Friday's Fancies: Date Night!

friday's fancies: date night by tonsofsomething featuring nine west shoes

Okay. So this particular outfit is probably not one I would assemble for myself. Don't get me wrong....I do like it, but blending two colors in one outfit and feeling like they match when I am actually wearing them is not something I am good at.

That said, I do really like this outfit that I did come up with. I think it would be a great date outfit because, while it is cute, it is not over-the-top dressed up either.  I was inspired by the new light blue nail polish I got this week for $.99 and when I saw how cute the color looked with the dress I just ran with it. I think that if I could try this outfit on and have it look as good on my as it does on my Friday's Fancies post, it would for sure be worn on a date night at some point!   

Connecting the Dots

I was never good at dot-to-dots as a kid. I don't know why...but that butterfly there probably would have turned into something else...or end up being nothing at all. What a sad end for the little fella! Anyways, there is a point to this....I promise.

As I sit here at 25years old I am starting to see my life as a connecting the dots puzzle. And I find myself thanking God that HE is the one connecting the dots in my life...not me. I am starting to see key events in my life and how the decisions I made in those situations has made me the person I am today. There are moments where if I had made one different decision I probably wouldn't have gone back to school. If I hadn't done something else that God had asked me to do I probably wouldn't have my best friend right now. I think when I journal tomorrow I am going to write down those situations and the decisions God guided me to so that He could mold me into the person I am today. I can already tell you it is going to be a LONG list.

I once heard life explained as a cross-stitch. If you look at the wrong side of a design it will not make a whole lot of sense. It will be a jumble of knots and loose ends. If you just see that side you would have no idea that those knots and loose ends work together to create something beautiful. When we are living our lives we only see that side of the design. God is stitching together the events of our life. He can look at the back of the canvas  of our life and say that it is beautiful and He loves it. Which is sometimes hard for us to see. I find so much comfort in that while Christ can see my knots and my loose ends He can also turn it over and see the beautiful design He is turning those knots and loose ends into. Sometimes, like recently for me, He reveals a corner of that work of art to me and I can just sit back and say "Wow, I had NO IDEA. That time was so very, very hard for me...but look how You are using it Lord!"

I am not sure if I will ever get to the point where I can look at my unfinished dot-to-dot or knots and loose ends and see them as beautiful. But you know? I know and serve and love a God who does. Just knowing He does and will never stop, no matter how tangled my strings get...that keeps me going. I so desperately want to see what my picture looks like someday! The Lord is so patient with me. His love is everything to me. I would not be anywhere close to where I am today if I had not been committed to getting to the point where that statement is true in my life. As a human, I don't really see myself ever getting to that being 100% true...but I can tell you that it is more true today than it was yesterday...and if it is even more true tomorrow I will be going in the right direction.

I wrote this post hoping I could be an encouragement to you, dear readers!! Some days the puzzle will look like absolutely nothing when you have worked so hard to get all your dots in order. Sometimes we will all be sitting there with a tangled mess of thread in our hands wondering what the heck to do with it. I just want to remind you all what I have been reminded of tonight. God loves us all. He is the one connecting our dots. He sees the other side of the cross stitch. He sees us as beautiful and as His children if we have accepted Him into our lives.

He loves us where we are.

But He loves us too much to leave us here.

Friday's Fancies: Picnic Primped

picnic primped by tonsofsomething featuring tops

Okay so the view from where I sit is one of snow. Snow. On April 19th. Grrrr. So I find myself inspired to come up with a fun summer-y look for this week's Friday's Fancies (I'm back on the Friday's Fancies wagon, by the way).  I totally love what I came up with. I live in capris all summer and that tank/scarf combo is cute!! I also love keds. I know, maybe they are old lady-ish but they are so comfy and go with most summer looks. As I look out the window, all I can think about is how nice it would be to throw my journal in my purse and just spend the day writing on a blanket in the sun. And spending time with my friends and family. Oh, that just sounds so good. Curse you, Wisconsin. Curse you. ;) 

Make a Joyful Noise

So last night I went to a Gospel Concert. Now normally I am not a huge fan of Gospel music...but I totally heart The Browns. This is my second concert that I have been to of theirs and I just really really enjoy it. Their harmonies are AWESOME and the caliber of musical talent is AMAZING! I had a totally good time.

But as I was sitting there I was having memories of going to the local nursing home and doing a church service. There was a guy there that had a stroke. While we would do the music he would sing. At the time I found him really, umm difficult to appreciate...because of his stroke he couldn't communicate anymore. But he would do his best to sing.

It surely didn't sound like much but when I think of that man now I think it was some of the best sounds I can remember hearing. I mean, he knew ALL of the songs. I couldn't make out the words as he sang but I could tell that he knew them all. And he sang every time.

Throughout the years I have learned a lot about working with the elderly. But I go back to thinking about that man every so often. The joy on his face as he sang will stick with me for a long time. Music has this wonderful way of "waking" people up. I mean, this man had obviously suffered a lot. But when he sang it's like he "woke up." The joy came back in his eyes. There are a lot of stories about the power of music in the therapy realm.

I am definately a believer in that. However I will take it a step further and say that worship is the best therapy there is. I have really been gravitating to worship music lately. It kind of goes hand in hand with reading the Word everyday. But I have learned there is just something about worship that can wake me up. It brings me to joy that life leads me to forget I have. Music is powerful. Music can wake up you.

But last night I was sitting there at the concert last night thinking about music, thinking about that man and thinking about worship. And you know what conclusion I have come to? Music isn't what has the power. It is the Creator of the music that has the power. God is awesome. Every time a miracle (like this) happens it is God making it happen. Not the music. I gained a lot of perspective between last night and today. God has power no matter what the situation, Christian or not. But it isn't the music. It's God. There are a lot of different types of therapy that do a lot of good. But every time you go "WOW!" it's God, not the therapy. It's always God. And that is pretty awesome to me.

Sovereign Over Us

A New Normal.

You may want to knock on wood before you read this post....but I *think* I am back. I am so sorry for such a long absence and hope it doesn't happen again, at least for a long time.

I have had a crazy last couple weeks. I am so glad I wrote that I was originally taking a break otherwise I just would have disappeared right around that time. There was a lot of stuff going on with the dentist and work and all kinds of icky stuff. And then I got so sick. I have last 10lbs since last Tuesday just from being sick so whatever is going on is a lot more serious than I want it to be. I am not exactly complaining about losing weight but you definitely don't want to do it the way that I am. It's so frustrating. I have more doctor appointments scheduled so please just pray that we figure out what is going on and that God prepares my heart to accept whatever it is. I have been thinking about it and whatever these problems end up being it is apart of God's plan and I want to accept it and deal with it in a way that honors Him. Whatever it is. Don't get me wrong, I am nervous about this so pray about that as well...but I am trying to cling to the peace that comes from God as much as I can. Whatever happens with this it is gonna be okay. I serve and love an AWESOME God who loves me more than I could ever dream of loving anything.  He's not gonna leave me high and dry. As  nervous as I am and as long as I have to wait to find anything out I know that He is with me. I am trying to take comfort in that.

And then this week happened. Despite everything leading up to this week, this week was amazing. I am not sure what I am wanting to share on here. This week I finally met someone who was special to me even before we met and on Friday he left as my boyfriend. God is so good to me. I am so happy. The only thing that tries to make me sad is that we are about 6hrs apart. It won't always be easy, but I really don't think any relationships are. He is such a great guy and he loves the Lord so very much. One thing I cherish about our relationship is the fact that God is a part of our conversation. We don't have to make Him a part of our conversation, He just is. We are both committed to having Him at the center of our relationship. I am just so happy. Please be in prayer for this area of my life! I don't have experience with having a relationship so I am trusting that the Lord will guide me in the decisions that I make in our relationship and continues to guide my heart.

Thanks for sticking with me guys! Between my teeth, my tummy and my heart there is a lot going on in my life. I am adjusting to all of the changes and demands coming my way but am looking forward to accepting my "new normal." And I will be blogging more again now! My apologies, again, for deserting you! I also hope to be commenting on more blogs now. It is harder now because I find myself less committed to my computer, but I want to put together a little time each day to do so. I have been praying for you, the readers of my blog in hopes that despite all of the busy-ness in my life I am still able to write things that will encourage you and point you to Christ in the coming days. I STILL have some posts in the wings I will be writing, one on Ruth from the Bible and one about the dreams that the Lord gives us. Hopefully I will have some time tomorrow or Monday to get one out to you. I have missed this! I hope you all are well.

Unexpected Break Extension

Hello my dear friends!

I am so awfully sorry! I said the break would be over on April 1st....well April 2nd I got suddenly sick and I am still on the mend. I don't know exactly what is going on. I have a bunch of doctors appointments on the horizon to try to get a handle on what the issue is. According to my doctor it could potentially one of four diseases or ailments or whatever...and none of those are issues that anyone wants to have to deal with. Please pray for me and the doctors as we try to get this figured out.

I feel as though I have hit a new normal since being sick. I feel like I am back to myself just on the uncomfortable side...all the time. I am relieved to be where I am after where I was this last week.  But I have so much farther to go. And so much to do!! I feel like I am a week behind on my life...let alone my blog!! And I have a crazy week ahead of me so I can't promise to be doing a lot of blogging. I just wanted to let you guys know what is up and where I have been!

PS: I have a teddy bear that looks JUST like that pic!! Except mine is nose-less, thanks to a dog. ;)

Operation Resolution: March

I'm BACK!!!!

It's been a nice and needed break. Thank you guys for your patience. I appreciate you sticking by me and waiting this out. I have a lot going on in my life right now and just needed a blog breather. :) I am back and have a renewed commitment to this blog and to you, dear friends and readers!

I am going to start this resolution post by saying that March was not my month. I mean, it was an okay month all in all...but when it comes to the goals I made last month...didn't happen. Ugh. I am not letting it get me down so I am moving on. And I have decided not to make goals for the categories. It was a good idea at the time, but just a little too much pressure for your's truly. I will stick with ONE GOAL for the next month and that will be on the end of this post...which I am sure will be long. :)

Think Positively Well, March was a tough month for me. I had some mean stuff happen to me and became really insecure about it. One huge victory for me this month is that I turned 25. I know, I know. That is not an accomplishment that I can take responsibility for, but the fact that I don't hate being 25 IS. I thought I would hate having to say I was another year older. But honestly, I am okay with it. I was thinking a lot about the past year and realizing that 24 was a darn good year all in all and I have the feeling that 25 is going to be even better. I love that in spite of some of the things that went down this month I can look at the future with optimism and hope. 

Exercise Daily Yeah, that didn't happen. Besides a couple dance parties with the Wii in my living room, March was a month for the exercise FAIL list.

Eat Healthy While I didn't track my food this month, I feel like I still did pretty good. I brought lunches to work, I MADE food for myself (which may not have been as healthy as they could have been...but anything is better than fast food or whatever and I have been drinking hardly any soda. I am very proud of that. I have come a long way in that area.

Work Hard I have worked hard at work this month. In spite of some really sucky things happening to me at work I was able to still work to the best of my ability and keep my clients needs before my own. It was very difficult but I have come through on top and all the better for what has happened. Also, there is some light at the end of the tunnel as far as my job search goes...please pray for me!

Stay Strong Right now I feel strong because of the fact that I made it through what I did last month. I did not feel strong in the moment, but God has used those situations to show me that I do not get my strength from what I can do but I get my strength 100% from Him through His Word and the people He has brought into my life that encourage me every day of the week. I have come to look forward to spending time reading the Bible in the evening and love that the Lord has brought people into my life that I can talk to about my walk with Him and that challenge me to continue to grow in my relationship with God. It has been such a blessing in my life.

Worry Less This month kept me so busy I honestly can't remember taking time to worry. I am still struggling with the dental stuff a bit, but my anxiety is WAY down. One way that I have noticed growth in this area is that I just have this insane, from-God peace about the financial end of my procedures. There was a insurance issue with my first procedure and honestly I didn't flip out. I just know that eventually it is all going to work out. I am going to work hard, spend less and just do this thing. God already did something amazing to provide some of the money (will tell the story this month!) and I have faith that He will help me get through all aspects of this ordeal. 

Dance More March led me to listen to a lot of "smile songs" and I love the entire JJ Heller cd, so I have chosen to share an ADORABLE music video that she made in her dining room. I have watched it so many times just because it is so stinking cute. *love* Okay, having issues embedding! The song is Boat Song. I really recommend you watch it. It will make you smile and go "awwww!" and stuff. :) 


Love Often I am still going to that Young Adults Bible Study on Sunday nights. I love it so much. I feel as though I have grown so much just by having regular fellowship with people who love Jesus. I will be writing about something I have I have learned from the actual study soon, so stay tuned for that! I love meeting new Christians because you immediately have something in common and something to talk about...Jesus! It is truly wonderful. :)


Be Happy I am so wonderfully happy right now. I know that is probably weird because of some of the things that have happened this month...my happiness is all from God so I know that I can trust it. Only God would bring me a best friend from Louisiana. I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through March without her. Only God would bring me to another person that I have really enjoyed getting to know and look forward to meeting very soon! Only God would place me with clients that I have come to care about more than I hate some of the other situations at my work. I have a couple earthly reasons to be happy right now, but I know that the source of even that happiness is God. Where I am with my relationship with Him at this moment I think I can say that if those temporal things went away I know I would still be okay. I could still be happy because I am a beloved daughter of the Creator of the Universe. Who couldn't be happy about that?!?!


Goal Okay, I am borrowing one of the goals for last month for April's goal. I want to spend one hour a day working on something besides work. It can be blogging, writing, journaling, reading, cleaning, menu planning, working out...etc. I just want to focus one hour a day at being productive outside of work. I feel like I put all my fish in one barrel sometimes and I really want to get better at not doing that. Because one day, if that barrel changes and goes away...well, ALL of my fish wouldn't be on the floor. Silly analogy, my apologies. ;)