Inspiration Workshop - Bathrooms!

I'm linking up with Gussy and her Inspiration Workshop.

This week's prompt was Bathrooms.

There are things I love about my current bathroom...but things I hate about it, too. So, instead of showing you my bathroom, I thought I'd go to good ol' Pinterest and see what I could find there.


I like this first bathroom because of the storage space. Our current bathroom has virtually no storage space...whereas the bathroom in our old apartment had a TON of storage space. So, needless to say, I love the storage in this bathroom...as well as the simplicity.

(found via pinterest by Melissa Edgy from Inspiration for Decoration)

This would be my bathroom if I lived in a mansion...at least, that's how I see it. I think it's gorgeous...

(found via Pinterest by Kristen from Apartment Therapy)

This last bathroom is what I'd call Shabby Chic. I absolutely love it. The black and white with the splashes of pink? Yes please!

(found via Pinterest by Keely Gault)

What do you love about your bathroom...or other bathrooms?

Seasons

That may seem like a funny title to most of you...with all the crazy, abnormal weather we've been having...

And yet, I find myself in the midst of a season I didn't even realize I was in.

I have a beautiful friend who has beautiful babies...and who sometimes feels like God has other things for her to be doing...but she can't do them with her babies. Whenever she brings this up, other mommies remind her that this is just a season...that it will pass and she will miss these days with her babies when they're older and more independent.

Most of the time, I nod in agreement, knowing how true that statement is...for my friend. And yet, I've been realizing this last week that there is truth in that statement for me as well.

Sometimes I don't like to admit it...but I feel very alone a lot of the time...even in the midst of a crowd. Even when I am surrounded by wonderful friends and having a good time. Even when I'm sitting at home with my husband on the couch. It has nothing to do with the people around me...and everything to do with me.

I hadn't been able to put my finger on it until I had an email conversation with a sweet friend this week. She brought up some amazing points that I hadn't even thought of.


We, as women ('cuz I can't speak for you men out there), tend to gravitate towards women that are like us. Women that either share our same passions in life, or have similar stories to our own, or that are in the same place in life we're at. And, there's nothing wrong with that. It's natural to be drawn towards others like ourselves.

And yet, it can be very hard at the same time. Someone who might have been your best friend at one point could now be only an acquaintance...because you've gravitated towards different passions in life. Someone you might have never talked to before could be your new best friend...because you both just recently got married and have similar experiences to talk about. Or, someone you just met in a young mom's group may be the only one who understands how down you're feeling after having the baby.

While it's natural to drift towards people in our same situations, it's hard to deal with the reality that some of the ones we used to call all the time now have new friends to call in their new situations. It's not a bad thing...it's a part of life. And, that doesn't mean it will always be that way...but it is in this season.

So, as I've been accepting this season I'm in, I'm realizing I don't have many women around me that are in my same situation. I love the women in my life and I'm so grateful for them...but oftentimes I still feel alone...because they aren't where I'm at. And, while I know that this is just a season...I also know this is where God has me...and I need to make the most of it.

So, I'm praying about something that could potentially be a wonderful thing. I'm not ready to reveal the details until I'm certain this is where God is leading me...but I must say I am really excited about it. That same sweet friend brought up something that got me thinking about it...and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. I really long to be used by God in a more powerful way in my life...and this just may be the solution to my longing.

I'd like to encourage all of you reading this...no matter what season you find yourself in...to embrace it. Yes, it will be hard at times...yes, it may mean you don't have the same good friends anymore...but this is where God has you...and He has amazing things to teach you in the midst of this season.

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
(Psalm 25:4-5, NIV)

Rest in that, my friends.

Love

I have something heavy on my heart today.

I have written this post twice already and deleted it twice...I just don't know how to put it in a way that doesn't come across offensive or judgmental. But, here is the shortened version (and I'm sorry if you are offended or feel I'm being judgmental. That is definitely not where I am trying to come from):

How do you show God's love to someone that is just not interested in it?

I was never around a lot of non-believers growing up...besides family members. I was definitely not ignorant, and I definitely was not raised in a bubble. My parents taught us to love God and to love other people...and that is how we lived our lives. It was not culture shock for this homeschooled girl to attend jr. college. I'd heard cussing before, I'd been around people that smoked, and I knew not everyone was just like me. Yet, the one thing I definitely was not exposed to was the opportunity to really share my faith with someone else. Another believer? Absolutely. But, not someone who didn't believe.

Maybe that is why it is hard for me to love someone who hears the truth, makes fun of it, and makes fun of me for believing the things I do.

Maybe that's why I feel like I'm being persecuted in a place that is supposed to be "safe".

Maybe that's why I'm having a hard time understanding why someone would be like this.

The only answer I keep coming back to is that I have to keep loving people like this. I have to keep sharing the truth with them...in the hopes that maybe it will plant a seed that will grow much later. I have to keep strong in my faith...and continue to study the Word, so I have the right words to speak when someone comes at me with something that attacks what I believe in.



On a lighter note, I'm looking for some new books to read. Any suggestions?

Have a wonderful weekend!

(I'm linking up with Casey)

Where I Want to Be

So, it's time for Gussy's Inspiration Workshop again...and I'm so excited for this week's prompt:

Spend a day playing.

Since we don't have any kiddos yet, it's always just me and the hubs. And, one of our favorite places to spend the day playing is....

Drum roll, please...



Oh heck, you should know anyway...



DISNEYLAND!


Here are some pics from our anniversary trip earlier this year.



Looking at these pictures makes me wish we were going there in the near future again. I love that place!

How do you spend a day playing?

Motivation

Some days, I have such a hard time getting motivated to do anything.

Today was one such day.

I'm going to blame it on the fact that we just got back from camping yesterday...and that I was still super tired and worn out. But, I'm not sure that's a valid excuse...

One of the things we did on our camping trip was read through the book of Philippians. We were instructed to read each chapter on our own, so we could go over it altogether in the mornings and evenings. Since we arrived on the camping trip a day and a half later than everyone else, we were a little behind on our reading. I got to spend some quality time reading through chapter 3 with some wonderful women on Saturday afternoon while most of the others on the trip went hiking or rock climbing.

I've read Philippians more than once in my life...but every time I read it, I get more out of it (as is the case when I read anything in the Bible more than once). This section really struck me:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
(Philippians 2:1-4, NIV)

It makes me feel like a failure when I have these days where I'm just not motivated to do anything. I'm supposed to be looking out for others and considering them better than myself. How am I going to do that if I am barely functioning?

I want to figure out a way to recoup from things, while also giving myself the opportunity to be there for someone if they need me. I don't want to be so wiped out from something that I can't even focus on other people.

This is the prayer I want to be praying for those in my life:

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
(Philippians 1:9-11, NIV)

And, how am I going to start thinking like that? By doing this:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
(Philippians 4:8, NIV)

I hope I start having more motivation for doing the things that are right and noble.


(Oh, and I kind of failed in the photo department this weekend. I did not pull out my camera once to take a pic. So, sorry for the lack of pictures. I really do need to get better at this)

Weekend

This post is going to be short and sweet.

I am very excited about my weekend! We are spending some quality time in the great outdoors with some amazing people. It's going to be a.maz.ing.

I hope you are doing something fun this weekend, too!!

Here's to the start of the fun!


What is on your heart today?

(I'm linking up with Casey)

It All Started With Green...

So, I'm really excited about this week's Inspiration Workshop with Gussy!

The prompt this time was Green. At first, I thought I would just go on Pinterest and see what I could find that I liked...because nothing in my house is green. And then it dawned on me...

Green means a lot to my hubby and me.

The first time he contacted me (outside of hanging out with a group of friends), I met him and his friend at a Panda Express. We talked on AOL and Myspace a lot the next few days. During that time, he asked me out on a date at the end of that week. When he came over to pick me up for our date, we both kind of laughed. We were both wearing green shirts! So, whether we realized it then or not...we were pretty much made for each other.

(His was a Roper shirt...one of his favorite bands at the time)

(Mine said Everyone Loves An Irish Girl. And yes, we are goofballs)

(This was our first picture taken together. Our good friend had just dyed both of our hair that day and we wanted a picture to remember how it looked)

Since then, there have been three other occasions that we have both worn green. The first was my sister's wedding. I was her maid of honor and my hubby was asked to be an usher. So, we matched that day. We then wore those same green items at two other weddings the following year. We got a lot of use out of them.

(Us at my sister's wedding)

(And, at one of our friends' weddings the next year)

Green makes me think of happy times with my husband...and makes me want to come up with something creative for him that's green!

I hope you are having a very purposeful week!

Beauty

So, first of all, I am blown away by the response I've gotten from my guest post over at Casey's blog.

Seriously, I am so thankful she asked me to do it...and that God was able to use my story to encourage so many people.

(I took this pic fairly soon after getting my iPhone. I love how vibrant the sky is and how puffy the clouds are)

But, I am really excited about something else. And, I think you should be excited as well.

The beautiful Danielle, who blogs over at take heart, came up with a wonderful idea. She made a Beauty Book that is going to travel all over the place. In it will be the stories of many different women...stories of their current or past issues with self esteem...and how they are finding out that true beauty is found in God's eyes.

All you have to do is visit this post and follow the directions to sign up. She is accepting emails until next Friday, so sign up soon if you're interested.

(This pic is from our first trip to CO...with our backs to the entrance to Shove Chapel. I love pics of paths like these)

I am very excited to be able to share my own story and to read the stories of the other women who will be writing in the book before me. I really hope you will consider sharing your story as well. This could possibly be life changing for you...or for someone who may read your story.

For any of you who have been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know that I am all about carrying each other's burdens, as we are instructed to do in Galatians 6:2 -

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Are you willing to carry someone else's burden?

I hope many of you will be willing to participate in this.

Be blessed, friends, and have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Friendships and Opportunities

I know it's not technically Friday anymore...but I'm going to pretend like it is for this post.

I have a lot on my heart today. I got an email from a beautiful friend today about something hard she is going to have to do next week...but something that God is going to use to truly enrich her life. I am very excited to see what He is going to do in her through this.

My husband and I had a great opportunity come up today for us that would be amazing for our future...but it was quickly squashed by something unforeseeable. Thankfully, I am not disappointed. It was one of those "great if it happens, great if it doesn't" situations.

I was asked to guest post on a blogger friend's blog... I was so flattered and humbled. She is one of my favorite bloggers and a beautiful person that I really do hope to meet in person someday (She also happens to be the one who hosts this lovely link up party each week). If you want to read my post, click on over to Casey's blog.

I also am just feeling very blessed to be where I'm at right now. I love my hubby. I love my family and friends. I love my church family...and the fact that many of them are just as close as family to me.

We aren't made of money.

We don't live in a huge house.

And yet, I feel so very blessed.

What is on your heart this week?

(Linking up with Casey)

Promises

So our weather has been crazy...like it's been everywhere.

We went from thunderstorms and lots of rain this weekend to 80 degree days...which feel really hot compared to what we've been experiencing.

Anyway, the hubby and I were driving to the store on Saturday, while there was a little break in the rain, and noticed a beautiful piece of a rainbow in the sky. It wasn't all the way across, just one little side of it. But, it was beautiful nonetheless.

When we got out of the store, the rainbow was bigger and brighter...and stretched all the way across the sky. It was amazing. My hubby grabbed my phone and took a couple of pics of it while we were driving home.


Beautiful.

As I admired this rainbow, I couldn't help thinking of God's promises. The rainbow is the evidence of His promise to never flood the whole earth again. Yet He promises us so much more.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(John 10:10)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)

Show us your unfailing love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.
I will listen to what God the LORD will say;
he promises peace to his people, his saints—
but let them not return to folly.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
(Psalm 85:7-9)

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
(Psalm 145:13)

If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.
(John 14:15-16)

Without weakening in his faith, he [Abraham] faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
(Romans 4:19-21)

See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.
(1 John 2:24-26)

Of course, there are many other promises in the Bible. Just read through the Old Testament!

I am just so thankful that I serve a God that keeps His promises.

Inspiration Workshop - Kitchens!

I'm linking up again with Gussy of Gussy Sews for her weekly Inspiration Workshop!

The prompt this week was kitchens...either your current kitchen or what you'd like yours to look like. Since I pulled my left calf muscle last night and can't move much today, I wasn't able to take any pics of my own kitchen. So, I went to pinterest and found some that I really love!

(Sorry the pics are so small. They were small on pinterest, too)

This first one I love, because of the red and aqua combo. So cute!!

(pinned by Christine Tan via kitchenisms.com)

This one is so Beauty and the Beast to me...which is why I love it so much! (If you click on the link for the actual website, there are more photos of this kitchen...and you'll see why I think it looks like it could have been in Beauty and the Beast)

(pinned by Ginger Park via kitchen-design-ideas.org)

And, there is something I just love about a chalkboard wall in the kitchen. The kids could create art on the walls...and they wouldn't be ruined! And, you could write down all sorts of useful info. Very practical.

(pinned by Jazzie Fizzle via designsponge.com)

What inspires you kitchen-wise?

A Time to Live

First of all...does it seem like this week flew by to anyone else? Or is it just me?

I seriously feel like Friday just past...

Anyway...

I've had an emotional week...lots of good emotions, but a few bad. It's been a very busy week and I haven't gotten a ton of sleep. I finally got to catch up on things a little bit. I got some laundry done...after not doing any in a week. I replied to some emails that have been sitting in my inbox (for about a week). I'm starting to feel a little more normal...

But...

I finally realized something very important about myself. I haven't been truly living my life in quite some time. I still live a normal life and get to do a lot of fun stuff...but there are definitely things I've put 'on hold' since I started this whole trying to conceive journey. I haven't really exercised regularly for fear of possible harm (I know this wouldn't be the case if I'd been exercising regularly to begin with, but I was just nervous if I started to of what could possibly happen). I haven't gone to the dentist, for fear of the x-rays being harmful. I avoid eating certain foods (like sushi) unless I know without a doubt that I'm not pregnant. I haven't really taken any medication when I've been sick or when I have a headache...again, unless I know I'm not pregnant.

I know some of those things are silly and trivial...but I've just been realizing that I've been walking on eggshells for quite some time now...trying to keep myself free from things that could potentially harm a growing baby. And while I know it's good to take care of your body and be cautious about things when trying to conceive...I think I've gone a little overboard.

So, from now on, I'm no longer worrying about this stuff. I'm just going to live my life and trust that God will take care of me and my future child.

It's a piece of this puzzle that I haven't given up my control over...and I'm honestly sick of having any control. I just want to be me again...and to do things without reservations.

I think I'm going to be a much happier person now.




On an entirely different note, I got a couple of wonderful things at Target this week.

I was getting pretty bored of my shower curtain. I didn't even really like it that much when I bought it...but it was cheap and I knew it would look good with our yellow bathroom. So, when I saw this one, I knew it needed to be a part of my bathroom.

A closer look at the pattern

It's a beautiful navy blue...which compliments the yellow so well

Yes, it's true. I now own this beautiful print! I just need to figure out where I'm going to hang it...perhaps in my room...what do ya think?

I've also decided that I need to exercise on a regular basis...like for reals. One of my friends is doing P90X and asked me to join her...so I'm definitely considering it. I think it would be so good for me.



Ahh...the weekend. It seems like we just had you...but I'm glad you're back.

(Linking up with Casey and Jeannett)

Inspiration Workshop

I think it's safe to say we all thrive from inspiration...or maybe it's just me...

Either way, there's something amazing about being inspired by someone or something to be a better person, to create something beautiful, or to dream up the perfect home.

Gussy of Gussy Sews has started a new link up called the Inspiration Workshop. Each Friday, those on the email list for the workshop will receive an email with the topic for the following Thursday's link up party. The first topic she choose was handmade...which is perfect for her...since she creates some very beautiful handmade things!

Since the only thing I really hand make (is that even how you'd say it?) is jewelry, I decided that would be what I focus on this week. But...since I haven't made anything in quite some time, I used good ol' Pinterest to get some inspiration...and found this little beauty:

(found on Pinterest from Tamar Bostock via Bellissima Jewelry)

Isn't it gorgeous? I love the color combo...and how unique it is. It has definitely inspired me to try some new ideas with my jewelry making...

What inspires you?