How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Keep on singing,

Perspective

Today . . . after two days of glorious summer weather, it is raining.
Today . . . I am stressing over the fact that I only have three more weeks to finish all of my school projects.
Today . . . I am tired.
Today . . . I have to spend eight total hours in the car.

BUT . . . .

Today . . . after two days of glorious summer weather, it is raining. I love the rain!
Today . . . I'm realizing that I have only three more weeks in the semester!
Today . . . I have coffee!
Today . . . I have to spend eight total hours in the car and at the end of the first four? I get to see three family  members from Michigan and meet a new family member from Brazil!!!! I'm sooooooo excited!

See? It's all about perspective.

Keep on singing,

I Have This Friend. . .

 And she's the bestest in the world!

Can you tell that I love her?

Keep on singing,

A New Kind of Idol

When Christians talk about idol worship we always mention things like money, television, and people. But I've been thinking about something else that can become an idol, something no one ever mentions when listing potential idols. Something almost everyone idolizes at least at some point in their life. The scale. I've been dieting and exercising and I feel great. But one trip to the scale can send me into a tailspin of negative emotions, frustration, and even anger. Every time I walk into my room I see that scale, that little square of plastic and other inner material that screams at me telling me I'm doing a terrible job, I'm a failure, I can't do it. And yet, I continue to step on, continue to judge myself by what the scale "says." I hang on it's every "word" like it's a . . .well, like it's a god. I won't do this anymore. So today, the scale is going in my parents room. I will step on it once a week and that's it. And if it tells me something I don't want to "hear" I won't let it destroy my day. I can't. Enough. I'm "smashing" this idol!

Keep on singing,

Raw(e)

Over here at Sailor & Company there's this little thing called Raw(e). Every week a theme is chosen and bloggers link up to share their raw, unedited photos. I heard about it over here. I thought I'd give it a try. This week's theme is Around the House. So I picked one of my favorite things from around my house. My bookshelf :) Okay, I know, I'm weird. But what can I say, I love me some books!

Keep on singing,

Project March Update . . . Say What?

Okay, I know. It's not March. But, I owe you all one final project March update! Not that you all really care that much :P
Anyway, the journaling went pretty well over all. Those 5 extra credit points really push a girl! Only about 17 days left and I've guaranteed my (much needed) extra credit points.
The devotions everyday did not go so well. In fact, it went pretty terribly. I really need to find a way to work that into my everyday schedule. It's not as though I feel distant from God. In fact, for the past year and a half I've felt closer to God and felt I have a stronger relationship with him then I ever have. Yet, I know this is something that I'm supposed to be doing. . . or is it? I know I'm supposed to be growing closer to God and everyone always tells you that the way to do that is through a personal daily devotion but . . . What do you think? How do you stay close to God in your everyday walk?
Next part of Project March, my room. It is currently clean. However, beyond those two drawers I did back in the first week of March I haven't gotten any further in organization. I still have one desk drawer, six dresser drawers and one whole cabinet. *sigh*
And that diet? Well, it's going okay. I've been really frustrated recently with our scale. I was slowly losing, in fact I was down a whole 5 pounds and then suddenly it added back the five pounds plus two more! I was so frustrated because I hadn't over-eaten or anything. The only thing I can think of was that I'd done the 30 Day Shred two days in a row and maybe I was gaining muscle. But still, not that much muscle! Stupid Scale. I think I'm going to rename the 30 day shred the 20 pound shred cause there's no way I'm moving past level one after only 10 days. It's killer! My cousin calls it the "Death Workout" :D
So, needless to say, all four of my March goals will be continuing to April and it's now--Project April!! Just what you guys wanted to hear right?

Keep on singing,

First April Post . . .

 . . .the one in which I feel terrible for not posting for a whole week and missing the start of a new month.

Oh well. Such is life. Life. Yesterday was Easter although that is a forbidden word in our house. It's Resurrection Sunday not Easter Sunday. And I'm all for that. I get that Easter was a pagan holiday. But somehow wishing someone a blessed resurrection just sounds funny. Like hope you rise well. I don't know; it just sounds funny. Nevertheless I'm the first one to text my friends a "He is Risen" and I am thrilled to the core when they text back a "He is Risen Indeed, Hallelujah!" I think Easter (Resurrection, Christ-rise) Sunday or whatever you call it has got to be one of my favorite holidays. Ever. Think about it, outside sunrise service + breakfast with everybody at church + great hymns + new clothes = one amazing holiday! For my new Resurrection get-up this year, we bought a top at Walmart and my mom made a cute skirt to match. She's so talented! And my daddy picked me out some new matching jewelry from Avon. Such a good Daddy! Hope you had a "Blessed Resurrection!"

Keep on singing,