Saturday, October 1, 2011

It's Here! - Secret Sister Blog Party

Sign ups officially begin today!

You still have time to spread the word, as sign ups will continue through October 15th.

Don't know what the Party is all about? Read this post.

You can either sign up here or send me an email and I can email the form to you.

Also, if you want more info, feel free to email me: breeann {dot} findingrefuge {at} gmail {dot} com

Each woman to sign up will receive an email confirmation from me, with all the details of the Party. You will receive your sister's info between the 16th-23rd of October.

I hope you will join us. You may post the button on your blog to let people know you are participating!

I am so excited to see how encouraging we can be to fellow bloggers during the holidays!!

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Friday, September 30, 2011

Inspiration Workshop - DIY

This week's Inspiration Workshop prompt was DIY.

Since my life has been a bit crazy lately, I haven't had time to do any projects (though I'm hoping to change that in the near future. I need some fall in my house!).

Here are some of my favorite DIYs:


This is a great one to do with kids. Super simple and super cute.



We used to make this at the Hallmark I once worked at. It is amazing stuff, if you haven't tried it before.



How amazing is this? You could change them for the seasons or just to bring different colors into the room!



What DIY have you done...or want to do?

(All of these ideas came from Pinterest...one of the greatest ways to spend a few hours)

Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Ways to Encourage

While I was not one of the lucky ones who was able to attend Blog Sugar this weekend, I have been blessed to read the many posts on various social networking sites about how much it impacted those who did attend.

It seems the common theme most women came away with was that of being honest and sharing your story on your blog...no matter how many people read it. Everyone has something to share.

One of my favorite verses, that I've used many times on my blog, is this:

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
(Galatians 6:2, NIV)

How can we do that if we aren't honest with each other?

The greatest way you can encourage others is by sharing your real self...your imperfections, your victories, your hard days, and your days filled with joy. We all need to see the good and the bad.

If you want to hear more about this, check out these blog posts:

Casey
Jamie
Rachel
Alyss


Some other ways to encourage those around you?

April over at Gingerbread is hosting a Journal Exchange. You can be as creative as you want with the journal you purchase/make. I think it would be so cool to either buy a journal with Scripture verses and encouraging sayings throughout...or to add them in! What an awesome way to be a daily encouragement to someone else! For more info, click here.

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Another way is through my Secret Sister Blog Party. Sign ups start this Saturday, October 1st! Read this post for more details. I will be posting a link for the sign up form on Saturday. If you'd like it emailed to you, send me an email: breeann {dot} findingrefuge {at} gmail {dot} com

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We all need encouragement. Let's do our best to encourage those we encounter this week.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Eureka!

I am linking up with Mrs. T, Naturally and her Blog Outside the Box weekly challenge. Her challenge this week was to have someone in your life, like a spouse or good friend, write a blog post about you! This is the post my husband wrote about me (it totally made me cry when I read it. He's too good to me):

Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-31
A Wife of Noble Character
10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise

Six years ago today my wife and I started on the journey to what would start our relationship. We had dated two times prior to this, but my heart wasn't where it needed to be before that September 26th to be able to commit how she wanted me to. Then came that day, where God spoke oh so clearly to me. He told me that Breeann was the girl I was going to be with. The one who he wanted me to be with. I was utterly confused at this. I mean, I had just broken this girl's heart, twice! Still though, I trusted in God's direction and decided to give it one more go. I couldn't help but think, maybe it was just me debating within myself. Why the heck would this girl want to take me back?!

Though I'm sure she was given advice by plenty of her friends and family not to trust me again, she said yes. So there we were, at the beginning of what God would turn into a marriage just 28.9 months later (2 years, 4 months and 28 days).

Now that girl is my wife of 3 years, 7 months and 4 days. A friend of mine asked me the other day if I was still enjoying being married to Breeann, and of course the answer is yes. For so many reasons I will give a little later. My initial response though, was something like this, "Well, of course I am still enjoying being married to Breeann, but sometimes it's less about my feelings and more about the covenant that we made to God to stay together through all times, no matter what." That, my friends, is how I know that our marriage is strong and can last through anything. Because we have decided to make God the center, our marriage can and will defeat the odds.

The verses I started with, Proverbs 31, Speaks to me that finding a woman who truly loves the Lord is not only rare, but it's to be treasured. To find a woman like this, truly is a blessing. It's why I titled this blog 'Eureka!' Or more specifically, I found it (her). God placed her before me, with specific instructions that if I really wanted love in this life, to #1 - seek Him first, and #2 - Sacrifice what I think is best for my life and trust Him because He knows what's best for my life. Breeann, my wife, WAS and IS the best possible wife that God could have picked for me.

Some of her qualities that I truly admire is her willingness to reach out to others, especially those who need it most. I've seen the way she sacrifices for others, and it truly is admirable. It's given me a desire to have a bigger heart for the people that we are around or the people that we work with. Sometimes she sees this as a weakness but I see it as a very Christlike quality in her and I do not think it should be discouraged.

Another thing that I enjoy about my wife, is the fact that she has a beautiful singing voice. When she sings, especially when it's worship, for a brief moment, all seems right in the world. I get to see her live out her reason for being created, to see her Worship her God is something that I treasure and it makes me truly see the beauty of her Heart and the uniqueness God gave to her.

Another thing I love about my wife is her smile, this one she does a lot, but never quite enough. I could always use one more in my day, because it's at these moments, I know she truly is happy and I like seeing her happy.

Breeann also is extremely beautiful. That's a nice way of me saying she's smokin' hot. Hard to believe that someone as gorgeous as her could love a guy like me. I don't think I'm much, though I know she thinks much differently about me than I do.

The thing that I admire most about my wife though, is her passion and her intense longing to serve God, at all costs. When things are difficult, she doesn't give up or throw the towel in, even though there are times when she wants to. She is persistent and she loves to seek God's will and my friends, that is how I knew that out of all the women out there, this would be the woman I was supposed to marry.

I couldn't feel more blessed to be her husband because she truly is a rare find. I am blessed in ways that I truly do not deserve. She makes my life so much richer and gives it a depth that I know could only come through God's blessing. Thank you Lord for blessing me with Breeann as my wife. Thank you that she loves you and puts You first, so that she can be the awesome wife that she is. Please let me be equally as great of a husband to her. We love you.



If you want to read more from my husband, visit his blog here.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Ten Fingers and Ten Toes

This little beauty is on my heart today.


As I mentioned earlier this week, my niece was born on Sunday. She was 6 weeks early, and some very crazy things happened surrounding her birth and the days after, for both her and her mommy...but thankfully, they are both doing well.

(Proud Daddy)

My brother-in-law told me yesterday that God has His hand all over this whole situation...and trust me...if you knew the whole story, you'd see it, too. But, since it's not my story to tell, I just have to leave you with this:

God works in mysterious ways...and His ways are always best.

And, we all have this precious little one to remind us of this.


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