life from here: March 2012

3.28.2012

piling up

things seem to be piling up. school piles. clothing piles. church piles. garden piles. bill piles. toy piles. dirty dish piles.

scary pictures of the tv show hoarders flash through my mind.

but as I hold a sick baby girl with 104 temp who is just so pitiful, the piles don't matter

and i think and God whispers the piles don't matter.

whatever you have piled up in you and around you.

He just wants to hold you and let you rest in His arms.

How do you handle the piles in your life?

3.18.2012

psalm 92

my sweet girl sings with the choir

she squeals with delight during every song
and then dances in between squeals
when the song is over she looks sad
in her eyes she questions "why is it over"

It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,

to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. Psalm 92:1-4

the whole church smiles and giggles at her
and i begin the think why don't we all have such joy
we should be squealing in the delight of our Lord

For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

How great are your works, LORD,
how profound your thoughts! Psalm 92:5-6

He should find us shouting out his praises, singing for his joy
just as she does with true, innocent peace
because at the end of the day, this earthly home is temporary
He is in control and we are blessed beyond measure
and this is just the beginning of His goodness

Where will God find you this week? What great things do you have to shout about?

But you, LORD, are forever exalted.

Psalm 92:8

lovely linkys

Jen @ Soli De Gloria

Shanda @ On Your Heart Tuesdays

Michelle @ Hear it on a Sunday, Use it on a Monday

Jumping Tandem

3.14.2012

Courtney's Questions

Junior year in college, I decided I needed a job. So, thus began the job search which lead me to the alumni call center at NCSU. I applied online, got a call for an interview. I was terrified. I had held summer jobs at home, but there was no interview and I didn't work for someone I didn't know. We know everyone in this small town. I asked some friends what I should wear and they quizzed me with interview questions. So, I was ready. I walk in with my skirt and heels (which you will read more about later) to meet this girl wearing running shorts, a tshirt, and sneakers. She had beautiful hair, teeth, and makeup on though (never leaves home without it.) And she said it the most perky voice ever...."Hi are you Karrie? What's your major? Are you avaliable these times? Ok you're hired." And we became friends....share our cupcakes, get thrown out of bars, hold my hand "I'm pregnant," "will you be in my wedding?" friends. We have laughed till early hours of the night and now she lives far away and I miss her dearly. She put me up to this.....Love ya Courtney.

Rules: Post a picture of yourself, tell us 11 things we might not know about you, answer the 11 questions asked of you, then write 11 new questions and tag some friends to play along (let them know you tagged them!) (where's your pic Court?)

11 Facts
1. I never read a book in high school.
2. My first car was a new vw beetle.
3. I flipped my beetle on it's top on my 18 birthday.
4. I have made over 15 hand woven baskets.
5. My house has water on three sides, a creek, a river, and a pond.
6. I get anxious in cities.
7. I am an excellent shot with a handgun.
8. I hardly ever follow the recipe.
9. I failed Chemistry in college.
10. I hate to go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink.
11. I haven't washed my windows in like 2 years (shh don't tell my mother is has been that long).

Courtney's Questions

1. If you could re-do one decision in your life, what would it be?

WOW just one?? I would not have dated so seriously in high school. Boys are immature and there is so much more to come, you don't have to get married by 21.

2. What's your all-time favorite scent? Not perfume, but.. like.. smell.

CINNAMON - candles, coffee, cookies, hmmmmmmmmm

3. Do you remember your first kiss? Lol. Just take a minute to bathe in the awkwardness...... and then regale us with it.

LOL....ohhh my.....13, braces....at his house...playing outside...his best friend was also there....being the look out, ya know, we certainly didn't want to get caught

4. Speaking of, what's the most awkward moment that you can ever recall?

My first teacher internship. I was wearing a pencil skirt and heels. It was a cold, rainy day. The school I was in had two levels with a big staircase at the entrance. The stairs had those rubber strips on every step. They were slick from the rain and my heel caught. And there I went rolling head over feet to the bottom, during class change. AWKWARD because I had to come back the next day and embarrassing.

5. What the worst trouble you ever got in in school? Heather Pavel, I did not make you squeeze that fire extinguisher handle.

We were celebrating earth day. To do so, we went outside and sat in a grassy area and listened to a guest speaker from a local company explain to us how they reduce, reuse, and recycle. I got bored (imagine that) and began pulling grass and covering my feet, my neighbors feet, legs, arms.....I got yelled at for a good 5 minutes following the speaker. All I remember is "IT'S EARTH DAY AND YOUR PULLING UP THE GRASS"

6. If you could go back to a place you've visited, where would it be?

Definitely back to Europe...I was 17, ungrateful and uneducated. I went to the Louvre, for goodness sake, and can remember nothing.

7. Describe the most perfect day of your life so far.

The most perfect day so far in my life was my wedding. Most (at least 500 of them) of my favorite people, up until that point in my life, were in one place at one time. It was a beautiful, 72 degree day. The flowers were blooming, the dress was comfortable, the music was awesome.....it was perfect. Oh and I married Matthew.

8. Do you have a firm handshake and do you think that matters? PS. I shake hands with the strength of.. the Hulk. I got tired of being squeezed to death, yo.

I shake consistently, not too soft not too hard. Unless you are my brother, then I'm squeezing as hard as I can.

9. What size bed do you have? Validate your decision. Especially mention if it's a super tall bed. I do not understand the logic. What if you fall out? Wouldn't it hurt way worse?

We have a queen, but just in the last year. We did have a full, which Owen now has. Sometimes when we are reading bedtime stories and saying prayers, I think how did we sleep in this thing. Our bed now is an extra bed my grandmother had, it is not real high or low, just right.

10. What would you buy right now if I gave you $100?

Pay a bill. Buy formula and gas. It's 2 weeks till pay day and the good Lord is going to help me get there with everything I need for my family.

11. Complete this sentence: I feel strongest when I . . . .

hold my children.

Anyone join in....leave a link to your post in my comments.

MY QUESTIONS.....
1. What is your all time favorite dessert?

2. Where would you go if you could go anywhere on earth?

3. What's the biggest lie you ever told?

4. How often do you go without washing your car?

5. What do try to keep yourself from doing, but some how never seem to get out of it?

6. What do you take to pot lucks?

7. What is your proudest moment?

8. When is the last time you took a nap?

9. What are you currently reading?

10. How often do you go to the grocery store? What do you usually buy?

11. What was the last thing you prayed for?

Alright answer away......

3.12.2012

pray

My mind spins this morning.

Prayers for a friend and her newborn son fill my heart.

And I cry out to God, as David did.

Hear me, LORD, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

We discussed prayer yesterday.

I have grown in my prayer life.

I'm no longer prayer, Lord be with the sick people and thank you, Lord, for the butterflies.

I'm doing better at prayer when I wake up

And not waiting till I close my eyes at night.

It's easy for me to pray in times of need,
For things I can not control.
But for things I think I can control, I forget to pray.
And so I cry....
Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart, t
hat I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.

Psalm 86

How do you pray? When do you find it easy or hard? Have any prayer request? I would love to pray with and for you.

lovely linkys

Jen @ Soli De Gloria

Shanda @ On Your Heart Tuesdays

Michelle @ Hear it on a Sunday, Use it on a Monday

Jumping Tandem

3.09.2012

Empty

It's easy to see the empty things, my bank account, my refrigrator, the gas needle, and more and more often my patience. As easy as it is to see these things, it is as easy to dwell on them. Their emptiness fills my mind, causing anxiety and stress. But instead of dwelling on these, today I will choose to dwell on the things that fill; Addie's smile, Owen's laughter, seeds in the soil, studying to teach Sunday school, planning mission trips, sunshine, and the Holy Spirit.