerbed that allowed us to go through their trimmings!  This is an entertaining detail that I will never forget about that day!

Brett has a cousin who lived in the area.  We met them for lunch then headed to a local park to meet the preacher.  His cousin and her husband were our photographers and witnesses!  Do you see how God had all this planned!?

Do you see the clues that I had arrived back in the country less than 24 hours before?...
1.  Terrible manicure (or lack thereof), the hair (enough said).
2.  The drastic difference in "shine" between the band and the engagement ring (which had been collecting central american dirt for over a month)
3.  The peeking watch tan line that had been developing over the last 4 months
4. Brett's band, made from Costa Rican coconut!
5. At least I covered up the tan lines!!!

After we got married we spent about a week driving back to Arkansas.  I had never been across the southwest states before.   We made stops at the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam and other small parks along the way.

A few weeks after we got home, our families held a reception for us.  They did an amazing job and I loved the decorations...

My mom painted an old coffee table with chalkboard paint and all the kids signed it as a guest book!

Our families gave us really nice journaling bible, which our guests signed and highlighted verses for us in!

On of my favorites is this bouquet my mom made.  It included pins, broaches, and other jewelry from all the women in both Brett and I's families.  It was so neat to see how each piece had a meaning. Some of the pieces included was a necklace Brett's grandma had worn to his high school graduation, & a bible locket that I received the first time I attended Sunday School as a young girl.

I loved writing this and remembering all these special details of our beginning!  I couldn't be more excited for what God has in store for us!

Still small voice (& kicks in the bladder)

"behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him..." 

1 King 19:11-13

So often we only expect God to be present in big dramatic ways, and I'm afraid this causes us to miss out on so many opportunities to hear that still small voice.  For me anyways, I find myself not seeking Him often enough.  More like just waiting on Him to show up in an earthquake like moment.

The most recent reminder of this came when I was beginning to get anxious/worried/upset when I was nearing 20 weeks and still had not felt the baby move.  When we went for our ultrasound, and we could see little Squishy kicking those feet around, I realized that I HAD been feeling movement for the last couple weeks, I just wasn't aware of what it was.  And in the following weeks in the few moments that I was completely still, I was much more in tune to the movement of those little feet.

I have also been the same way with God, He gently shows me His presence everyday, but unfortunately, all too often it takes a much bigger moment for me to "see" Him move, then I realize He has been right here all along, I just haven't been quiet and still enough to notice Him!

As busy as life is, I believe that it still holds far more quiet moments than it does "obvious" ones.  I pray that I can become much more aware of His voice and grow all the more closer to Him.

Flashback Friday...

Flashback to one of my first posts on this blog

What Inspires Me?

The original post can be found here

What Inspires you?

I shall call him my squishy...

This week we reached the half way point in the wait to meet our little miracle.  We had to go for a level 2 ultrasound due to some health history, however little M looked as healthy as can be. 

However, already taking after daddy, getting pictures was a little difficult.  We are choosing to wait on knowing the gender.  We are praying for a healthy baby above all!!! (but we both think its a boy)

Some think we are just keeping it from everyone else, #1 because I usually call it "he,"  I just can't bring myself to call it "It."

However, I have occasionally called him "Squishy."  The story behind that is that when a friend of mine first found out we were pregnant again following the miscarriage  she would always say "just keep swimming" to the baby when I saw her.

This is the best profile she was able to get!  Like daddy much!?

We you join us is praying for a healthy baby!?

Life vs Living

Are we allowing life to get in the way of Living?

Our lives are so packed with work, and tasks, and to do lists, and must haves, that I am afraid it is taking the place of truly Living our lives on God's time.  What if instead of fitting our "God tasks" into a schedule already full of "life." we choose to make our schedule on God's time.

I know that the main point of this is not a new lesson, it is one that has been addressed by many before, but maybe its time we all look at it again.  Maybe instead of looking at it all as life, we start discerning the difference in life and truly Living for Christ.

I'm not going to set forth a list of this is just life... and this is how we should be Living... because first, I certainly don't have this all figured out, and most importantly, that "list" would look different for everybody.

I'm not suggesting we all quit our jobs, throw out our calendars, cancel all appointments, and wait on a daily auditory to-do list from the heavens.

But rather, taking time to truly listen to our Father, the one who cares for us, the one who has our absolute best interest in mind...and the hard part... when He is speaking to our hearts, instead of pulling out our calendars to see if/when we have time...MAKE TIME.  Truth after Truth tells us that if He has something for us that interferes with our "lives," it is because He knows we are missing out on Living and He is directing us to a much more fruitful path.

For some of us this is SCARY stuff, He may potentially asking us to change jobs, give up pay, give up our homes, give up material possessions, replace activities we enjoy.  However, no matter how important we think these things are, or how much we think we must do these things, whatever He has planned, will be FAR GREATER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE!!!

Trust His plan, Trust His love, Answer the call, Make the Time to LIVE!!!

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What in your life is in the way of you doing something for God?

Reading Lately...the secret is out!

SOOO, the secret is finally out!  

We're expecting!!!

With everything we went through last year, Brett was understandably hesitant to spread the word too fast.  

We serve a God of miracles and can't wait to meet the latest at the end of August!!!  It's going to be one long hot summer for this mama but totally worth it!!!  

We are so blessed God chose us for this journey and know that it will bring us even closer to Him!

*Oh! and the reading part... the "What to Expect" book is super overwhelming.  I have just been thumbing through it.  It contains a lot of what I would consider common sense but also contains some good "heads-up" tid-bits!

Although exciting, this season in life is a huge reminder of our need for our Lord.  Without a doubt I will need His strength and comfort now and the months to come more than ever!

the BEST cobbler...

I'm so excited to share this amazing recipe I found!

The last couple months all I have wanted to eat was fruit.  I was getting tired of apples and cuties so in Sams I found some plums.  They were really sweet and juicy, but the container was pretty big and I wasn't eating them fast enough.  I was afraid they were going to go bad before I had a chance to eat all of them.

I decided some kind of cobbler was probably my best chance to use them.  I found a recipe from Joy the Baker  and had to try it!  This will be my new go to recipe for just about any type of cobbler!

Look at the color! Don't they look amazing...

(do you spy that Pioneer Woman mug!? I have an amazing secret sister at church and she has contributed greatly to my collection!)

I sliced up the plums, leaving the skins on. They cooked down enough that the skins weren't an issue for me, but my husband ended up eating around the skins.  So if you have a picky "texture eater" around you may want to try skinning your fruit.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup all-purpose four

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 teas cinnamon

pinch of nutmeg

3/4 cup milk

3 cups fruit (berries, apricots, plum, etc)

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Direction:

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Melt the butter in a saute pan over medium heat until it bubbles.  Do not burn the butter but allow it to develop brown color

2. Pour the butter into an 8in or 9in square baking dish.

3. In a medium bowl, stir together the gradulated sugar, flour, baking powder and spices.  Add milk and stir.

4. Pour the mixture on top of the melted butter DO NOT STIR.  Arrange the fruit evenly over the batter.  Sprinkle with brown sugar.

5. Bake for 40-45 min until the top turns golden brown.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!

The batter will rise through fruit.  If only you could smell it! 

Lately...

Lately, I fell like I have been EVERYWHERE! (except here!)

Lets just say 2016 did not arrive quietly!  We have had so much going (some I cant even disclose...yet!) that most days I forget which direction we are going.

We didn't finish all our Christmas festivities until after the first of the year, although its tiring, I love having so many great people to spend the holidays with!  The week of Christmas Brett and I were actually able to get away just the two of us for a couple days and took a road trip to Virginia.  It was part business, to deliver this precious boy to his new home...

But we took full advantage of the opportunity to have a few days to ourselves!  On our way back across the country we stopped and visited the Biltmore Estate.  I highly recommend a visit.  From the moment we went through the entrance gate I felt like we were in Beauty and the Beast, winding through the "forest" and the house was absolutely stunning, and I'm sure we only saw 1/4 of it during the 3 hour tour.  I have to agree with Belle, the library was my favorite room!  I was even interested in all the history of the family and land, which I'm ashamed to admit usually doesn't intrigue me so much.  We did a Christmas candlelight tour of the house and toured the rest of the grounds the following day.

I have got to get better about taking pictures.  I never think, "I'm going to want a picture of this later!"  Photos weren't allowed inside the house, but I didn't manage to take any of the rest of the grounds.

So, check out their website and see what your missing out on, it really is a beautiful property!

Ill have to catch you up on the rest on a different post, this has gotten a little long... see ya soon!

A weekend of messed up plans

So, it's been awhile...

My fault, I know! 

I have been exhaustingly busy.

However, this last weekend I had a chance to get away for a conference I do my best to attend annually.  And oh boy, it was just what I needed!!! Every person I crossed paths with shared something  that seemed to pertain directly to me, and while I can't give you details (it would give something away that is saved for a later date) lets just say it was clearly a divine appointment!!! 

The eWomen conference comes at the best time every year and is ALWAYS a blessing!  This year I got to share it with these three amazing women...

I was super excited to see/hear Angie Smith.  Her story and testimony have been a source of hope for me during some trials we faced earlier in the year. Every year we volunteer at the conference and I had even signed up to work at Angie's product table.  So I was a little bummed to find out that she was unable to make the conference.  But God always has something in store for us doesn't He...

Angie's stand in for the weekend was Lisa Harper, and she and her daughter were such a blessing...He knew just what I needed!!! Lisa's testimony of adoption and some of the amazing stories of Grace she has witnessed captivated my heart! I also picked up this book...

I thought it sounded perfect for this season of life! Hopefully I can find time to dive into it!!! 

Although I still look forward to one day hearing Angie Smith speak, Lisa's story was exactly what I needed!!!

Why, Recklessly Chosen?

Blog-tember

Monday, September 7: Tell us about your blog name. Where did it come from?

This is the post I originally wrote when "Recklessly Chosen" was first launched! My reason behind starting this blog was to share what the Lord is doing in my Life.  I wanted a name that described "this life"...

Recklessly Chosen

When we think of "reckless," what do we think?...

A book I have recently read, The Prodigal God,made me take a second look at the definition of "reckless."  The author, Timothy Keller, first brings up reckless when he refers to God as "prodigal."  Again, not my choice of words for our never moving, ever present father in heaven, however, he points out that the definition of prodigal is, "recklessly spendthrift."  Now that I think rings a little truer of a God who gave up His only son, just so we could return to Him for eternity!  Seeing Him as "reckless" took a little more thought...

The definition of "reckless" is... "marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences."

Is my God reckless?...  Of course He is!

He did not need to take caution or worry of the consequences because He ALREADY KNEW what the consequences were!  He knew what He would loose and what we would gain, and He did it anyways!

The more I thought about it, I couldn't help but think..."Would any god who was "playing it safe" or "weighing the consequences" have ever saved ME?

Absolutely not!

Keller ends the intro with this...

"Jesus is showing us the God of Great Expenditure, who is nothing if not prodigal toward us, his children.  God's reckless grace is our greatest hope and a life changing experience."

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You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.- John 15:16

My God Recklessly Chose me, and I hope to share with you the grace and hope He bestows upon me daily!

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So here's what you'll find if your just joining me here!  

Where did your blog name come from!?

August Recap

1. SEND conference: Brett and I were so blessed to be able to attend the SEND conference in Nashville the beginning of August.  We were challenged by hearing the Word taught and preached through great speakers such as Louie Giglio, Vance Pitman, JD Greear, and David Platt to name just a few.  We lifted our voices in praise led by the Holy Spirit ushered in by Kristian Stanfill & Passion Band, Crowder, Casting Crowns, & Shane and Shane.  We came home encouraged, and better equipped to live "Life on Mission."

2. Watermelon Festival:  Our small town is know for the sweetest watermelons; which of course means: watermelon festival.  This year our church got involved and we spent 3 days selling cheese, chili, chips, and LOTS of Ice Tea!!!  The booth was hard work, but I hope I never forget the full heart I had at the end of each night after fellowship with so many dear friends who are sold out for the Kingdom.  I remember going home in tears because I felt so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful group of brothers and sisters in Christ.

3.  A big step in the Non-Profit world.  We Arise Missions held the first official board meeting and is now one step closer to being a 501(c)3 Non-Profit.

4.  We bought a new-to-us vehicle.  After 2 weeks of covering this decision in prayer we purchased a 2011 Honda Pilot.  (there is a really good God-story to this that hopefully I'll write about)

5.  Brett and I become Official coordinators for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Drop-off location!!! We are soooo excited to further our involvement with this ministry!

6. A one night retreat with 8 teenagers.  It is such a huge blessing to see young people get involved and excited about what God is doing and wants to do in their lives!

I can't help but look at this crazy busy life and wonder why I was blessed with it, but I'm so glad I was!  August was pretty full, but as summer ends and fall begins, the calendar stays jam-packed!

Coming up in September: Brett's birthday, 2 Baby Showers, Donuts, Community Revival, and a short Ladies Getaway!!! Don't miss it!!!