Goodbye 2012

I'm so thankful for our Pastor, Pat Powell.  He shared this during his sermon Sunday morning and it really just stirred my heart.  This year has been difficult in so many ways, without question the hardest year of my life, but it is true that in my weakness, HE is strong.  In my pain, He works mightily.  I pray that my life will glorify Him no matter the trial...

O Love beyond compare,
Thou art good when Thou givest,
when Thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With Thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that Thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If Thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
Thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see Thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify Thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for Thy use.

~The Valley of Vision

Happy New Year, I am excited about 2013 and all that God has for us...

Photography lesson...

Today was FUN.  My amazing mother-in-law has a good friend who was so gracious to come an hour drive to give us an all day photography lesson!  These pictures were taken by Kristie Bailey and if you need a photographer and live within an hour drive of Birmingham---I highly recommend her!  She is awesome and trying to build a business, I can give you her number.  Proof of her skills below...

We don't have very many pictures together, but oh how I adore this woman!  Such a blessing to me.

Elizabeth took this picture with the help of Mrs. Kristie!

Mrs. Kristie actually helped Elizabeth take this picture!

Showing such self control waiting until the camera was ready to capture her blowing on the "dandelions"...

She loves blowing these "dandelions," even though I'm not sure that is what they are really called...

Every day leaves on a concrete step.  There is so much beauty all around us in the simple things!

My baby.  Oh geez.  She's getting big.

Kristie taught us about blurring, or boca photography.

These were my favorites of over 300 pictures taken today!  Such a fun day :)

Little Girls and other things...

I'm not much of a reader.  But really, that is a total cop out.  I need to read more.  I love wasting (instead of reading great books) my time on FB and Pinterest (confession is good for the heart and bad for the reputation).  Because I have a smart phone, I tend to check my FB ALL day long multiple times an hour and I find myself consumed with it!  I'm at a place in my life where I need to unplug more from social media.  My dear friend, Genny, highly recommended this book to me two days ago and it sounded like something I was in need of reading.  I have three daughters who are 7, 5, and 3.  At these ages ALL of them are asking for their own phones, iPads, make-up, and high heels, and wanting to watch Disney channel tween shows as much as I want to be on FB.  I need a reality check and some tools in my box to combat this world that is vying for me and my girls' attention.  I'm on chapter 3 and I can already HIGHLY recommend this book to you if you have daughters.  It is so eye opening.  I mean, shocking-convicting-heart breaking-and empowering.  So read it and tell me your thoughts.  And, after a little less than 24 hours into my FB break, I'm telling you that I've realized a few things:  

1) It is an addiction in my life.  And I justify it every single hour of the day.

2) I'm much freer without it and notice a lot more when my eyes aren't glued to my phone screen.  Like every word my 3 year old says to me in her sweet little girl voice.  

3) I love people, but people can really post some stuff that you can do without hearing or seeing.  It's nice to unplug from other people's business...

4) I can be way more intentional with my Bible when I focus on reading what is life changing and not life draining.  His Word is FAR more filling than the junk food of social media.  Word?!  (I know, we like to share links and blog posts and other great things, but as a whole you know exactly what I mean!

5) I care way too much about what other people think about me and my life and my parenting and so on.  (At this moment I'm thinking, "ugh...I'm being too transparent.  The folks reading my blog are so gonna judge me...and I think my blog still posts to FB, they are going to think I went on FB to post it...can I somehow fix that?? Wait, it doesn't matter.  God is my Righteous judge....sigh."

6) Unhealthy obsessions don't start off that way.  My kids can easily have unhealthy obsessions (like "Hey Jesse" and "Good Luck Charlie", or lip gloss) and justify them because they see me justifying mine.  Bad mommy.  Oh I so want to lead my kids by example.  "Do as I do, and say" instead of "do as I say not as I do".  Get me?  I do NOT want the world to win my kids over...

All that to say...I'm spending my extra time reading this book this week and I think it is really great.  So, you should look into it if you are so prompted :)

Disclaimer:  I KNOW that there are great things about social media.  I love staying connected with missionaries on the field, family across the US, and  and frankly for this reason I will never delete my FB account.  I'm just stepping back and giving more time to what matters until I can be more responsible with my time!  Don't peg me a hater :)

Love.