Little Bella Bean

Blogging on the Go

2012-01-24T15:13:00.001-08:00

I am in my van sitting outside my sons school, waiting to pick him up. It is a rainy rainy day here in the Northwest! We had so much snow last week, that it is still gracing many lawns and planters, resisting the rains best efforts to wash it away. Eventually it will have to succumb though. In the meantime, I am so thankful for our snow week this year!!

Today I have been thinking about how I can use pregnancy nausea and my health issues as a personal challenge to step up my mothering. For me, this is about loving and disciplining my children well. Not giving up during a time of difficulty. As for the challenge of household duties, we have hired a friend from church to help out around the house. This was before we became pregnant with this little one, because of my inflammatory arthritis and health issues. Some days (ok most, but that sounds like whining) the repetitive motions of folding laundry and doing dishes aggravate my joints in my hands, fingers, and elbows, making them hurt worse and become stiffer. I also become exhausted after a normal round of chores. I am choosing to save my energy for loving on my family, and keeping myself mentally afloat by not getting to the physical breaking point.

Enough about that though! God gives us the grace we need each day. My choice is to just "survive" or to live with passion! I choose number two!

-just megs

Thoughts

2012-01-23T22:25:00.001-08:00

Hello friends! I am afraid I am still having slight issues blogging from my iPad, so this might be a visually uninteresting blog.

But, there are exciting WORDS to share! We are blessed to be pregnant again, and are due in the middle of September. We will go in next Tuesday, the 31st, for an ultrasound to check on this little life and look for the heartbeat. We had two losses in the past, so this is the norm for us to go in early. I am 6 weeks and 2 days along today. Baby should be the size of a green pea!

Surprisingly, the nausea has already set in strong the past few days, usually it does this closer to 8 weeks. And tho it is hard to stay chipper and patient, it is an encouragement to my heart that things should be going well.

This will be my first pregnancy completely gluten free, and dealing with an inflammatory arthritis that pretty much affects my whole body, including my spine. With three little ones here at home, I pray the Lord will make me strong, give me patience, and help me to continue mothering well!! I am going to need to step up my game, and it is only by the grace of God that I can accomplish this!

I am thrilled I have been able to work on my art some, and look forward to sharing photos with you.

Until then, be blessed!

-just megs

rockin vintage italian leather boots...

2012-01-19T17:01:00.000-08:00

and they are on their way to my house! thank you etsy.com. i heart you.

Christmas Crafting, and SVGcuts!

2011-12-18T00:38:00.001-08:00

I have been having such a wonderful time Christmas crafting. This season is flying by for me this year, and I am feeling the need to extend my Christmas-ing into the new year.

Here is a fun star I made...

I heart SVGcuts! I am so thrilled with my new Shilouette Cameo and my downloads from SVGcuts.com

I am loving pinecones this season

And I even saw Santa out for a drive with Mrs. Clause!

My kids are so excited its Christmas time. And my one year old has completely un-decorated the bottom half of the tree

I am crafting most of my gifts this year. I made these letters for my Mother in Laws birthday this weekend

Yes, what a wonderful time of year.

If you have an electronic die cutting machine (Cameo, Bosskut, ect) be sure to go visit www.svgcuts.com. It is absolutely phenomenal.

Ah, how delightful to be Celebrating Christmas, and to be able to blog (finally) from my iPad.

-just megs

scrumdilly-do!: Homemade Holidays: make a mini yarn garland

2011-12-15T08:38:00.000-08:00

scrumdilly-do!: Homemade Holidays: make a mini yarn garland: Happy December friends! Here's a nifty, easy (with a wee bit of wait time involved) garland project that can be adapted for any holiday. ...

Return of the crafting!

2011-12-01T18:55:00.000-08:00

My husband converted our old laundry room into....my new STUDIO!

And so, with great joy and good tidings, I announce: the return of crafty projects to this blog!!l!

Painting, papercrafts, art, you name it, I will have it here. In addition, I have the blessing of using the NEW Silhouette CAMEO! And I HEART SVGcuts.com! And so many other sites I have discovered...My Thoughts Exactly, Pumpkin Patch Stamps, Websters Pages...and on and on and on....

Photos will follow shortly!

Baby MnM

2011-06-09T22:21:00.001-07:00

Watch her grow...

Now she's 9 months old!

- just megs

Creativity and Worship

2011-05-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

Creative expression is Worship to you. Our souls thrill when they are captivated by a striking piece of music, or for those with the blessed talent to play music- when their fingers hit the right chords that resound in their spirit and echo into the heavens. That is how my soul and spirit respond when I use the creative desire in photography that you have given me. I imagine this is how my mom feels when she sits at a canvas and her brush dances across the surface, creating beauty that pours forth in worship to the King of Kings. How a dancer feels as she executes her arabesque flawlessly across the stage. How a runner feels when they are in the rhythmic momentum of their jog. How a writer feels when the words flow forth onto the page.

It all cries out "Glory!" Praise! Be magnified O God!

Those who don't know you think that the thrill of creative expression comes from within, and that it is meant to glorify themselves in some way. What they have yet to realize is that the gift of creativity was given to worship the Creator of all things! Sadly, these gifts can be used to worship self, to worship evil. Worship is exalting something, pouring out our focus on something...you don't have to be consciously involved in a religion to worship something. We all worship something daily. Whether it is the almighty God, ourselves, the earth, other people, the media...sadly, much of the world is deceived. The Evil One is one of deception. Twisting our desires and focus, manipulating us slowly into worshiping something other than God, and therefor worshiping evil. How heart wrenching to realize that if it is not God we worship, it is evil! Because worship is meant for God only. Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

The Word of God directs us to worship God only. Luke 4:8 says: And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" Jesus is responding to the devils attempt at tempting him. Manipulating Jesus' priorities and trying to take something good and use it for his own evil. One of the most used tactics of the enemy. Take good, and twist it a little to use it for evil. Sadly, the evil is subtle, and not realized. Pride, self worship...even "doing ministry" when the goal is to serve oneself and ones own pride.

The beautiful thing is that we don't have to be manipulated! Glory to God! We are kept on the path of God Worship through the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit. He keeps our hearts right as we come humbly before him. He washes away our pride, our self desire, our inclinations to wander. And as we are washed, we can come to Him in divine worship.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
Revelations 7:9-12

Generous Living

2011-05-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

Matthew 10:5-10
5 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:
"Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. 6 Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. 7 Tell them that the kingdom is here. 8 Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
9" Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. 10 You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

You have been treated generously, so live generously...

Generous living. Some people are such graceful examples of this. Christ lived generously.

My thoughts are drawn to a specific area of generous living, that of our hearts and emotions. Our culture puts self first, others second. If someone hurts us, we are taught to protect ourselves and build walls so they may not enter into the venerable realm of our hearts again. This can severely stunt generous living. Generosity is giving above and beyond, and when you are withholding yourself from loving others with your whole heart, generosity is crippled.

Jesus lived generously. Over and over again. He gave his time generously, he healed generously...but the most outstanding act of generosity in his daily life that stands out to me, is his love and acceptance of one man whom he knew, from the beginning, would betray him at the end. And yet, he allowed this man into his inner circle. He called him. He loved him. Judas.

Judas is brought up several times with the obvious statement that lets us know that his sin of betrayal was premeditated and contemplated. One such reference is in John 12:4-" Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him..."

That is generous living. He didn't guard his heart or words from Judas. And the whole time Jesus KNEW what was coming.

Another example of generous living is discussed in Matthew 10:41-42:
41 Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. 42 Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."

This generosity is smaller, simpler, but just as important. We are all called to live generously, and even the small generosities matter. Jesus tells us that it is a large work, but to start small. You don't have to begin your life of generous living by loving your 'Judas' right this minute. It is character built up over time, through acts of generous living, and a constant giving of yourself to the Lord. Until one day, you find yourself able to love the Judas' of the world, because Christ loves them too.

Prayer Journal {words and thoughts}

2011-05-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. I submit myself to your Lordship this morning. I give my day to you. May I do your will and not my own. I submit my mouth and tongue to you, I ask that your Holy Spirit would bridle it, that I would spiritually and consciously reign it in- in how i speak to my children, my dogs, the news that I share with others...let my words be ones of kindness and compassion, giving life, not causing death in heart or mind or soul. Let my words bless, uplift, be pure, sanctified. May I take every thought captive and thus every word captive. May my tongue be unleashed in praise to your name, giving you glory and honor. May I speak with kindness and compassion, gentleness and patience. You made my mouth, let your creation bring you honor, not dishonor. Make me sensitive to the Spirits prompting to check my thoughts or my words, to change them when He instructs me to.

James 1:26, 3:1-12
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless....
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
.............................................................................................................................

If you look in 1 Corinthians 10:5b you will read "...and take every thought captive to obey Christ", and in James 1:14-15 we read "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Our words come from our thoughts, our heart. Thus in pursuit of controlling our tongue, we should be taking every thought captive to obey Christ. Oftentimes I thing this scripture is applied to the more obvious thoughts of lust, ones that come from anger, and so on. But perhaps a closer study of our thoughts would reveal that we need to be taking captive thoughts of pride, judgement, and even plain self-centeredness. Or to take captive those lightning quick thoughts that led to an unbridled tongue, words of anger or short-temperedness that should never have been spoken. The path that words take can be seen in James 1. Here it is speaking of sin's conception and the sequence that it follows. First being lured by our own desire- I would say that this applies to our speech also, there is a desire to speak something inappropriate lures and entices us. Then it is conceived (I am thinking here that this would reflect being dwelt on, contemplated, or not taken captive and instead allowed to marinate) and gives birth to sin. The sin I am looking at today is that of the mouth, our words. And words have the power of life or death in them.

Proverbs 4:23-24 says:
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

And Titus 2:7-8
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Colossians 4:6 talks about life giving speech:
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

And a prayer in Psalm 19:13:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Today I commit to seeking ways to bless with my words, and to give life with my words!

-just megs

Personal thoughts on knowing God, and being filled with the Spirit of God

2011-05-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

The following are my personal thoughts from some time I spent reflecting on where the Spirit filled life flows from. If you feel like digging in, join me!

Matthew 13:18-23 (The Message)
18 "Study this story of the farmer planting seed. 19 When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20" The seed cast in the gravel--this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. 21 But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22 "The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23" The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams."

Person -> hears AND takes in the NEWS -> produces harvest beyond wildest dreams

Person+Word of God taken in = harvest

Key thought- hear and take in the word of God

Hear:

The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon
Strong's Number: 191
Original Word Word Origin
ajkouvw a root
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Akouo 1:216,34
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
ak-oo'-o Verb
Definition
to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf
to hear
to attend to, consider what is or has been said
to understand, perceive the sense of what is said
to hear something
to perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence
to get by hearing learn
a thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn
to give ear to a teaching or a teacher
to comprehend, to understand

King James Word Usage - Total: 437
hear 418, hearken 6, give audience 3, hearer 2, miscellaneous

Understand:
Strong's Number: 4920
Original Word Word Origin
sunivhmi from (4862) and hiemi (to send)
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Suniemi 7:888,1119
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
soon-ee'-ay-mee Verb
Definition
to set or bring together
in a hostile sense, of combatants
to put (as it were) the perception with the thing perceived
to set or join together in the mind
i.e. to understand: the man of understanding
idiom for: a good and upright man (having the knowledge of those things which pertain to salvation)

King James Word Usage - Total: 26
understand 24, consider 1, be wise 1

In personal reflection, the overflow of the Spirit is encountered in my life when I am truly immersing myself in the study of the Word. The Word is where we get to know God, and it would seem that we would need to know God to hear him.

A brief thought:
As the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one; so it seems the Word, purposeful prayer, and the Gifts of the Spirit are one

Pursuing Christ, and the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 13:31-33
31 Another story. "God's kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. 32 It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it."
33 Another story. "God's kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the dough for dozens of loaves of barley bread--and waits while the dough rises."

31- time to grow
33- time to rise. Also, yeast infiltrates every part of the dough, thus producing rising bread. Yeast produces results. The Kingdom worked into a life produces results.

Matthew 13:52 The Message:
52 He said, "Then you see how every student well-trained in God's kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it."

Matthew 13:52 AMP
52 He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the kingdom of heaven and has become a disciple is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and [treasure that is] old [the fresh as well as the familiar].

Matthew Henrys Commentary on Mt 13:52
4. A skillful, faithful minister of the gospel, is a scribe, well versed in the things of the gospel, and able to teach them. Christ compares him to a good householder, who brings forth fruits of last year's growth and this year's gathering, abundance and variety, to entertain his friends. Old experiences and new observations, all have their use. Our place is at Christ's feet, and we must daily learn old lessons over again, and new ones also.

Jamieson, Fosset and Brown Commentary on Mt 13:52

52. Then said he unto them, Therefore--or as we should say, "Well, then." every scribe--or Christian teacher: here so called from that well-known class among the Jews. (See Mt 23:34 ). which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven--himself taught in the mysteries of the Gospel which he has to teach to others. is like unto a man that is an householder which bringeth forth--"turneth" or "dealeth out." out of his treasure--his store of divine truth. things new and old--old truths in ever new forms, aspects, applications, and with ever new illustrations.

Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' 38 This is the most important, the first on any list. 39 But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' 40 These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

Love the Lord your God with all your Passion, Prayer, and Intelligence. Loving God and moving in the Spirit isn't feminine. It can have a form of strength, masculinity. Look at Acts, it was the Apostles who were moving in the Spirit. They set the example. But they were also rooted in the Truth. The Word of God makes us aware of what we are hearing- is it truth from the Spirit? Or is it from ones inner thoughts or desires? Instruction on guidelines could be beneficial. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Word of God, for the Word is God-breathed, spirit-breathed.
.....

John 15:7-8
7 But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. 8 This is how my Father shows who he is--when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples...

John 15:16
16 "You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

Personal thought: depth of true worship can only come from a knowledge of the one you are worshipping, your theology of God. Depth of moving in the Spirit comes from abiding in His words and prayer where the Spirit works intimately in you, which then pours out in the giftings. But the key in Jesus words seems to be that you must seek God first. What good are Spiritual gifts if they aren't overflowing from a desire to know God more?

{the unforced rhythms of grace}

2011-05-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Matthew 11:28-30 The Message

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

Isn't that what Jesus is all about? Grace. Freedom. Unforced. Unburdened.

Yes.

Chrisitanity has become a "religion" lumped in with other religions to the world. And perhaps that is why it seems so dry to those on the outside looking in. Or even those on the inside.

And yet...religion burdens. Religion forces. Religion binds. Religion dictates.

This is where the difference lies. This thing, this relationship with Jesus, this love by the God of the universe, this is not a religion. It is a reality. Religions require things of you to gain a right standing with their God, or oneness with their nirvana. A list of standards that you
MUST follow and complete to gain access to the end reward.

Many people think this walk with Jesus, commonly called 'Christianity' is also a list of rules, of do's and don'ts, and often this is what
Christian people portray. But the God of Christianity, this one true God, the maker of heaven and earth, provided a way that doesn't require you to achieve something to gain a right standing with God. Instead it requires something very simple. Belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God, and repentance from sin. With that comes an intimate friendship with God himself, and eternal security.

It all comes from grace. Grace upon grace upon grace. It is the Gift of God, eternal life.

2011-04-23T07:38:00.001-07:00

Eyebrows.

Eyebrows now signify to me the busyness of life.

What sort of ridiculous statement is that? I'm smiling to myself as it type what sounds like nonsense.

One of my pet peeves used to be unplucked eyebrows. On other people. Horrible, I know. My inner dialogue would chatter away about it "why don't they just take the time to take care of that each day?!" Icky confession. I mean really, how petty could I be to spend my time examining someone else's eyebrows? I suppose we all have those inner dialogues that we wouldn't really want to share. Blech.

Now this previous pet peeve makes me laugh. Because I will look in the mirror and see that my eyebrows are going nuts. And I will think "wasn't it yesterday that I took care of this?!?" and then I realize that it must have been last week. Last week! Shocking to the previous eyebrow snob.

Now I get it. Time is a commodity that can run out oh so quickly. And eyebrows just don't really matter that much. There is spit up. Diapers. Getting out the door on time for school. Colds and flus and sniffles. Dinner to make. Sandwiches to make. Marker to wipe off of the white table. Floors to mop so the baby doesn't ingest an unhealthy amount of dog hair. Doctors appointments. Hugs and smuggles. Life!

I promise you, I will never again examine or judge your eyebrows. I probably won't even notice them! I will see your smile, your heart, your spirit.

Why oh why do we waste so much time judging everyone around us? We all do it. In little ways, in big ways, in ways we don't realize. Something they are wearing. A feature to pick at about their physical appearance. Maybe they are dirty, clean, punk-rock, polished, tattooed, scarred. Maybe we don't like their glasses, their belt, their hair...I don't know. We can pick at anything. It's disgusting! I don't want those thoughts in my head! Who cares about appearance? What does it matter? Each one of us is created by the Loving hands of the greatest creator. Gently fashioned, shaped, planned. Infused with the personality and uniqueness that He wanted us to have.

Jesus loves us as a whole. You are beautiful. Period. Not because of some nice feature of yours or well executed highlighting job on your hair. You. Are. Beautiful.

We are beautiful. Warts and all. Flawed, every one of us. So flawed. Why do we focus on the flaws? Let's spend this resurrection weekend with resurrected vision, eyes like Christ's, wearing glasses of pure love. Pure acceptance. Grace.

Lord, help me to see like Jesus. Not to see others by the pieces of who they are, but the wholeness of their spirit, the wholeness of who they are.

- just megs

Location:Stray eyebrows.

Talk about CUTE!

2011-03-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

Ok, I. Love. This. Site. Check out www.shabbyapple.com and go find yourself the CUTEST dress ever. Vintage style? They have 'em. Flirty and fun? Yep. And they design them with modest necklines and hemlines in mind! So, like, I could wear one as a mom of three kiddos, and bend over to pick up a dropped binky, and stay modest. On both ends. Lol.

They also have maternity. And kids. And jewelry.

Go. Shop. Wear. ;)

I want this one!

No bones about it!

2011-02-25T15:12:00.001-08:00

I was blessed to go to a massage therapist yesterday for some work on my back. While she worked on various muscles she explained their connection. As she worked on what seemed an obscure area, I asked her how it was connected to my actual area of pain. She explained that there is a muscle under the arm on the ribcage that gets tight and adheres itself to the bone. This muscle directly affects the muscles under my shoulder blade next to my spine. I had no idea. Here I thought she should be going after the sore spot directly. But it turned out that that little spot is actually a big culprit to my discomfort. When I was done and ready to leave, I stood looking at the diagram on the wall of the human bodies muscular system, and thinking about how interconnected and combined all of the muscles are. And how those are connected to the bones, and how the nerves and blood vessels connect. How intricate!

Today I reflect on that and think about the body of Christ-

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1st Corinthians 12:14-26 ESV

"If one member suffers, all suffer together;
If one member is honored, all rejoice together"

The body of Christ, individuals with specific purposes, each with intrinsic value, seen and unseen. Tied together whether we think about it or not. Intricately connected like the human body is- connected like muscle, tissue, nerves, blood vessels, bones, guts, skin, hands, feet. Perhaps more striking if you break it down further. I may or may not be taking liberty here...but connected like cells, DNA. All connected, all extremely unique.

"that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another"

The implications of this just keep multiplying in my mind. The application of this hits on so many areas.

I want to ask you to take up where I am leaving off, and tell me how this applies to you, to me, to Christ followers. Tell me what it stirs in your mind and heart...

- just megs

Burdens and Strong Shoulders

2011-02-23T07:07:00.001-08:00

From Tuesday's prayer journal-

Father God, thank you for your grace today. Thank you for helping me and lifting the weight of my burden that I have carried these past few weeks off of me. Thank you for making my burden bearable. For shouldering my load with me.

You say "come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I don't think I've ever really experienced that before. It's incredible. I still have the things that have been troubling me, but the impact of them is lessened, the extreme weight of them is lifted. In my mind I have a picture of myself under a heavy cross, and you come alongside of me, and take the principal of the weight onto your stronger, taller shoulders, and we continue on together. How gracious you are.

Another way I have witnessed your grace in this, is that you have allowed me a significant amount of time to get used to the changes that I need to live out, the daily adjustments that must be made. I've seen that I can do it, and I've been able to let go of the importance I previously placed on food related things. Thank you for your tenderness Lord.
.....................................................
Part of my struggle has been with food allergies and the knowledge that an IgE allergy to soy has a pretty far reaching impact...it is EVERYWHERE. Along with almond, hazelnut, and who knows what else as I wait on my test results. I also have had some pretty intense back/back muscle pain and a headache every single day. I awoke with the same problems Tuesday, and spent time praying in the shower for help. Somewhere between the shower and breakfast, my burden lightened to be bearable. It didn't happen in an instant that I recognized. I just realized at one point that my headache was gone, my back was FAR less sore, and my emotions were more under control. I just wanted to give a frame of reference for you. :)
.....................................................

I share this because I feel led to, and I pray that somehow it helps you today. I don't know how the Lord would choose to use it, but I trust He will.

The Lord is truly our strength. May you experience his help as you bear your cross today, knowing that he comes beside you and lifts the brunt of your burden off of your shoulders.

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
Psalm 18:1

- just megs

{ take courage }

2011-02-16T06:51:00.001-08:00

But You, Take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7

My husband gave this verse to me and it really impacted my heart. The surrounding story is about a prophet telling a king to take courage and do what the Lord told him. So the king "took courage" and removed the idols from the nations, and the Israelites made a covenant to search for God with all their desire and find him. And they did, and he was found by them.

This scripture stirs my heart for several reasons. First of, just verse 7, "take courage!" Most of the time I don't feel courageous. I feel worried or overwhelmed or afraid. And this is not about natural human courage, because that only goes so far, until something scares it out of you! No, my courage can only come from the choice to believe that the Lord is all powerful, in complete control, and loving. Courage from faith in a God that is bigger than my mind can conceive. Courage from the knowledge that he holds me in the palm of his hand. Courage because his grace has covered me, I need not fear his judgement, and I can be me, with all my uniquenesses, fearfully and wonderfully made. Courage to go wherever He sends me and speak whatever He tells me to. Courage to step out, to release my kids to God. Sometimes I just need courage to make it through the morning, let alone the day or week!

"Do not let your hands be weak", stand up and keep going, apply myself even when I feel sick or fatigued. "For your work shall be rewarded"

In my English Standard Version Bible, the phrase take courage is found in several other places. The ones which grab me are:

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27:14

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!
Psalm 31:24

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
2 Chronicles 15:7

...take courage...
{ take courage }

And here is a summary of the story in Chronicles:

and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
2 Chronicles 15:2
7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
8 As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 15:8

(you know what the tattoo guy said to me as he prepared to start and I closed my eyes? Yep. Take courage. Ha!)

Blessings and courage be with you!

- just megs

Transparency and Grace

2011-02-13T21:28:00.001-08:00

I am LOVING the book "The Grace Awakening" by Charles Swindoll right now. I've almost finished it, and it is a powerful, yet easy, read.

I feel the Lord is creating such a unique perspective for me, a unique view of life. David Platt's book "Radical" is exactly what it's title states. The Lord spoke to me a lot through that book. But combining those teachings with Chuck Swindoll's Grace Awakening is a whole different flavor.

Isn't it interesting the journeys God takes us on?

I'm going to try to be more transparent here on my blog. I sometimes avoid posting because I don't know what to say or am afraid to share the dirt of real life. But that's what life is, it's real! Too real sometimes! :)

I don't know if you remember how I wrote about a time of sickness in 2009, and how the Lord very graciously healed me, and then in His love, blessed us with a healthy pregnancy and child. All glory goes to him for that. Because of that time of healing I was able to carry and birth baby MnM. Praise the Lord!

Well, here is my transparency today...ever since I had our little one my stomach problems have been coming back and getting worse again. I am afraid to tell people because I feel like I have to defend God, because he DID heal me in 2009, or sound like a quack. But I don't have to defend God, do I? He is God, for heavens sake! He can defend himself! I giggle at myself for my knee-jerk reaction of defending God. If He felt the need to step in and stand up for himself, I am sure he would!

So, here I am. Blessed abundantly with darling MnM, LaLa, and Dear Son. Confident in the work the Lord did in 2009, and not quite understanding why we are walking through a similar scenario. But I am so grateful that I get to start where I left off before, with a depth of relationship with the Lord that was cultivated during a very hard time, and I know that He holds me and guides me. And loves me!

I'm going to be posting some of my prayer journal entries on here as the days go by, because I feel led to share and be transparent with whoever reads this, trusting that God will use it as He wants to.

Do you struggle with transparency?

Ugh. Ok, here we go. I have these stomach issues that seem to be food related. (I am an information nut, and have researched them like crazy, gone to the Dr, allergist, and am seeing a naturopath) I can't seem to make it through the day without ending up nauseous and bloated (like, I look like I'm pregnant bloated), with, ahem, other issues also. It can discourage me and make me feel defeated at times. I try to stand strong, and to watch what I eat, trying to minimize the impact of food. But, some days a girl just needs SOMETHING, and a craving for something normal gets me, I eat it, and my issues get way worse. So then I get in this cycle of defeat. Bah.

Here is what I do know right now as I am waiting on some test results that will tell me more...I know I am allergic, with a genuine allergy to soy, almonds, hazelnut, and cherries. These are somehow commonly connected to various springtime airborne allergies. But these affect my stomach big time. I am also avoiding gluten because it gives me major problems. That cuts out the majority of food out there!

That is just my basic rundown for ya, I'm not going to bore you with more, because honestly, I could write a book on it. But I don't wanna. Humph.

I am just giving a little foundation for this transparency thing, because a lot of what I share will stem from this situation.

I am thankful for it though. It brings me to my knees and into the arms of God, it drives me to seek Him more, to search for Him, to find Him. It makes me realize how much I want to KNOW Him. Really truly. Not just to be a well behaved Christian. Not even to stop at spending time daily with Him and in the Bible. I. Want. Him. I want total immersion. I want life abundant. I want...everything.

So, here is my entry today, as I sit on my bed and gather my thoughts.
.........
Sunday 8:32pm

Heavenly Father, you know I am in a place of utter weakness right now. You know today was a hard day. Please forgive me for my short temper, loud voice, immature words and wrong choices. I thank you that my sins are wiped away, and that right now, I am clean. I am not judged by my shortcomings or failings, in fact, you can't even see them on me. You see me as I am made to be, you see me clothed in righteousness and success. You see beauty and strength, courage and faith, goodness and ability.
...........

I don't really get how He sees me like that, but that is what His word says, so I plan on figuring it out and letting it seep into me and transform my view of myself!

Thanks for sticking with me in this post today. I'm going to tack a picture on the end here just to say hi.

Hi!!!! :) that's me with baby MnM all moby wrapped and snuggly early in January. Alright, baby fussing (she has a cold) and bedtime calling.

Till tomorrow!
- just megs

2011-01-01T19:08:00.001-08:00

I have been eating far too many cookies lately...

Not quite like these, this picture is one I took in Venice this last year. What a year it was!! My husband and I got to travel to Italy for 8 days, I was pregnant with, and gave birth to our 3rd child, and we saw the Lord do great things in our lives!

I'm excited to watch the new year unfold. I have not idea what it will bring, but I trust that God has extraordinary things planned for me and for you!

And I'm sure that there will be many more cookies also...

Happy New Year!
- just megs

6 Months...Oy!

2010-12-27T08:14:00.001-08:00

Yes, it's me! I had the baby, she's a doll, and is 3.5 months old. I rarely get on my laptop (hence the blogging lack) but my new iPad is rather handy (my husband loves me and gave me an extravagant gift) and I find it much more accessible for blogging!

I plan to redecorate a bit, it may take me a little time. I'd like my blog to reflect where I am in life. I'm afraid that I don't have much extra time to craft or sew...but I do find time to think and ponder and write.

This is my hello after too long an absence, and I hope you had a BLESSED Christmas!

Signing off with simplicity,

- just megs

If only I could grasp this...

2010-08-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

From my prayer journal today:

Thank you that You love and care for us so tenderly. I'm amazed that you love each person on this earth with depth, tenderness, and passion. With love that surpasses understanding- deeper than any love I'll ever be able to feel in my human heart. A God-Sized love.

Thank you that you love the dirty, the stinky, the odd looking, the deformed, the disabled, those involved in religions of deception, those involved in the ugliest of sins, the homosexuals, the prostitutes, the murderers...my heart can't even fully grasp a smidgen of such overwhelming, overshadowing, otherworldly love.

I ask that through the power of your Holy Spirit you would infuse my heart, spirit, mind, and soul with some sort of comprehension and resemblance of this love, and that you would love the world through me, that they would know your Spirit. Change my heart to Your heart, that my first reaction to these people wouldn't be to flinch, ignore, or turn away; but that it would feel YOUR compassion, weep with Your heart, and reach out in Your love.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Getting Radical

2010-06-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

Jesus is up to something...and it's radical. There is a change happening in hearts around America, and mine is just one of them.

It's simple and yet it is hard to wrap your mind around.

I recommend this book to you, and challenge you to read it. Read it ALL. Even the parts that make you uncomfortable. Digest it. If you disagree, take time to let it settle in, and then re-think it.

There are a number of circumstances in my life right now causing a radical change in my heart, and this book is only a part of it. I'm excited and passionate about this transformation.

It centers around one thing. It's all about the simplicity of Jesus and His good news in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. His commands to us as His disciples. The truth of the Gospel. And the life found therein.

One portion of this can be found here:

25 "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.

26 Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27 "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 28 All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29 but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30 "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

31 What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. 32 People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.

33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:25-34

God-Reality. That's what I want.

Great Conversation Starters

2010-05-29T16:33:00.001-07:00

We have mastered the art of small talk at our house. Really, you should use some of our examples at your next dinner party or social event. I guarantee you will make an impression (although it may not be the impression you want to leave) and you will not be forgotten (again, in ways you might rather HAVE forgotten)...But it's always worth a try if you are stuck without anything to say!

Small talk with a 2 and 4 year old 101:

Arguments:

Dear Son: "Excuse me, I tooted!"
Lala: "I tooty!!!"
Dear Son: "NO! I tooted!"
Lala: "I tooty too!"
Dear Son: "No you didn't!! I DID!!"
Lala: "No I tooty!"
ME: "Stop arguing about who tooted!"

On strength:

Dear Son: "I'm really strong"
Me: "Mmmmhmmm?"
Dear Son: "Yeah, I'm stronger than an elephant!"

Important life changing questions:

Dear Son: "How does God make dirt?"
Me: "Ummm...let me think about that and tell you later"

Dear Son: "How do ant's move?"
Me: "Ummm...ask Daddy."

More to follow, I'm sure.
-Megan

The one with a {winner}, some dancing princesses, and good baby smells.

2010-05-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

{Theme music playing...} And now the winner of the cute little palm tree t-shirt is....

--------------------------------------------------------------
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

6
Timestamp: 2010-05-27 19:56:39 UTC
--------------------------------------------------------------

(Forgive my lapse of brainpower, but what is UTC time anyways? And if asking that made me sound incredibly dumb, I blame it on pregnancy. Henceforth, anything I say that makes me sound lacking in the smart area will be blamed on this also.)

Comment number 6 is Anita from Castles Crowns and Cottages! Oh dear me. This wonderful lady's blog is FULL of beautiful whimsical images that just make the little princess inside of me dance. You have to go see her. Your little princess will dance too. And if you think you don't HAVE a little princess, you will discover that YES, you DO, and she's a better dancer than you would have thought.

Anita, I hope you enjoy my humble offering of this little t-shirt, and I'm sure you know a little hula princess that can wear it!

I had so much fun visiting the newborn baby pictured in my last post yesterday. Sigh. What a doll. How am I supposed to wait until September to hold MINE? And will this be my last? I do NOT handle pregnancy gracefully. Oh how I wish I did. I wish I were one of those women who either waltzed through pregnancy without a hitch, or who loved pregnancy in spite of it's discomforts.

I'm NOT. Not not not. First 19 weeks? Nausea, ALL THE TIME. Makes me grumpy the dwarf. Makes me feel like I can't live each day, they are all so hard. Second half? My hips give out. After 3pm walking is hard, sitting is hard, standing is hard. Blech. My hiney hurts. Normal things make my hips go crazy on me. Two nights ago I lunged after the dog as he tried to eat my sons dropped pizza, and the whole night and next day were spent sitting on my heating pad. (Not to mention the two days camped out on it after making Baby MnM's quilt...)

See? I'm such a complainer! But babies? Infants? Tiny sweet soft things that I can hold constantly and kiss and smell and hold some more?

HEAVEN.

Oh my babies. I love other peoples babies, yes, but nothing compares to your own precious newborn. The crying and up-all-night-ness doesn't really bother me. Now, don't misunderstand me. I get tired and have my mom moments. But my babies are worth every one. And every pregnancy discomfort.

But you see, if I have another one after this, 4 other people in the household will have to suffer with me. My dear husband who does the dishes and laundry and puts the kids to bed when I think I will die, my energetic little son who wants to play and doesn't get why mama gets grumpy, my sweet daughter who wants mommy time, and then this baby girl...

I'm not making any decisions right now or anytime soon! I just realize that this quite possibly could be my last newborn to snuggle and cherish from her first SECOND of life in this world. Oh little one, I will never put you down! My dishes will pile up (oh wait, they already do), my laundry will try to eat my house (ummm...isn't that what it is doing NOW??), and the dog hair will have to wait to be vacuumed from the carpet (ok, I'm so not even going there with that one...).

I can't wait to smell your head, and hold you close. For that first moment when they put you in my arms and I really meet YOU. I love your little kicks right now, that will only grow stronger as I grow bigger. (Would you mind NOT making me crave Mexican food anymore though? I'm turning into a balloon from all that sodium. Just askin...)

Your big brother tells me every couple of days about what he will teach you. Your big sister is not ever going to stop kissing you, she loves babies so much!

I didn't even know I was going here when I started this post. But I will end by saying, we can't wait to see you!!

Now you all need to go find an infant to smell.

Dreaming of baby bundles,
Megan

{New Life}

2010-05-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Today I was blessed to meet my dear friends new little one...

Precious new life, only hours old...

Welcome to the world little one! May the Lord bless each day of your life.

You are already more deeply loved than you will ever be able to fully grasp. Your parents are wonderful people who will cherish you every day and every moment they have with you. I am blessed to know them and you! (And your big sissy too.)

Love,

Megan

Kids Couture T-shirt Tutorial

2010-05-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

And now for a Tutorial that you all have been waiting for...with baited breath I'm sure. ;) These instructions will work for for kids shirts, adults shirts, baby clothes, baby onesies, the possibilities are limitless! They make excellent, original gifts, and special clothing items for your own children or yourself.

How to make a Child's Boutique T-shirt:

Materials needed:

Iron on transfer paper, available at your local craft or fabric store.

Iron

Scissors

Thread (A matching or contrasting color for the top stitch, and white for the bobbin)

Fabric (or fabricS) of choice

Sewing Machine

Kids T, Onesie, or desired item to embellish (purse, blanket, ect...)

1) Take your transfer paper and choice of fabric, and iron the fabric onto the transfer paper. I usually cut a small piece of fabric and iron it on, just the size I need for my design. Don't accidentally move your iron OFF of the fabric, or the transfer paper will goo your iron. Icky.

2) I like to cut out the portion that I'm working with. Consider your design to determine the size of fabric needed.

3) Generally, anything you could make a basic outline of is easy to create. You can get more detailed and do something like an animal and layer on its eyes ect. Your choice. I copied the palm tree on this fabric free hand. I like to save the paper backing when I'm done as a future stencil in my stash of design ideas. Draw your design onto the paper backing on the prepped fabric.

4) Proceed to cut out your design

5) Eat your oatmeal (or preferred lunch) while you are working. Because the kids are napping and this is your chance to eat in peace. Plus if you are like me you enjoy doing a million things at once. And if you are like me, it's generally a compulsion that can't be ignored, even if it adds stress to your life, rather than relieves it. I'm referring to multitasking, not eating. Although eating is a compulsion not to be ignored either...

6) Design ready! PEEL OFF PAPER BACKING. Ah the mature voice of experience. I've forgotten this step while distracted or doing multiple shirts, and have ended up ironing longer than needed and wondering WHY the thing won't stick? Oh Duh. (Do you like that use of verbage? Duh? Takes you back to elementary school doesn't it. Again with the maturity here.) Duh duh duh. It can't stick, the paper is still there.

7) Lay out image onto shirt however you want to place it. Centered because you like precision? Go for it. To the side because you like things a little artsy? Sure! Upside down....well...just because you're weird? Why not. I'm not stopping you. Be you. I'm not judging.

8) Iron on according to the instructions on your transfer paper. Although generally I find mine need higher heat and the regular steam setting even if it isn't recommended. But do start by following the instructions first and working from there.

Now, you don't HAVE to do this next step, but don't be scared to try. If you take your time and are careful you CAN do this. If you don't sew your design it will begin to peel after only a few washes. It is worth the time and effort.

9)Top stitch the applique to give it that finished look, and also to hold down the applique during its many washes. If you are new to sewing, take your time, take it easy, and try to sew moderately close to the edges.

The edges will probably fray a tiny bit in the future, which actually looks very cute and vintage-y. If you HATE the thought of that, you can buy a little bottle of Fray-Check at your craft store, and use it around the edges to keep them from fraying at all.

And there you have it! Your own fancy little T! Wal-Mart is an excellent place to find plain t-shirts for a low price. I bought these white ones over a year and a half ago on clearance and got an amazing deal!

Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY for this shirt in a size 4T!! It closes Tuesday night. To enter, comment on the Giveaway post, and for an extra entry mention it when you blog and link to it! (And leave me a comment so that I know you did). =)

Happy creating to you!

Megan

{Comfort through Grace}

2010-05-23T03:55:00.000-07:00

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Grace: from the Greek word Charis

Definition
-grace
-that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
-good will, loving-kindness, favour
-of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
-what is due to grace
-the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
-the token or proof of grace, benefit
-a gift of grace
-benefit, bounty
-thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

Comfort: Paraklesis

Definition
-a calling near, summons, (esp. for help)
-importation, supplication, entreaty
-exhortation, admonition, encouragement
-consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment
-thus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter)
-persuasive discourse, stirring address
-instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father,

who Loved us and gave us eternal consolation, comfort, solace, and refreshment;

and good hope through good will, loving kindness, and favour;

give you solace and consolation, and comfort to your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Old Navy CUPONS!

2010-05-22T16:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, I had to share. I just scored BIG TIME at Old Navy with online coupons I found. Most of the maternity clothes they have are not available in stores, so I always need to shop online. By the way, these aren't maternity coupons. They are good on it all! Surprisingly, I was able to combine coupon codes. SCORE!!

I found my codes here: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/oldnavy.com

And used these:
THANKYOU- $10 off when you use Old Navy card
MYCARD- Free Shipping over $100
ONCAMP15- 15% off a $75 or more purchase (Expires the 23rd of this month! Tomorrow!)

Go forth and score. And share with me if you do. I was overdue for a needed trip to ON, and saved myself the exasperation of doing it while pregnant with two kidlets. =)

This is me happy!

-Megan

{Quilting for Dummies...and a GiVeAwAy!}

2010-05-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I made Baby MnM's quilt in a day and a half! I know, I'm amazed at myself also! I hope I didn't get everyone too excited at the mention of a quilt the other day, although it is BEAUTIFUL, and I L.O.V.E. it, it is a basic large block quilt. Definitely not an intricate pattern. But wonderful nonetheless!!!

The lovely women who work at Keepsake Cottage Fabrics took the time to generously figure out my dimensions and the size of blocks I would need for this quilt. Thanks to their efforts, I was able to cut, assemble, and create with ease. If they hadn't been such a help, I think it would have taken me MUCH longer. My brain and math (yes, even simple math at times) don't get along. Throw in pregnancy and two talkative children in the room? Forget about it!

I'll walk you through my very simple process of making this quilt, and you will see that even if you don't sew, you could do it too!!

And then I'll tell you about my GIVEAWAY!!! And NO. I'm not giving away the quilt. So don't get your hopes up. ;)

First, you figure out the size you want your quilt to be, and then do a breakdown of the size the squares should be, and how many for each row. Honestly, if you wanted to wing it, you could just cut a bunch of squares and assemble them, and when you are done figure out the size your backing and padding should be. But it's probably better to have some firm dimensions in mind. =)

As the ladies at CKF recommended, I drew out each square on the back of my selected fabric. Each one was measured to be 10 inches square.

I drew and cut them all out, and then laid them out to figure out how I wanted them in the finished quilt. I played with the color patterns a bit, and ended up with this-

(Please note: I highly recommend keeping any dogs, cats, or wild beasts locked up if you are laying your squares out on the floor. You will spare yourself exasperation and gnashing of teeth if you follow this important advice. I also recommend keeping your 2 year old near you in her highchair with snacks, so that said 2 year old does not decide to "Help" and thus become a tornado in the midst of your hard work. Please take said advice seriously.)

Then, I sewed each row. In the bottom corner of each row I wrote in pencil the row number, so that if something happened, I wouldn't get them mixed up. Each square was carefully sewn together. I then pressed the row, and also pressed the seams open-

Finally each row was sewn and pressed, and it was time to sew the rows together-

I carefully ironed each bit as it came together, ironing the seams open so it would sew and quilt nicely-

My fabric for the back is the pink palm tree pattern. I assembled the fabric and batting (wrong sides out) and sewed the whole think together, leaving a gap at one end so that I could turn the quilt. I then top-stitched around the entire thing, giving it a nice boarder, and also closing up the gap that I used for turning it-

I sewed rows along each seam of the squares, first lengthwise, then width wise, quilting it together. My squares didn't match up perfectly each time, so I just moved along the seam as needed.At the end of such a long project, it can be helpful to turn on an old movie. I (thanks to netflix) turned on "Tea for Two" with Dorris Day. It played in the background as I finished up. I highly recommend old movies (especially Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant) or Christmas movies as a stress reliever at the end of a long day, and while sewing or doing laundry. (Although in the instance of laundry, you might just end up sitting on the couch, with the same basket of laundry next to you and unfolded when "The End" scrolls across the screen...)

Towards the end of my project I had a craving for some cookies. We were out of chocolate chips, so I decided on chocolate cookies. I googled a recipe, and gave it a whirl. Honestly, I liked the dough best. I think the white chocolate chips ruined them, because they were WAY too sweet. And nothing really compares to gooey chocolate butter and sugar right out of the bowl anyways. Just sayin. I mean really, who here just wants to make cookies for the dough sometimes? I'm not the only one, am I?

And honestly? I needed some chocolate therapy. It was an emotionally rough day. Please, please don't send any sympathy to me though, if you think of it, please pray for my church family. Our Senior Pastor went to be with Jesus yesterday. He was a wonderful man, with a faith I hope to emulate. His son is our Associate Pastor (and now Senior Pastor) and his family are all friends of ours. I mention this because I covet your prayers for his wife and children.

Back to the finished product. I decided after a little soul therapy from that bowl of chocolate, to make a t-shirt for LaLa. You will see that in a moment. First, a few more glimpses of the quilt-

Hmm- I see a few threads that need snipping...

And now, for the t-shirt I made for Lala, and the reveal of the giveaway.

The model is cuter than the t-shirt, so she gets first dibs-

Now for the t, I'm sorry that this photo of it on is blurry!

And here is the shirt one more time-

Yes, quite a productive day.

{GIVEAWAY}

I'm giving away one t-shirt just like LaLa's in a size 4t! If you don't have a little one who will fit it or grow into it, it would make a very fun gift! The one she is wearing in her picture is 3t, and I chose it so it would be big, because it will shrink a little bit. Plus she won't out grow it right away!

To enter, leave me a comment! If you want to have a second entry, mention (and link to) my giveaway in your blog! In the past I offered extra entries for licking your elbow, but I'll let you off the hook this time. This giveaway will be open until Tuesday evening, May 25th.

Also, soon I will show you a little tutorial on making your own cute t-shirts for your kiddos. This tutorial will work for t-shirts, tank tops, onesies, or anything else you might want to embellish! It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO simple, and fun. Honestly, I feel like I'm giving some not-so-secret secret away, because I used to sell these on etsy. But really, you can find out how to do them anywhere. =) I want to share the wealth! Its designer for a buck! (Literally, if you find a t-shirt for a buck, and already have the supplies, it is!)

AND (this is getting really long...) I will post next week my Chicken Salad recipe, and my lemonaid-for-one recipe. (Meredith, there you have it! The salad, lemonaid, AND quilt! Hehe. And also some sewing ideas for that new little sewing machine!)

That said, I'm signing off. Enter my giveaway, and be of good cheer!

Megan

{Chicken Salad and Addictive Fabric...but it all starts with a Pancake}

2010-05-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

Our day began an hour earlier than usual, which seems to be the NEW usual. Sigh. The kids have been waking up early, and I have been unable to sleep anyways- a mix of insomnia and my round tummy being eternally uncomfortable. Come September it will return to normal, but until then...Sigh.

So, one sleep deprived Mommy, and two antsy kiddos equals-

And also-

The sun was shining beautifully, and a storm is supposed to be rolling in...So we headed out to my favorite fabric store EVER. I have been hunting all week for the bedding that I want to use in LaLa's room for her BIG GIRL BED! Ack! I ordered hers (you'll see it in a moment...) and decided to make a quilt for Baby MnM who is arriving in September.

Did I mention we found out the baby is a girl???

So, I purchased LaLa's bedding, and I decided to try to find some similar fabrics for the baby's quilt. They will be sharing a room. So we headed out to Country Village.

And saw this cocky rooster-

Did you see that wig he has? Hilarious.

Below is a little snapshot of what we did. Buy fabric. Chase rooster. Shop for fabric. Eat hot dog. Sit on merry-go-round horses. Enjoy sunshine.

Keepsake Cottage Fabrics is also how you spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Look it up. It's in the dictionary.

Here is the fabric I chose for the quilt-

YUMMY.

I L.O.V.E fabric. Oh yes. I find it addictive. It makes my mouth water. It calls to me.

I came home, put the kiddos down for a nap, and made myself lunch. I have been anticipating today's lunch since last night, when I made my mom's famous Chicken Salad. OOOOh yes. First I made some home made lemonaid, and threw in some fresh raspberries and a sliced strawberry-

Oh Chicken Salad, this photo does not do you justice.

At the grocery store they had these GIANT strawberries, and so the kids and I will be having some when they get up-

And I will be having this-

Ok, I PROMISE you all that a TWO coffee day is R.A.R.E. Promise. Cross my heart. But this week? It's just one of those weeks. Know what I mean?

Speaking of this week, my son's fever broke on Sunday, Praise God! He is healthy and well now. What a relief.

Do you all want the recipe for my chicken salad? Let me know, I'll post it if you do.

Now, about that quilt. I've never made a quilt before. Uh-oh. I am not the most patient person, so I don't get into very many projects that require exactness. Usually I just let the artist in me flow.

And? I plan to do it THIS WEEKEND. Yep. I'll post photos of my progress. Yikes! I want to be able to get more of the fabric for decorative pillows and such, and if I take all summer to do the quilt, I don't know if they will still have it all!

It looks like the storm is here, the wind is blowing, my power just flickered off and back on, and the kiddos are up!

I'm going to start figuring out that quilt...(And I might just eat some Chicken Salad for dinner too...)

Megan

(P.S. If I ever seem food obsessive on my blog or when I comment on YOUR blog, I shall blame it on pregnancy. But really? I love food. FOOOOD. But you didn't hear that here.)

{Burger Maddness}

2010-05-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

We love to BBQ burgers at our house! My husband things I make the perfect burger, and I always enjoy soaking up his praise about them.

Last nights burgers were especially yummy. My husband prepared TWO for himself in anticipation of the goodness.The problem is, our patties were a bit thicker this time (ok A LOT thicker) and he was only able to conquer 1 and 3/4's of his.

I usually use lettuce for a bun for mine, skipping the bread bun. I'm not cutting carbs, I just generally do it to narrow down calories a little...cause then I can have dessert. ;)

I know most of you probably have a favorite way of making your burgers, but I'll share my Top Secret recipe with you in case you want to try something different.

{Note my oh so precise measurements.}

Ingredients:

Ground beef- lowest fat I can get

Onion

BBQ sauce

Garlic powder

Salt

(you were expecting a more secret ingredient, weren't you?)

Assembly:

Dice onion very small.

Put ground beef in a bowl.

Squirt in a good amount of BBQ sauce, sprinkle in salt, and poof on the garlic powder.

Toss onion on top.

Work it all together really well. (EWWW. I don't enjoy this part at all. I've come a long ways tho. When we first got married I wouldn't TOUCH raw meat with my hands)

Shape into patties, and grill them up on the BBQ!

We topped off the meal with some baked french fries, and since Red Robin is super close to us, I asked my husband to pick up their special seasoning for our fries. Yummy! Although I have to admit, baked fries don't compare to FRIED french fries. Sigh. Oh well. Still good!

So there you have it! Now let me tell you the frustration I had making this post! My pictures wouldn't upload, even though I tried OVER, and OVER, and OVER. Agh!

Now I'll let you in on the going on's in our little house. My son has been sick since LAST Friday. It started with a high fever, and that's about all its been. Well, we took him into the walk in clinic on Tuesday, and the Dr. said it was an ear infection. I was shocked because he didn't say his ears hurt that whole weekend. He has had (I think) 4 ear infections in the past 4 or 5 months, and it's weirding me out! He has never EVER had an ear infection before this all began. He's 4.5, and this is all a new thing.

SO. We've been giving him the antibiotics since Tuesday, and his fever STILL keeps spiking really high when his fever-reducer wears off. If it doesn't stop by this afternoon, we're headed back in to the Dr. In the past we have seen a huge improvement within 24 hours of beginning his antibiotics. This lingering high fever is just weird.

I'll be letting you know how our son is doing when I find out.

How do YOU like to make your burgers???

A Tease of Summer

2010-05-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

Summertime is in the air. It teases us. Glimpses, Sunny days, with cloudy rainy cold days sandwiched in between...

The flip flops are out, and on our feet on the days that permit it...

The playtoys beckon us...

And Tiny Pink Converse made for a two year old are sported with some capris...

Little ducks toddling in a row...

And those shoes again...so STINKING adorable...

Ah yes summertime. I know you are near. You will come in glory, and yet it will be brief here in the Northwest. But it will be glorious.

The seasons of our life are so reflective of those that surround us. Sometimes we seem to be stuck in an unending winter. Perhaps the winter is desolation, or sorrow. Or maybe a winter of calm, peace, and purity.

And then spring emerges. Hints of new life or new opportunities bud, and you can sense them coming. Life seems fresh. Perhaps you have glimpses of color between rainstorms.

Then comes summer. Oh summer. Glorious, warm, filled with delights. It comes like a burst of joy, an explosion in our hearts! It can be exhilarating.

Eventually summer melts into fall. In my life, I feel most energized in the fall. It delights me. The colors of the leaves, the crisp bite in the air, the warmth of the sun as the day progresses. Such memories formed in autumn in my heart...

All these seasons, ever changing. We struggle with wanting to capture one, and keep it forever, but it is not to be. Because these seasons in our life are what make it LIFE! Without a taste of winter, we could not fully appreciate the burst of summer. The delights of autumn. Without the sweltering heat of summer, we would not welcome the pristine white days of snow.

It is all beautiful, and it surrounds us. And if you look carefully, it all turns our hearts to the One who made it all...

Be blessed, whatever season you are in.

Lovingly,

Megan

Annoying Beauty

2010-05-10T11:09:00.001-07:00

I am annoyed.

I am annoyed with Americas obsession with beauty and perfection, that I personally feel has distorted the majority of women's thinking about what True Beauty is. You might not think yourself among this majority, but give me a moment to elaborate.

Our society is programmed to give privilege to those who fit the standard of beauty. To admire beauty, and extol those who meet the standard. I know this is true in many cultures, but I don't believe that all of them have as stringent a view on beauty as we do.

Beauty in America is synonyms with a perfect figure that sports no extra fat, love handles, or cellulite. It requires perfect hair and teeth. And a good amount of s..ex appeal must be thrown into the mix. It must be flaunted. Faces should be free of flaws, zits, acne...skin should be tan, but apparently without the risks of skin cancerous sun, and so money must be spent on fake tans to achieve that golden glow. Noses? Not too big or out of the ordinary.

This 'beauty' is presented to us from childhood. Even if our parents are careful with what we watch or see, we live in a society filled with the pressure of perfection.

I'm annoyed that each one of us- every single human being on this planet- is FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE according to the Word of God. And yet each one of us sees faults and imperfections in ourselves that are a part of who we are, and how we are created. We each have different hair, we carry our weight differently, we have different facial features...

I'm annoyed. Annoyed, annoyed, annoyed!

(And it's not just pregnancy hormones!)

I'm annoyed that this perception and pursuit of beauty has slunk into my heart and life, lowering my self confidence, and making me desire to be something I'm not. I'm annoyed that it tarnishes even little girls views of themselves. I'm annoyed that it drives teenage girls to diet, develop eating disorders, secretly loathe themselves, and in the less extreme but just as harmful: spend an excessive amount of time, money and effort on becoming beautiful enough.

And oh the selfishness that this breeds. The devil delights in this obsession with beauty because it requires one to dwell on ones self constantly. Maybe some wouldn't call it "trying to be beautiful" but "overcoming a fault or imperfection." No matter what we call it, we turn inward rather than turning outward as the Lord calls us. We waste excessive time on ourselves, and in the process, shortchange things that we could be doing for others and the Lord. We enter into bondage of self, and lose our freedom in Christ.

inward. Seeking opportunities to help others- the poor, the needy, the lonely.
Freedom is found in pouring out yourself for others. Finding ways to give. Cooking a meal for a family, giving financially if you are able, turning your prayers outward rather than inward.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
Isiah 58:6-11

Coming to an acceptance of who we are, and how we were created does not give us license to overindulge in unhealthy habits or stop pursuing healthy changes in our lives. And it doesn't give us a right to give up on our grooming in such a way that our husbands want to run right back out

the door when they arrive home. ;)

The Bible does not condemn beauty, but rather gives us a right view of beauty. First an foremost our beauty comes from within (stop groaning, I know you've heard that for years).

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised"

Proverbs 31:30

But beauty is not disallowed in scripture. Far from it! In Song of Solomon, the husband delights in the beauty of his wife, and she in her husbands beauty. Many beautiful women are mentioned in the scripture. I believe though, that beauty then and beauty now are two very different things. Beauty today is unrealistic perfection.

I don't write this to preach at you! Far from it. I'm preaching at myself. I'm pregnant, and gaining weight I don't want to gain! (laughing at self) If I complain after this baby comes that I'm not losing weight fast enough, you have a right to correct me and send me back to my own post about beauty! I struggled for years with my nose, because I felt it wasn't small enough. I have agonized about my weight going straight to my love handles, and that even when I was at my lowest weight when I was sick, they were still there! I'd have to be only skin and bones to lose them, because of my body type. And that wouldn't be beautiful at all!!

You see? Society's standards seep into even the most steadfast of minds. Let's change our hearts and minds about beauty. Let's teach our daughters the value of who they are before the world decides to teach them for us. Let's focus on others and not fall into the trap of self.

Let your light shine, for there is where your beauty is found!

In Love,

Megan

{My Adventure in Italy}

2010-05-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

I didn't mention on here yet that my husband and I had the privilege of going to Rome and Venice last month. Amazingly, we arrived home only 2 days before the Icelandic volcano started erupting!

We had many adventures, and good times, but it was also a very challenging trip. I missed my kids terribly, and the stresses of international travel made me long for home!

I'd like to share some photos from our trip with you.

First off, on the bus, there were signs designating seats for the elderly, pregnant woman, infirm, and such...I found the photos highly amusing. One of my favorite things to take pictures of happens to be funny signs and illustrations.

Example:

Oh yes I love that one. It still makes me laugh.

In Venice, I spied a little bird helping himself to lunch at a fruit stand-

Here are my love and I in Venice, overlooking some of the beautiful landmarks. I have to say that getting this photo taken was hilarious. A young man who was by himself saw me with our camera (a Cannon Rebel) and knowing that I would know how to use his (something smiler, a Rebel or Nikon...can't remember) he askes me to take his photo. He had his "shot" all lined up, and asked me to stand in a specific spot. Totally understandable, I would do the same! I took several pictures of him, and he was very pleased. I then asked if he would take our photo. Well, let me tell you- this is a man who loved his camera! He was like a photographer for models or something! He was moving around, taking photo after photo, and really getting into it! Made me wish I'd been a bit less shy and put a little umph into HIS photoshoot!

Here is an angel that flanked the sides of a bridge, with many others, on the road that led across the river in Rome into the Vatican area. They were gorgeous, and each held a symbolic item that related to Jesus ministry or death.

And finally, I invented a rousing game, which I like to call "Slug Nun". No, I did NOT slug a nun, it was the equivalent of 'Slug Bug', and I (oh-so-gently) slugged my husband each time I saw a nun. He of course was allowed to play also, but being that I invented the game, I won each time. ;) And so, in tribute to Slug Nun- slug! Gotcha!

More photos and stories to come...Please share with me your adventures in travel!

-Megan

Digging in!

2010-05-06T15:22:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of a project, trying to move my craft and sewing stuff to a place where I can actually USE it!

The question of the day is, Why on earth do I get motivated to do these things at such odd times? I have 2 additional boys over at my house for 2 days, and the inspiration hits me NOW. Oy.

So here I sit, typing a quick note, while my dining room table is COVERED with all my crafting, scrapbooking, and sewing stuff. Hmmm. The table at which we must seat 4 kids and 2 adults come dinner time. At least I have a deadline!

If it looks good enough for photos, I'll be sure to share. If not, well, I'll keep my mess hidden. ;)

Ok, I've really gotta get back to it. Bye!

Looking forward!

2010-04-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

I love blogging.

I don't like being away from it, but sometimes I go through periods of time where I don't feel like I have a creative thought to share, a blogging drought seems to plague me.

Writing has always been a passion of mine, as has photography. So blog world is a wonderful place for me to be. But sometimes (confession) I feel a little overwhelmed. You all are so wonderful and inspirational! You have so much to give and share! You blog regularly, you make projects, your blogs pour out beauty, inspiration, and LIFE, from every word!!! And I wonder, what do I have to share? I'm chuckling at myself right now. This is no cry for pity. I just love your blogs.

Feeling confused sometimes, I wonder, who am I? As a mother of 2 small children and one on the way, sometimes I feel at a loss. I love my life right now (except those awful pregnancy hormone days). But I also wonder how to incorporate creativity and inspiration into these days? Very much lacking the time, energy, and desire to pursue anything other than getting my kitchen clean and forcing myself to tidy the house leaves me wondering...My crafts, supplies, and sewing machine have been packed into a closet since my daughter was a little over one year old, because monkey that she is, I can't keep them out in plain sight or they get pillaged. I craft by the "mess method" I need to have it ALL out, so that I can see it all! We don't have any extra room in our home to be able to keep it in sight. I need a creative home makeover! (Mom....are you reading this?? hehehe...)

On a brighter note, we will be 20 weeks pregnant on Monday! That means we will be halfway through this pregnancy! Yay! And as of about a week ago, I seem to have emerged from the I'm-so-sick-I-feel-nauseous-ALL-the-time, period of pregnancy. Double Yay! I feel human again. Which means a return to blogging more often. We find out on Monday (if the baby allows us to find out) the gender!

Perhaps it's the taste of summer that is teasing me- the desire for warmth and fresh berries, to soak up the sun while the kids play in our little yard, iced tea and pie....but I've pulled out The Farm Chicks book again and have been spending a little time each day flipping through its delicious pages.

Their annual Farm Chicks Antique Show is coming in June, and I REALLY want to be there! I have the blessing of actually living (slightly) near this event, as my little home is in Western Washington, and their fabulous show is in Eastern Washington. It's a bit of a drive (nothing to blink at unless your pregnant and have 2 kids, wink wink), but it still remains a possibility. They are even having a Giveaway to be there for set-up day and a special dinner. Oh please-please-please can I win?? I'll DEFINITELY be there if I do. ;)

Looking forward to spending more time with you this Spring and Summer my friends!!

-Megan

Opportunities to Give

2010-03-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with you all an opportunity to give to Haiti relief in a very personal way. My friends church in Madison, WI began an organization a few years back called "Beautiful Child". They support an orphanage called "Orphanage by Faith".

Please know that I don't post about this to provoke pity or guilt in anyone. I just want to share an opportunity where you can give joyfully if you feel led by the Lord.

The pastor of The Journey Community Church was able to take a team to the orphanage a few weeks ago to assess the damage done by the quake and the immediate and long term needs. The only things that survived were a wall that has a sign for the orphanage, and the one private outhouse. The kids temporary sleeping areas and kitchen aren't even what we would call sleeping areas or kitchens. Honestly (in my opinion), we CAMP better than the way these kids are living daily.

Above is the wall/sign that survived.

This is the KITCHEN they are using, and it is in the girls sleeping area.

This is a picture from downtown Jacmel, the city where the orphanage is located.

Praise the Lord that in the midst of their need and desolation, they are actually becoming a center for the community to gather, cook, ect. The children are cheerful, and the outlook, though a long journey, is hopeful. The needs remain intense, but there is hope and faith in it all.

You can support a child in a way that fits your budget at $32/month, $64/month, or more. To fully sponsor one child would be $128/month. It's ok if you choose the minimum if that's where you are at. Don't let guilt or feeling badly stop you from stepping out if this is lighting a spark in your soul.

You can also consider giving a one time (or more, your choice) gift to the re-building of the orphanage.

I want to let you know that the man who pastors The Journey is a great man, honest, and giving. He was my high school youth pastor here in the Northwest many years ago, and he also married my husband and I.

Please remember what Christ said: whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him. We are also challenged in Malachi 3:10 to give to the Lord, and see how abundantly he gives in return!

Thank you for letting me share this with you. May the blessing of the Lord be with all of you!

-Megan

Baby on board!

2010-03-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to be able to share with you why I have been so bloggy-silent for the past weeks. Today, we are 12 weeks pregnant! I'm so thankful that the Lord has answered the cry of my heart for another child, and that this one has grown safely and is strong and healthy.

The past weeks have been filled with fatigue, 24/7 nausea, and more fatigue. It's been difficult to form a string of comprehensive words and thoughts together, so I've resorted to silence. :)

The Lord is faithful and compassionate to all that He has made. May His be the glory and honor forever!

-Megan

Thought for the day...

2010-02-10T15:50:00.001-08:00

My kids produce enough energy between them to power the entire state of Washington...

Why doesn't the government try to harness THAT energy source? ;)

(Can you tell I'm tired today??)

Hope a little humor brings you a little laughter!

-Megan

Dream a little dream

2010-02-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the strangest dream...

I was in the middle of an exhausting, frantic, overwhelming hide-and-seek pursuit. Someone was chasing me, trying to capture me, and I was doing everything in my power to escape.

I would run, and then hide for a moment in whatever shelter I could find, taking a moment to breathe. Then the chase would begin again as I was discovered. This seemed to go on and on, until I felt ragged and worn.

Then I came upon a room, filled with pleasant colors and a sense of calm, and I entered it. It turned out it was a refuge from the Lord, and the pursuer could not enter the room. There were two words I saw in the room- Joy, and Peace. And I knew that once I left the room, if I armed myself with those two things, I could not be captured or even pursued any longer by whatever evil that was after me.

Relief washed over me when I finally woke up. I felt spent from that dream! When I saw the alarm clock I knew I had a few more hours to sleep, and sure felt like I needed it! How can a dream make you so tired?

It has certainly left me reflecting on being armed with God's Peace and Joy. These two things are a result of being in relationship with God and filled with the "fruit", or benefits, of His Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

These are things that we cannot achieve on our own, but receive as gifts from God when we are in relationship with Him. If you feel like you are lacking in an area that is described in those verses, ask the Lord to fill you with the fruit that you need in your life. As 2 Corinthians 9:8 says "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Having all you need.

I am also reminded about how we are instructed to put on the armor of God:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Remaining in the Word of God, remaining in prayer, and being continually filled with the Spirit are key in putting on our armor.

I have days where I can clearly see cracks in my armor because I am not repairing it with the Word or prayer. Thankfully God is gracious and when I seek Him, He restores me.

Be encouraged that we have the armor and weapons we need to fight, and that the Spirit fills us with ALL that we need at all times!

{Journey of Faith}

2010-01-11T17:59:00.000-08:00

I'm on a journey of faith,
Embraced with hope and love,
Entwined with compassion and grace,
Held by the Father above.
-Megan Philp

{Picture Love}

2010-01-09T00:18:00.000-08:00

We've been playing!

Playing with our camera....

Enjoying one dry day without rain...And playing with digital altered art...Below is a combination of pictures I took in Hawaii last year, made into a collage. The main focus of the green berries? Those are coffee beans in their most original form!! How cool is that?

And below is a shot of Lala's boots, with several layers of other photos for texture and vibrance.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend! I'm not sure what we are up to yet, but I'm sure it will be fun. The hubby is home and being together as a family is what counts!

Feeling relaxed,

Megan

{Waves and Breakers}

2010-01-08T00:13:00.000-08:00

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life {Psalm 42:7-8}

Or, in the New Living Translation:

I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

I have debated with myself about sharing an entry from my prayer journal with you. I offer this glimpse to you, as I feel led to share. We might have different things that we are crying out to God about in our lives, but I believe that this flowed from my pen not only for me, but for you. Please don't become distraught for me as you read, but welcome what the Spirit of God might want to say to you in YOUR heart and YOUR situation. After this time of prayer, I have had such a peace and gentleness surrounding me. I don't know how to describe it other than surrounded by His gentleness.

............................................................

Surrender.

O God, I ache, I ache. I struggle to free myself from the bonds of what I want. To completely release myself to what you want. Your will, Your plan. Surrender.

Longing...

...longing...

I'm longing for new life to grow inside of me. For the gently rounded tummy of new life. The newborn first cradled in my womb, then in my arms.

Aching...

...oh how I am aching...

My heart is throbbing with the pain of this hope continually deferred. Tears burn continually in the back of my eyes and throat. It has become a physical pain, this desire, this want. Dare I say this need?

Driven...driven to my knees...

...to prayer...

Ashamed that it takes struggle and pain to bring me to my knees in complete surrender. That it takes fierce need to come before you in complete submission.

I feel raw. Like I have been rubbed raw, the way pavement shreds away the skin on a deeply skinned knee. My insides exposed. And when that raw area is touched, I scream with pain inside.

It hurts Jesus. My heart hurts. I am raw Jesus, rubbed raw.

I have asked. Begged. Wailed. Pushed and pulled. Contrived. Striven to move your hand with my prayers, with your Word. If I could have forced you to move, would I have?

Repent...

...i repent...

I repent of the 'me'. My wants, my needs. Be it may a reasonable desire from an earthly perspective, from a heavenly perspective, what is it?

I come back to 'surrender'. You ask me to surrender

What does this mean? How does it look? Do I stop asking? Does the grieving stop? I don't think it will. And how long? How long do you ask me to surrender?

"Indefinitely."

Did you hear my heart gasp? Its sharp intake of breath? Indefinitely. Even if you choose to never return it to me. Indefinitely. Yours. Indefinitely not mine.

Indefinitely yours, even if this womb and these arms remain empty of another newborn- forevermore.

This tearing away of my will, how exposing.

How freeing.

With tears streaming I say "Not my will, but yours be done".

With heart breaking I say "Your Will, Your Plan".

In complete submission at your feet, I surrender.

I don't know how to live this day by day, or even moment by moment. Give me the grace to do so.

I surrender.

............................................

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice!"{Psalm 141:2}

You keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. {Isaiah 26:3-4}

Flounder, ears, art, all in a drive by!

2010-01-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness.

I'm floundering!

I started a fun digital art class, and am so behind in what I would like to be doing, but I just can't find time enough. Laundry. Kids. Dishes. Ear infections...

My son came down with an ear infection, his first one ever. We realized what it was when his eardrum ruptured. Eardrum rupture ='s blood. Not fun. But not dangerous either. Little guy is doing MUCH better after a visit to the Dr and some antibiotics.

I want to post pictures, I want to show art, I want to do my giveaway! I've almost reached my 100th post. I should have hit it much sooner in my 18 months of blogging, but alas, my time off while I was sick put the xnay on that.

All this to say- Dear friends, stick around. Your comments and visits are something I adore!

{Giveaway soon, art soon, more stories on life and faith...all soon.}

Right now? I'm headed out to take photos, let this kids play outside in some brief sun that we are getting, and try to have a little fun! ;)

See me leaving now ? I'm not even letting myself post a photo, even though this post looks drab!

Gone like the wind!!!
-Megan

{delight yourself} exploring digital art

2010-01-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

{As the Sun Sets}

2010-01-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

The sun has set on 2009. Unfolding before us is a new year. A fresh start. We make plans, resolutions, determinations to change this or that. Eat less. Do more. And perhaps..."Be more like {insert name here...Julia Child, The Next Door Neighbor, Gandhi, Mother Theresa...}"

I think that the last statement is one where we too often get caught in a trap. It is good to esteem others, learn from their experiences, and take motivation from them to expand our creativity, try a new project, branch out in another area, or use their fabulous ideas. All good things. The trap lies in the subtle change in desire to be inspired by others lives, that can morph into thinking that their life is better than yours and wishing you WERE them.

This morning I found freedom. I felt the gentle whisper in my heart..."You are not meant to be anyone else. You are meant to be YOU." I do not have to feel guilt that I am not in a certian role or positon in ministry- God has not placed me there, it is not something to be at fault for. I was created for this time in history, to be me. To live in my house, in my city, in my state and country.

Oh how freeing. You see, with that comparision of SELF, we can also spiral into fear- "They had to walk through {such and such a trial or difficult time}...It must only be around the corner for ME to walk through also." But this is not true. Yes, anything can happen to anyone. But I will not have to walk through every single trial I hear others are going through! I will walk through my own darkness, yes, but it will be what I can bear, and some difficulty I can handle. If I had to walk through every-single-possible trial, I definately could not handle that.

And so the whisper in my soul continues "Be YOU. Embrace yourself and where I have placed you, and watch what happens. Watch the joy that ensues, the victory you find, the gifts you are given. Give me the freedom and room I need to bless you as I want to bless you."

Oh the joy of our own individuality. And so, I find the freedom to step forward and not envy what another has, looks like, or does. Because we are each blessed, and every one of us is a precious individual, in the life that we have been placed in with great thought and care.

My friends, take the time to resolve to be YOU this year!

Joyfully,

Megan

Happy New Year From the Pacific Northwest!

2010-01-01T14:56:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year from our family to yours!! I pray that your year is filled with blessings that overflow, hope that springs eternal, and joy no matter what your circumstance!

2009-12-31T08:55:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, I am embarrassed to even show this photo!! This is the little table in my Kitchen. Yes, there is a table under there. It is prone to catching all the clutter in our house. Ok, so does my dining room table. But I am not showing you that.

And so I show you this uttering a squeak of "Help!!!" I confess my trouble with remaining consistently organized. I am a creative soul, and tend to be a bit scatterbrained at times, which is reflected in this table.

Oh dear.

As the new year rolls in, I am striving to conquer these clutter zones! Help me friends! Now that I have shown you this terrible mess (Ok, so the dirty bowl does not camp there...my son just finished breakfast. Now I feel worse! My son ate breakfast at that mess!) I ask you to share with me some organizing love and help me work through the clutter this new year.

Looking forward to your insight!
Megan

(P.S. It is killing me to leave this photo up....I will have to post something beautiful or striking tomorrow to erase this image from your minds...)

I'm going insane!

2009-12-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

I love my son.

He is wonderful, smart, funny, cute...the list goes on and on.

But sometimes? Sometimes he drives me absolutely i.n.s.a.n.e.

Currently, he is in bed, NOT napping. He is singing, yodeling, bouncing, and being a miniature wild-man.

Oy-vey!

But no matter what he does, I will always, ALWAYS love him. Deeply. Truly. Madly.

Just for a moment, I ask you to sit and soak up this thought- This is how God loves you. This and more. Bigger. Longer. Deeper. Forever.

Even if you don't believe, take a moment to contemplate that. Wouldn't you love to be loved like that? And even if you don't believe, I tell you this- you ARE.

Just sayin. ;)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies NEVER come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in Him."
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
Lamentations 3:22-25 NIV

May His steadfast love envelop you today,

Megan

Wrapping up the Christmas Season...Unwrapping the New Year!

2009-12-28T14:14:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've ever been this wiped out after Christmas! I am the one who keeps the Christmas music pumping for at least 2 weeks afterwards...I keep the Christmas movies going all year long...

But I need a day off.

Just one day though. I think. ;)

I got sick two days before Christmas, and spent Christmas Eve morning crying because I felt so awful and overwhelmed. But, the day rebounded, and a much improved me continued on with the festivities.

We had a wonderful joy-filled Christmas. (Pictures below...) Oddly enough, I don't feel sad now that Christmas day has come and gone, but I anticipate the new year and all of it's new promises!

I look forward to blogging frequently once again, now that I am in full health. (Praise the Lord!) I am also preparing to open a new Etsy shop, one that I was preparing for last year before I got sick, and am now able to follow through on. This will be smaller items that I am excited to share with you. Glimpses of that are soon to follow!

New images will be appearing here as I step out further into photography and digital art. I am very excited about this.

I am also working on a blog makeover. Hopefully this will be accomplished soon!

And so my dear friends, I wish you all a very Happy New Year!! Celebrate, and welcome in the New Year with hope.

I pray that " The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope." (Colossians 1:5, The Message)

Blessings to you!!

Megan

(P.S. Giveaway coming SOON!!!!)

Reflections...

2009-12-21T10:56:00.000-08:00

Last year at Christmastime, the day before Christmas Eve, my husband slipped and broke his ankle on the ice.

He spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the following week, on pain meds while waiting for his surgery on New Years Eve.

Thankfully, this year is going much better (so far). I'm so excited for Christmas, but can't believe that the season is almost over! It feels like it went SO fast this year! The New Year holds many glistening promises wrapped in family and love.

And those are my most joyous gifts this Christmas! Family and Love.

A little snow wouldn't hurt either. ;)

What are YOUR best reflections on last year, your Christmas blessings this year, and your hopes for the new year??

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Megan

True Love

2009-12-12T23:06:00.000-08:00

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God.

The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love - so you can't know him if you don't love.

This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about - not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.

My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us - perfect love!

This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God.

We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day - our standing in the world is identical with Christ's.

There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment - is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love - love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both. (1 John 4:7-21)

True love...what comes to your mind when you think of this phrase? Disney Princes and Princesses, riding off into the sunset? A backlit image of a couple walking hand in hand on a beach? Blissful, contented images, that evoke emotions of fullness and peace.

True love, though, is a little more gritty than that. God in His Word (The Bible) calls us to love one another- deeply, unceasingly, incessantly, without reserve, and over the top.

The type of love that the Word calls us to is one that we are incapable of strumming up on our own. It is only by the power of God that we are able to be filled with and pour out this love. The love that He gives us is the exact love that He holds in His own heart.

The classic scripture of 1 Corinthians 13 "The Love Chapter" is read in many wedding vows, hung on many a wall, and has been heard by most people at one time or anther. Please look upon it with new eyes as I present it to you from The Message-

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

This is some intense love. It never gives up- even when the one it is loving never ever loves it back- it is unrelenting. It isn't prideful, thinking "Look how much I can love!" It doesn't fly off the handle- this love is patient with people. Doesn't keep score of the sins of others- God casts our sins so far from Himself when we ask forgiveness that He never EVER will bring them back up to us, holding forth a tally of "Look-what-you-did's" Love puts up with anything, and keeps going to the end.

You are loved in this very way by God. And in the way that He loves you, He calls you to love other people. He wants us to reflect His heart of love.

If you have told God that you want a relationship with Him, and that you believe in His Son Jesus, you can have this love. He will fully equip you with it. God gave us His Spirit, and the Spirit lives inside of you, giving you power to do things you can't in your own human nature. If you ask God to fill you with His True Love, He will. Tell Him that you need His love, and can't do it on your own. Ask Him to make you aware of any areas in your life that you might hold on to bitterness in, and tell Him you don't want that in your life anymore. This is called surrendering to God. Surrender those areas, and ask Him to change you, to give you a heart that loves like He does. And then ask to be made aware of the times you are NOT acting in True Love. When you find yourself acting in a way that is not loving, ask His forgiveness right away, and ask for His love instead.

God wants us to live lives of Love. All out, forgiving, gentle, kind, passionate, relentless love.

Do you love like this? Or do you find yourself living in selfish love? Perhaps you have trouble with the area of love that is forgiving towards others. Ask God to change you, to make you able to let go of those things that you just can't seem to forget, and make a conscious effort to put aside those thoughts of unforgiveness when they pop into your mind.

This Christmas season, let us live in Love. The ultimate gift of Love was given to us in the birth of Jesus Christ. Show that love to the world this season! Ask God to show you ways you can live in True Love, and ask Him to change you in the areas where you struggle. You will never be the same again, and your heart will rejoice within you as you are filled with His love.

Loving you,
Megan

Some days I want to throw a tantrum too!

2009-12-09T13:28:00.000-08:00

I went to Costco today to pick up our Christmas photo cards...towing the little 22 month old and 4 year old by hand.

I thought, NO, I don't need a cart. I'm just picking up pictures!

I was wrong.

Wrong. Wrong. WRONG.

Warning: Always get a cart at Costco if you have little people with you. In fact, it's COSTCO. So just get a cart. Period.

We were doing okay after the photo pick up, so we ventured over to the movies. Then we got an idea for Daddy's Christmas gift, so we took our 2 movies we picked out, and went to another area (which must remain a secret). By this time, things were starting to get a little, uh, difficult.

Barely making it to check out, a kid in each hand, a video in each kids hand, and a secret present under my arm, we are slowly crumbling. Kid drops movie. Mommy picks up movie. Other kid drops movie. Mommy picks up movie. Youngest kid drops self onto floor. Mommy pulls up youngest. Repeat.

At the checkout, the youngest decides to completely collapse on the floor. The lovely box lady offers to put her in the spare cart that happens to be there. YES PLEASE! Youngest starts screaming head off now that she is picked up to stranger.

Apology from me to nice lady stranger. Telling youngest under my breath "See, if you throw a fit, I'll let a stranger pick you up." Of course, she has no idea what I'm saying.

We proceeded to the checkout with youngest screaming her head off, stiff as a board, as I force her into the cart seat and buckle her. My son is trying to ride on the bottom shelf of the cart.

Sigh.

I swore to myself I'd never let my child scream in a store. So much for that resolution! She's under 2...not much I can do there.

I'm sure we made a lovely Holiday scene. ;)

Both children are napping now, and I am going to regain my sanity! Thank you for joining me in my little moment of insanity. May your day be truly merry and bright!

Enjoying the silence,
Megan

Clarity

2009-12-05T07:06:00.000-08:00

God,

Open my eyes and my heart

to your truth, your love.

Bring all things into focus,

You are the lens that gives the greatest clarity

to the picture of my life.

-Photo and words by Megan 2009

I couldn't stop thanking God for you - every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks.But I do more than thank. I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him - endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. Ephesians 1:17-21

The Simple Truth

2009-12-03T15:10:00.001-08:00

I was having a conversation with a good friend the other day about the difference between what I believe as a Christian, and what other religions believe. I honestly can't debate the differences because I don't know all that there is to know about what others believe. But I know what I believe.

What I believe is not a religion, a list of do's and don'ts, or narrow minded. What I live brings real results, real fulfilment, and is the real truth. I share it with you not to earn any points or gain any gift or promise. It doesn't work that way. I only share it with you that you might also believe. Your belief or unbelief does not get me a greater spot in heaven, nor points among my peers.

Hear my heart.

I only share with you this Good News, because I love you, my God loves you, and we want every good thing for you.

And so, here it is, the simple truth.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth (believes the truth) comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. (John 3:16-21)

God did not send His son Jesus into this world to condemn you. He was not a self righteous man who came to impose His own self righteous ideals on others. Jesus, was God, in a fleshly human body. He came to this earth, as a real man, to teach people the truth, and lead them to God. He came, He was killed, and God made Him alive again, fo YOU.

Why would He give His life to lead you to God? Let me put it this way- "Why Not??". God created you. Why would he want to lose you? He doesn't! He wants to be WITH YOU! If you are a parent, or want to be a parent, would you decide to have children only to lose them to death, never having the opportunity to know them, to see their first steps, to watch them sleep, to hold them close? No! If you chose to bring life into this world it is because you want to LOVE that life! God gave you life because He wanted there to be a YOU, and to love you!

We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. (Romans 3:22-24)

All have sinned...do you struggle with this because you have never done something as drastic as murder? Let me share with you what the Biblical definition of sin is, based on the Greek Word used in the Bible-

to miss the mark
to err, be mistaken
to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin

I've certainly missed the mark many times in my life. I have been mistaken. I have done wrong. I have sinned.

God is without sin, and when we sin, we separate ourselves from relationship with Him. But because He loves us, He provides a way back into relationship with Him. And here is the simple truth. If you choose to believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, and tell God that you have missed the mark in life and you are sorry, He will make you right and bring you into relationship with Himself.

This is where it really gets good my friend.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:18-20 NLV)

God has an inheritance for you here on this earth, and in heaven. A glorious inheritance! And power! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead. He wants to be a part of your daily life. He wants to lift your burdens, walk with you through your struggles. As a human, you will still struggle with missing the mark, but you are made right through your belief in Jesus.

Gods Word, the Bible, is truth. It is the only truth. Other religions add to it and take away from it. Or use pieces of it, while changing parts to say what they want them to say. But it is clearly stated in the Bible: "Every word of God is true. He guards those who come to him for safety. Do not add to his words, or he will correct you and prove you are a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6) And- "I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words of this prophetic book, God will remove that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19)

I challenge you to read the Bible, God's Word, and learn the simple truth. When you accept Jesus, you are guaranteed entrance into heaven, along with many blessings here on earth. You are not told to achieve any sort of points by things you do or don't do. You don't have to do any sort of ritual to maintain your salvation. You are accepted, redeemed from sin, and brought into an eternal relationship with God.

And that my friend, is the simple truth.

-Megan

Where is my hope?

2009-11-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

We wait in hope for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:20-22

Marriam-Webster's definition of WAIT:
1 : to stay in place in expectation of : await
2 : to delay serving (a meal)
3 : to serve as waiter for

1 a : to remain stationary in readiness or expectation
2 a : to look forward expectantly
b : to hold back expectantly
3 a: to serve at meals
4 a : to be ready and available
b : to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized

We seem to spend the majority of our lives waiting. Waiting to move from one position in life to another. It seems to be a constant state of being.

This brings up an important question- HOW do we wait? Do we wait with an attitude that reflects number 4b in the Dictionary definition above? "to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized". Do our attitudes reflect one of hopelessness regarding what is neglected or unrealized in our lives? Do we wait passively, or in pessimism?

Psalm 33:20 says to "Wait in HOPE". This is an active form of waiting. Look at how this reads if you apply the dictionary definitions from above:

Remain in a place of expectation in hope.
Remain in a place of readiness in hope.
Look forward expectantly in hope.
Hold back expectantly in hope.
Be ready and available in hope.

Expectant, ready, available-to-respond hope!

The key to this attitude of hope in waiting is in the next words: "We wait in HOPE for THE LORD" and the "why's" follows that: "He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy Name."

Are you without hope in your life, or in a particular situation in life? The first question to ask is- "What is my hope?" Is your hope in yourself, in your own ability to be strong and handle a situation, or what you or someone else can do for you? That hope is not lasting. We all will fail ourselves, and no one else can consistently sustain you or provide for you through all time.

There is a hope that lasts, and that hope is found when you find a line of communication with God. What is exciting is that God has given you two main lines of communication! First through prayer- talking to God just like you would another person. The second is through reading the Bible. God has chosen to give us the Bible for our direction and encouragement. Amazingly, the Bible is the primary way that God speaks to us. I encourage you, no challenge you, to start reading it actively, with persistence. You will find that when you ask God questions, or need Him to speak to you, He will. When something you have read from the Bible comes to mind in response to a situation, this is God speaking to you. God will speak to you in other ways also, but if you have never heard, or feel like you are having trouble hearing God, you might be missing a key ingredient- reading His Word.

If you actively read His word, and seek Him out through prayer, but are still entrenched in a pessimistic and hopeless time of waiting, ask yourself, "Where is my trust?". What do you trust in? Do you TRUST God? If you find yourself shaking your head 'no', you need to reevaluate why. Is there a root of distrust in your life that has entwined itself around your heart, ideals, and concept of who God is? If you distrust God, and God is the provider of hope, you will be separating yourself from the hope you need.

The Hebrew word for Trust, used in this passage of Scripture is defined as:
1.to trust
a.(Qal)
1.to trust, trust in
2.to have confidence, be confident
3.to be bold
4.to be secure
b.(Hiphil)
1.to cause to trust, make secure
2.(TWOT) to feel safe, be careless

Insert this into the Scripture we are looking at:
"In Him our hearts rejoice, for we ARE SECURE in His Holy Name"
"In Him our hearts rejoice, for we ARE BOLDLY CONFIDENT in His Holy Name"
"In Him our hearts rejoice, for we FEEL SAFE in His Holy Name"

God is a God of safety and security, who we can speak to with boldness and confidence. In His care, we are safe.

If you don't feel safe, is there something you are holding back from Him or holding against Him? If there is, take the time to tell Him. Go before God in a quiet place where you can be alone, and tell Him about your lack of trust and why. He will not look down upon you for what you are about to tell Him, and He is a big God, who is not intimidated by your questions or doubts. I encourage you not to feel ashamed of your humanity. He understands where you are coming from. You need be open before Him to give Him and opportunity to respond to you. If you don't provide an opportunity, you may very well be missing a chance for Him to communicate with you.

Finally, to move from a place of waiting in hopeLESSness, to one of hopeFULness, use the powerful weapon of speaking His word out loud. If you don't know of a verse of Scripture to apply, ask the Lord to provide one for you, and spend time reading your Bible. You can also search a particular subject on Bible Study Tools.com . In the search field enter a word, and it will provide you with verses that have that word in it. Do you need hope? Enter in "hope" and search the New Testament: (go here). Then make sure you take the next step to write down the scriptures that speak to your heart, and read them out loud throughout the day and whenever you start feeling hopeless again. This allows the Word to enter your heart, soul, and being, inviting it to be alive and active in changing and encouraging you.

I encourage you to evaluate today what your attitude of waiting might be. If you have grown discouraged, may the Lord renew your hope, so that you may wait in a place of expectant hope once again!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

In Hope,
Megan

(do you have questions or want to know more? email me at megphilp at live dot com, and we can talk!)

When you walk on water

2009-11-02T06:59:00.001-08:00

By FAITH
In the Name of Jesus,
This man whom you see and know, was made strong.

It is JESUS name
And the Faith that comes through Him
That has given this COMPLETE HEALING to him,
AS YOU CAN SEE!

-Acts 3:16

I have something burning in my very soul that I need to share with you. And I pray that it changes your life!

Last night I was out walking my two dogs, enjoying the cool crisp fall evening. And O the Joy I am filled with as I soak in Autumn! As I walked I prayed, and contemplated God's work in my life.

First, let me confess to you my humanity. I know that God healed me, and I can see that God healed me, but I still have moments when I wonder "Will this last?" It is then that I stand on a verse He gave me: "I know that everything God does will ENDURE FOREVER...nothing can be taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him." Ecclesiastes 3:12-14 (abbreviated)

I cannot help but believe that the many whom Jesus healed while he was on this earth had the same struggles with their humanity. Did the lame man wake up every morning wondering if his legs would stand strong once again? Did the blind man's heart skip for a second before he opened his eyes from the dark of sleep, hoping that his eyes would continue to see?

I think that, in their humanity, some of them struggled with the same thing.

FAITH. It is by faith that we experience the fullness of God. My husband and I are learning so much about faith. We are but infants in the grand scheme of faith, but I thank God for where we are, and for what is to come.

Look at Peter's experience with faith in the New Testament-

About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them at once. "It's all right," he said. "I am here! Don't be afraid."

Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water."

"All right, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink.

"Save me, Lord!" he shouted. Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. "You don't have much faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"

And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed (Matthew 14:25-33)

Oftentimes we focus on Peters failure in this passage. It is what sticks in one's mind after reading it, wouldn't you say? But look with me at the whole of it.

Peter asked Jesus to command him to walk on water, and Jesus did so. Peter knew that if Jesus spoke it, it could be done. Then came the faith walk. Peter heard Jesus say "Come" and he went. Can you imagine?

There is Jesus, standing out in the middle of some pretty wild surf. Since I live near Seattle, I picture the waves of Lake Washington on a stormy day. To go into Seattle, you drive on a bridge that spans the water. On wild and woolly days, that water gets choppy and rambunctious. One time, when I was a child, we were driving across that bridge, and it was so stormy that a wave crashed up over the edge of the bridge and over the top of our mini-van, engulfing us in water. Definitely not the type of weather and water for a nice little stroll.

I'm wondering if the disciples (Jesus followers) thought they were loosing their minds? Maybe the fear was making them imagine that Jesus was walking towards them?

So Peter takes his first step of faith. "If it is really YOU Jesus, tell me to come to you!" I don't want to take liberties with the Bible, but lets pretend for a moment that he was bluffing. Surely this was a hallucination, but just in case, Peter didn't want to miss out on THIS opportunity. I mean, imagine the story he would have to tell! "You caught an awesome wave? That's pretty cool. I WALKED on them." I don't know. I can only imagine the motivation one would have to ask Jesus to walk on water. I do know that it required faith to even voice the idea, in fact, it required faith to even HAVE that idea! I don't think I would have come up with it on my own.

Jesus saw Peter's faith, and so he called out to him "Come."

Now came Peter's second step of faith. Looking out upon those crashing waves, with the wind whistling around him, he stepped out of the (relative) safety of the boat, and placed his foot on those rebellious waves.

That first step must have felt shocking. His foot hit the water and it was cold and wet...and somehow his foot did not sink. I bet that his mind had a hard time connecting with what was physically happening. One foot was out of the boat now, holding part of his weight. Would he trust the words of his Lord and put both feet on the water, in complete faith?

It seems like that first step of faith was a two step process. Are there times where I only step out partially in faith, without allowing God to fulfill His word and complete His work?

And so, Peter did his part, he stepped out on the deep blue, and when he placed both of his feet on the water, he walked. He moved his feet and walked in faith out over the depths of that lake, and that faith-walk was recorded in the history of God's word as an example for us all of what stepping out in faith looks like.

Now we get to the part where fear invaded Peter's faith, and caused him to start sinking in the reality that surrounded him. He took his eyes off Jesus, and looked instead at the physical circumstance he was in. He stood amidst crashing waves, far from the safety of the boat. His world was rocking, the waves beat at his confidence as they shook his body. And he allowed fear to enter in as he began to look at himself.

We mentally chide Peter as we read this. "Oh Peter, how could you? I mean, come on! You can SEE Jesus! You have seen him heal people from horrible diseases right before your eyes! You have seen him multiply a few pieces of bread and fish to feed a thousand people! You have sat at his feet and learned about the Kingdom of God! Peter! Get ahold of yourself!"

It is here that we are again given a visual of what it is like for us to walk in faith. Once we step out in faith, we in our humanity feel exposed, because the only thing carrying us is God. We live in earthly bodies in a physical world, and sometimes when we are surrounded by our waves, we can't see Jesus anymore. We see those waves crashing, ready to overtake us. We see our physical ailments and symptoms. We see our emotional distress that is too much to handle on our own. We see life circumstances of complete impossibility financially and economically. And it is too much to bear. You see, we are now looking around us, not at Christ. When we decide we are stepping out in faith, we have to focus on God: Who He is, What He can do, and What He has promised to us in His Word- the Bible. Our success depends on wearing blinders to the things that entangle us.

"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish." Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)

From start to finish. We keep our eyes on Jesus from that first step, that decision TO step, and we keep our eyes on Jesus as we walk. And then we remain with our eyes on Jesus.

How do we do this? Do we just think really hard about God and Jesus? What does it mean to keep my eyes on Jesus? The most foundational and important part of faith is found here. We have to read His Word. We have to read the Bible.

We pray, yes. Pray fervently! Pray desperately! Pray joyfully!

But my friends, we can only form faith and grow in faith through reading God's Word. This sounds so elementary I know, but its the plainly laid out truth. God uses His word to speak to us. If we aren't reading it, we are shortchanging God on opportunities to speak. When you read the Word, it makes its way into your very soul. And as life happens, God will bring what you have read to mind, and that my friends, is God speaking to you. What is wonderful, is that when He speaks His Word to you, it is TRUTH. That truth never fails. It is THE truth.

Here is something mind blowing- Gods truth is greater than your reality. He is beyond our reality, not trapped in an earthly realm with physical laws that box us in. When we unite ourselves with God, He picks us up out of our reality and places us in his realm of all-possibility.

Reflect with me on Peter's slip of faith. He shouted "Save me Lord!" INSTANTLY Jesus reached out and helped him stand again. Thank you Lord for Peter's sheer humanity. Thank you for letting us know that when we stumble in our faith you are there. When we cry out, you are INSTANTLY there. You set our feet on solid ground again.

The men who followed Jesus- His disciples- the ones who walked with Jesus daily, walked in faith yes, but also humanity. We learn from them that God uses doubters, people who fail, human people. God saves and heals doubters and sinners. Thank you God!

I learned through my healing what it means to step out in faith. We felt God telling us something, and if I hadn't ACTED, I wouldn't have received that gift of healing. I had to reach out and walk on water. Jesus said "Come." If I hadn't listened and taken that opportunity, I would still be sick. How heart wrenching that is for me to say! How many times do we miss out on something God has for us because we second-guess what He has said, and fail to Walk?

Once you step out in faith it is a continual process. I read and re-read Scriptures from His Word daily, even hourly, that hold promises for me and my situations in my life. I cling to them. I have moments of doubt. Days of doubt even. But Praise the Lord for his mercy! I cry out and he is instantly there for me, forgiving my doubt, and setting my feet on truth once again. This process will continue for the rest of my earthly life. Stepping out in faith can be very scary. It will defy your earthly sensibilities. It will DEFY YOUR REALITY, and place you into GOD'S ABSOLUTE OVERCOMING TRUTH.

I pray that you will begin that glorious faith-walk in the areas of your life where God is saying "Come."

-Megan

A journey of healing.

2009-10-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

Please forgive me for my 6 month absence from my blog. I have been through a lot, and I would like to share it with you. Many of you have probably forgotten who I am, or that you even subscribe to my blog! But that's ok. ;-) I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me. :-)

We all walk through trials of many kinds, and I want to offer hope to all of you. Each situation is different, but God's Truth remains.

I have been struggling with stomach issues for quite some time now, and finally went to the Doctor in July. After running some tests, I was declared gluten-intolerant, possibly having Celiacs disease. I had anti-bodies to gluten detected in my blood. Slightly overwhelmed, but striving to take this in stride, I set out into my new gluten-free lifestyle. Gluten is in wheat, barley, rye, oats, and every packaged and baked good. It is also added to many many things that you wouldn’t imagine it being in.

I was daunted, but we were doing ok. But after a time I started to get sick again when eating. I cut out milk, and moved to soy. I then began reacting to the soy. I cut out soy. I did better and then got worse. I went to a gastroenterologist and IBS was suggested, but several tests were recommended and we could not afford them with our current health insurance.

I tried with everything in my own power to overcome, to discover the root of this, and to get well. Nothing worked. We then went to a Naturopath, and she started me on some treatments that began to help. We ran an allergy panel to see if I had other food intolerance allergies. Ironically, they got the test results in just after I got home from an appt with them. So I had to wait 24 hours for another available appointment to talk to them. Apparently there was “too much” to discuss it over the phone. Unnerved at what “too much” could be in the world of allergies (especially after being tested for 94 different foods) I waited anxiously.

At this point, I had begun to turn to God and seek Him out with a new determination for healing and hope. And really, just strength to get through each day, because I was a mess. (Oh that I had realized the importance of this sooner!!!)

I was praying before my appt, and I heard the Lord say in my mind “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

And boy was He right. As I looked at my allergy test, I think I nearly went into shock. It was stunning. I was allergic to nearly everything I had been eating. Beef, turkey, all vegetables except cauliflower, all nuts, all potatoes, all milk and milk proteins, and every single grain including rice and corn and wheat type grains. even sugar and COFFEE. This left me with a diet of pork, chicken, fruit, and a few types of beans. I want you to take a moment to imagine living this way. I was facing at least a year of treatment and recovery to eat normal again. I was overwhelmed.

I began to spend time praying and reading my Bible like never before. Every morning I called out to God for healing and strength. Through this time, I began to know my Lord in a very different and intimate way. If any of you are confused by that statement, message me, and I would love to explain it to you.

On Saturday night the Family clan was headed to Red Robin to eat. I was considering going home because I was tired, kids were tired, and I didn’t really feel like sitting there smelling RR food and watching everyone else eat it. If I were to eat it I would end up very sick for the next several days. Dalen offered to take me home. He then asked if I could just go for the French fries. I replied “No, I can’t” and IMMEDIATELY heard a response in my mind- “YES, you CAN”. We felt uncertain as to if this was God speaking or just hopeful thoughts, so we took time to pray about it. We decided after several Bible verses came to mind, that we were going to step out in faith and have the French fries.

And so I ate…

And I did not get sick.

The next morning as I was praying, I read a Psalm that spoke of eating and feasting and praising God. It ended with the the phrase “for He has done it.” This echoed in my mind all morning long, and I repeated it out loud. After church Dalen and I were joking around and he laughingly said we should go out for Mexican food. (My FAVORITE). As we drove away from church, I looked at him and said “Should we?”. We prayed and again were reminded of certain Scriptures. So, nervously, but again stepping out in faith, we went out for Mexican. I ordered a Tostado Salad with all the fixens’ - a HUGE no no for my diet. The giant FLOUR tortilla shell, the sour cream, everything. Plus the glorious basket of chips.

I ate…

And I did not get sick.

The night before, when I had heard God speak “Yes you CAN” to me, I had this following conversation with Him in my head-
God: “Your time of healing has come.”
Me: “But is it really that simple?”
God: “Yes it is, if it is that easy for me to forgive you (with just one word) then it is that easy and simple for me to HEAL you.”

I am ashamed to admit that I discounted this at the time, thinking I was just thinking thoughts to myself.

But God spoke the truth.

I am healed. There is no sickness in my body! I have eaten brownies, latte’s, oatmeal, milk, everything. If I were still sick, I would be curled up on my bed, so sick. But instead, I am healed, I can eat, and I feel so well!

My God is a God of healing. He is a God of power. I testify to His work in my life. He healed me quietly, simply, and beautifully.

“I know there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil- this is the gift of God. I know everything that God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him” Ecclesiastes 3:12-14

For He has done it!!!

A title so catchy, that you feel you MUST come read, because you miss me so terribly.

2009-05-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. -Thomas Bayley

Ever absent, ever near; Still I see thee, still I hear; Yet I cannot reach thee, dear! -Francis Kazincy

In the hope to meet Shortly again, and make our absence sweet. -Ben Johnson

Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire. -Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld

With what a deep devotedness of woe I wept thy absence--o'er and o'er again Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain, And memory, like a drop that, night and day, Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away! -Thomas Moore

How like a winter hath my absence been From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! What old December's bareness everywhere! -William Shakespeare

Sometimes life needs re-focusing. For a time, the excess, the things that crowd the mind, must be let go. Hands must gently release the tight hold on such things, and re-purpose themselves to shaping the core of ones life.

I have been absent from my blog life for a time, because I have been striving to re-shape some areas of my life, and it seems it has taken my full concentration to do so.

I have been trying to keep a cleaner house, and this has involved putting all the scrapbooking and crafting items in an upstairs closet to #1) Free up some space in our dining room, and, #2) Stop strewing crafting supplies all over the house. I haven't had time to do much crafting, nor the energy. Don't allow yourself to sniffle and sob after that last sentence, all that craftyness is still there, it's just waiting for a more appropriate time to emerge! I think that if I had a ROOM to craft in, my own room, I would be more apt to keep it out and do a little every day. I don't have that luxury though, and for the moment I have a little 15 month old's hands that grasp and pull ANYTHING and EVERYTHING off the table, shelf, wall, ext.

Another change that I am thrilled to report, is that I have lost 20-25 pounds! (Since January) ((Audible gasp!!)) I accomplished this by counting calories. For the biggest part of my loss, I was counting calories and cutting carbs. I cut out sugary snacks and breads. Oh the torture! But it was worth it! Now, to stay sane, I continued to have my Starbucks, but I got non-fat lattes and sweetened them with NuStevia. The other day I decided to try iced americano and measured in 2 ounces of whole milk (appx 38 calories) and NuStevia. Now I can drink a fabulous coffee drink with only 38 calories!!! Which means I can drink it a) more often, and b) eat something yummy with it. I am thrilled with where I am now, but I am starting to exercise because I would like to make those last few pounds go away, or at least see a firmer more sculpted physique! Whew, I hope that wasn't boring for you all to read.

Finally, I have been striving to be a better mother, be more present with my children and husband, and really LIVE, without being so distracted by other things. I forget sometimes that these are the years I will miss oh-so-much. I want to be fully immersed in my life and my family, so I don't regret any missed time.

Besides those changes, we have also been sick. SICK SICK SICK. Seriously, this cold and flu season has been TERRIBLE!!! It is one thing after another. We have been well for a few days here or there, and then BAM, sick again. I am kicking myself repeatedly for not getting flu shots. Next year, we are all getting them! I am still thinking about getting them, but we have probably gotten everything we possible could have. As I type that I think, no, the universe will prove me wrong, and we will get a new one next week. When the kids get well from the sickness they have NOW. Yes, we are sick right now. And yes, I think it is driving me slowly insane. Kind of like that water torture where the water just constantly drips, drips, drips, on to the victims forehead. Yes, I feel a bit like that.

So here I am, a re-purposed me, still striving to do my best in the life God has blessed me with! I cannot make promises of daily posts, but there will be more posts, more of life to share, and love to pour out.

Aren't you glad you visited me today? =)
-Megan

Through a 3 year olds eyes

2009-04-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

My son got to use my Mom's camera the other day to take some pictures on his own. Here is the world through his eyes-

Quite fitting, mostly pictures of his hotwheels. Hehe. And a shot of his sisters leg. My mom is worried that she may have created a photographer monster, he really enjoyed himself!!

Spring is springing and life has been so busy, with all sorts of activities. I've also had a lot on my mind and haven't had any creative energy. Sigh. I am determined to get back into the blogging swing here. I had coffee with a friend and she chided me for not blogging lately. So this ones for you, Amy!

Digging in,

Upgrade!

2009-03-17T15:42:00.001-07:00

The diaper bag is going to get filled with everything we could possibly need- EVER- and is going to reside in the van from now on, to be carried about no longer. It's time for Mommy to get a new purse.

She's PINK. Need I say more??

MMMM HMMM. I know you girls know what I'm talkin' about. ;-)

--------------

By the way. You are wondering to yourselves..."What's with this girl? She gave us an inspirational post last week, spouting that she was all re-fuled with bloggy-creativity and we don't see her for another week??"

Two more words- FOOD POISONING.

I'm feeling much better now, thank you.

Words that Bless

2009-03-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

I am feeling revived after what unintentionally turned into a week long blogging break. I feel the creativity seeping back into my heart and soul, and am glad to return with a sense of renewal!

Today I want to talk about the kindness of strangers.

I don't think we realize how much we affect those we encounter throughout the days, weeks, and years of our lives. Most days many of us go about running out errands, trying to get the kids here or there, and trying to get back home, without taking much time to consider those who surround us. We don't know who they are or where they are going, we just encounter them in our "here 'n there's" and that's that.

You know what I'm saying, right?

Today, our family went to the Aquarium. We had a splendid time looking at all the fish, seals, and (my favorite) the sea otters. As we were walking down the hallway to another exhibit, my son wanted to stop at a felt board, where you could move felt ocean cut outs around. There was another little girl playing there, with her grandma. Her grandma smiled at us and started chatting away. Gushing even! She saw LaLa and started to tell us how beautiful she is. This wonderful lady went on and on about our beautiful child. She was full of kind words that she poured over me, and it felt like a blessing flowing from her lips. She asked how many kids we wanted, and if we wanted to have more. When I answered that we do want more, she beamed and told me that she grew up with 5 brothers and 2 sisters, and how it was the best thing in the world to be all together in their home growing up. When she saw our Dear Son, she told me how incredibly handsome he is (EVERY mom LOVES to hear this! We all think our kids are spectacular, but to have someone else rave over them? Divine.) and what a great job we did with them. (I am not sharing this to brag or strut! I actually shied away from getting too descriptive about our chat, but I felt the content would help illustrate my point.)

Of course her lavish praise over how lovely she thought our kids were was wonderful. But what really stirred me was that this lady took the time to really talk with me, and to speak words of kindness to a stranger. Without knowing it, she was investing in my life and the lives of my children. She was lifting my spirits. She gave me a blessing.

I want to do that! I want to invest into the lives of those whom I encounter, leaving them with gifts of words that they can ponder and be uplifted by. I always try to ask my checker at the store how they are doing, and try to have conversations with others to let them know I care. After this experience, I want to do more. This isn't the first time in my lifetime that I have been reminded of this, and I'm sure it wont be the last.

I want my eyes to be opened to those who surround me. I also want to take the time to consider what they might be going through if they have been rude or short with me. So often those ones are the people who need our understanding the most. They might be sick, losing their home, or even a family member. Or maybe its just been one of "those" days or weeks. Maybe my asking them how they are will encourage them.

Speaking blessings to others will also bless us. If we take the time to encourage and bless others, it will lift our own spirits. It can help us to get out of a funk, and re-focus on what is really important. We open our hearts and let the Lord work in our lives.

You might never see or hear the impact your words have on others. But words of blessing will always seep into even the hardest of souls, and make an impact in their lives.

Go forth, and bless!
=)
Megan

Where I show you my present, and tell you about the insane penguin.

2009-03-04T21:16:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to arrive home the other day to find this on my porch-

I love LOVE love opening packages. I am addicted to swaps, because I get presents! For this swap I got PaperJunki as my partner- and she is great! The gift was so fun to open! It was filled with green confetti paper and fabric shamrocks.

Do you see all the funness??? Fun fun fun. And how kind of the sun to shine in my kitchen window with such perfect timing. Me and the sun, were like this *crossing fingers*.

There were even some glittery shamrocks!

Hmmm...did she check out my blog? Or is she a mind reader? 'Cause coffee? You all know its my THING.

I pulled out this cute little basket....

Look! A leprechaun hat for me! I should have taken a picture of myself trying it on.

And a Pot of Gold!!! Talk about economic stimulus.

I then found this cute little Irish angel waiting for me...

And this clover pin...

And this most-awesome Irish linen handkerchief! I am itching to use it for something. Love it!

Hey, that hat fits the little angel perfectly! She must have planned that. How cute is he now?

And here is the gift as a whole. I have always loved displaying my gifts out in the open for all to see. When I was a kid I left my loot from my birthday on the dining room table for a day or two, just enjoying the site of it...See the little clover sticker in there? Almost forgot to mention them!

As to what I have been doing this week, I have been enjoying this guy....

And kissing this baby girls cheeks....a lot...Aren't they so color coordinated?? Yes, we are picture perfect all the time, I promise you.

I want to say that I also participated in the Valentines Swap at Bunch of Scrap. I received another fabulous-exciting-fun-to-open present from Amy at Living Life Lovingly. She send me such a spot on gift! I loved it. I opened it and used it all right away, and failed to take appropriate pictures and blog about it...My excuse is that it was just before LaLa's birthday! =)

Randomness- My husband is watching a movie about the South Pole right now, and I kid you not, they just talked about insane penguins. There are penguins who apparently go insane, and wander off from the penguin 'herd' (Herd? Group? Flock? I'm thinking its the last one...) and head inland toward the mountains...They just keep going...and going...and going...

I felt you all would want to know that very important information. You're welcome.

Well, there is my random update to share with you all!

Feeling scatterbrained...

Megan

Just another day in paradise...

2009-03-01T19:19:00.001-08:00

It's been one of those evenings...

One that makes you throw up your hands and say "What's a girl to do??"

My answer? A warm shower, and then I'm getting a tan.

No, I'm not in Hawaii, or some country where the sun is still up. And even if the sun WAS up, I'd get not a hint of color here!

It's this-

I sure hope it works, and that I don't end up with any weird streaks. Or looking like I just put on war-paint.

'Cause that just wouldn't be cute.

(But it could possibly be highly amusing to those who had the opportunity to OBSERVE.)

Speaking of amusing!!!! I just had a funny moment play through my mind. Remember Ross on Friends??? And his spray tan adventure? That had my husband and I ROLLING.

(I did the spray on twice. I couldn't bring myself to go back because it freaked me out so badly each time!!!)

Feeling better now...
Megan

Fabulous Finds Friday! {Under $10}

2009-02-27T10:22:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends! Welcome to another Fabulous Finds Friday! Each item here is under $10.00. I know most of us are on budgets...and I want to share some finds with you that you could actually snag for yourself, rather than just dream about!

First off, this skirt- It Does Not Get Any CUTER!!! I found this pattern listing on Etsy, and I feel that I must have it!!! (Note, this is a pattern listing, not an actual skirt! 'Cause getting the skirt, already made, for under $10? That would be a miracle!)

Next we have this Adorable headband. It's only $6, and I think I would rather buy it than make it. Sometimes you just want to treat yourself, know what I mean? This one is an adults headband, and they make little girl's ones too!

This Charm is striking! All you would have to do is string it on a chain, and you have a one-of-a-kind necklace. No additional embellishments needed. I love it.

And then there are these simple and stylish earrings. They are made by an etsy-er in Hawaii, and my mind has been hooked on summer an summer dreams lately.

What Fabulous Finds do you have to share with us?

Megan

My Boy

2009-02-25T21:11:00.001-08:00

This is My Boy. He is wild and sweet, tenderhearted and impetuous. When he was born my life was transformed. I fell in love with this new being whom I held in my arms. He is 3 1/4 years old now, and fills my everyday with energy, delight, and always some frustration on the side!

I wonder what he will do? Where he will go?

I pray for him everyday, for protection, for a heart that will always be sold out to God.

I pray for wisdom. Because some days I don't even know how to respond to him.

Right now I am watching him play with his trains. They are having conversations I don't think I can even begin to translate.

I love this photo. I love playing around with my pictures for a unique feel. This one seems to capture him in so many ways. It's from last summer. I think it's about time I print and frame this one, don't you?

In what ways have your children impacted your life? And if you don't have children, how has a child you know transformed you?

Thoughtfully,

Megan

Joining Wordful Wednesday....

My Sordid Past with Mod Podge

2009-02-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

Mod Podge and I have a history together. Not a warm-fuzzy-gives-me-tingles history, but one that makes me break out into a cold sweat.

Our oh-so-tangled past began when I was around the tender and impressionable age of 12 or 13. I went to the art store with my mom, on one of her frequent trips there. As a child I became very familiar with the art store. My mom is an Artist. A real one, with a capitol A. She paints watercolors, oils, acrylics, and oozes talent from every pore. ( You can meet her HERE)

I ramble.

We were strolling through the isles. I always enjoyed parts of these forays, when bored there was always the pen section- where you could test almost any of the markers or pens on the pad of paper supplied. We entered the glue isle, and it is here that the how and why's become a little blurry. I think I told my mom I would carry the Modge Podge for her. It was quite a large jar too- Super Sized Mod Podge. I trailed behind her, white goop in hand, when I guess I decided to toss it and catch it and walk at the same time. Except, I never got to the catching part.

I tossed the Mod Podge up into the air...and instead of landing in my outstretched hands, it landed on the carpeted floor. And exploded. White globby goo everywhere, seeping into a giant circle in the middle of the aisle. Soaking into the stores carpet.

I died. Right then and there. I was mortified. I, the child who wouldn't order my own food at a restaurant for fear of drawing attention to myself. I just made mixed-media-art out of that stores carpet.

I looked at my mom in horror. I think she must have seen the fear/humiliation/agony on my face, and the tears pooling in my eyes, because after we told the store clerk, she allowed me to wait in the car while she finished up in the store.

To this day, I still can not go in there. I don't know if it was a dream, or if I really did go in once, but in the back of my mind I can see a cloudy stain on the floor, the messy remains of my first Mod Podge encounter.

Only now, as a mom myself, do I realize how embarrassed my mom must have been. And I wonder, did she have to pay for my mess too?

Tonight I had flashbacks to that day. I was creating, and in the creating-zone, when I bumped my jar of Modge Podge and nearly sent it flying onto the floor. Thankfully, it only splattered the floor, and most of it got on my sons booster seat strapped to one of our chairs. My husband came over and helped me clean it up. He always says to let him do it, so that if the carpet gets ruined, he only has himself to blame. Did you know that hot water and shaving cream will clean almost anything off the carpet? And leaves it smelling good too. How? Don't ask. It is my husbands cure-all for any mess on the carpet. Dog threw up again? Shaving cream, of course. It kindof reminds me of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and the fathers obession with Windex. Whatever works, right?

Mod Podge disaster averted, and I think I can bring myself to open the jar again tomorrow and finish my project.

My husband just said "I know, you don't do this stuff to create stuff, you do it to get stories to write about. That's what you guys are really doing. You think 'I wonder what I can get my husband to clean up tonight'" and then he walked off rambling something like this (in a fake woman's voice) "My husband Modge Podged his butt to the toilet seat..."

You're right honey, that is EXACTLY why we do this stuff.

{Edited to add- Go visit my lovely Mother's blog and say hello!}

{Music Monday} and Giveaway WINNER!

2009-02-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

This week I'm lovin' the music that Jimmy Needham makes. He has a great sound, and uplifting lyrics. His hit song "Forgiven and Loved" has been playing on the radio, and after hearing it, I had to download his album! Right now it is playing on my ipod through my stereo, and my 3 year old is dancing around the room to the tunes. I couldn't get "Forgiven and Loved" onto my playlist, so be sure to pop on over to his MySpace page, and you can listen to the whole album- for free! You don't need a myspace page to access it, just listen away.

Thank you all for entering the Fru-Fru Headband and Clippy Giveaway (and tutorial)! I hope you all make tons of these yourself. Did you see the comment from Heather? She said that you can find those clips that I REALLY wanted to use at Sally's Beauty- a large quantity for a low price! I don't know if it is a West Coast only store, but it is a discount hair supply product store. Maybe I will stick some Fru-Fru's in my shop soon? What do you all think? Imagine all the places you can clip these, besides baby headbands! How about your own hair? Go ahead, make a statement! And Amanda- I got the teeny tiny clippies at Target! (I love target...) Also, thank you to all of you who decided to jump up and down and lick your elbow for additional entries, I am highly amused imagining you all doing this.

Now what you have been waiting for.....

Drum roll please...

The winner is- Amanda @ Imperfectly Beautiful!! Congratulations!! And by the way, I peeked at your blog and see it is your Birthday, so double congratulations!!

Thank you for all your kind comments for me and my sick family! I had no voice this morning, but am improving as the day goes on. I am looking forward to wamer weather and well bodies! We are going on vacation to Hawaii in May, and I have been getting myself through this BLAH by dreaming of that. A girl has gotta have something to get her through, right?

I hope you all enjoy the music of Jimmy Needham this week!
=)
Megan

I was abducted by aliens...

2009-02-21T15:46:00.000-08:00

Little germ Aliens...

They have taken over my body and my house! We all got sick this week, hence the silence over here in blogworld. Alas! No Fabulous Finds or creative posts! Can you ever forgive me?

Today I tucked my son in for his nap. He said to me "I got the germ. It came in my mouth and went down my throat..down here by my cheek, and went to the middle, and then this side, and then up into my mouth, and my teeth..." Now is where he really started to ramble. Because he mentioned his teeth. This got him thinking. "And my teeth got bigger, cause the dentist painted them..." We had floride painted on them a few months ago at his first dental visit. A fasination to be sure. His little mind continued spinning, and his rambling went on for a moment, until I said goodnight. Silly boy! Oh to be inside that mind and hear all the things he thinks! He makes me laugh. Right now I am listening to him in the tub, and he is singing a song with the rubber duckeys he is playing with.

I will return next week with much more energy, and hopefully some fun to share with you all!

Fighting Germ Warfare...
Megan

Fru-Fru Flower Headband Tutorial, Tiny Hair Clippy Tutorial, and a Giveaway!

2009-02-17T14:10:00.000-08:00

Hello Bloggy Friends!

I want to give you a photo tutorial to show you how to make an oh-so-fashionable boutique style little girls headband. They are all the rage right now, these fancy pants headbands with GIANT fru-fru flowers adorning them. I also want to show you how to add a little pizazz to those cute tiny little baby hair clippies out there. These are super inexpensive to make, so before you go out and buy one, try your hand at making one yourself!

What you will need-

Silk flowers. I picked mine up at the Dollar Tree. For, of course, a dollar!

Scrapbooking flowers.

Trusty Hot Glue Gun.

Sequins and jewels.

Tiny alligator hair clips.

Large alligator hair clips.

Pack of headbands.

Remove all the plastic from the flowers you will be using. It's easy, just pull it off!
Seperate all the layers of the flowers
There is more plastic hiding inside. Remove this also.
Bake a chicken ceaser pizza while crafting. Make sure to eat it later when you blog.

I used a silk flower petal for a base on my flowers. I have lots left over from Valentines day wreaths. (Petals, also from the $$ Store.)

Put a dollop of glue onto the petal, or whatever you use for a base.

Doesn't my glue gun look pretty with all the red fuzz all over it? Hah.

Glue down the first layer of the flower you are starting with. I decided to go with 2 white ones.

Add more glue. (Hello again Old Faithful!)

Layer your next flower selection. I went with 2 layers of pink.

Rescue suicidal flower that dove off of counter into dog's water dish.

(I promise I did not use this one in my finished product.)

I chose two smaller pink flowers for the center. Add another dab of glue-

I decided on a jewel for the center of this one

Stick on jewel!

I really wanted a clip like this for my flowers, but didn't find any when I was at the store awhile back...

This one belongs to this cute flower clippy that I got in Hawaii in '07.

I settled for this alligaror clip-

Flip your completed flower over, and apply a line of glue to it-

Set alligator clip onto glue

I added some glue to both ends of the clip to make it more secure

I then added more glue to the clip sides

I took the sides of the petal and wrapped them over the clip. Tried to get an "action" shot but I proceeded to hot glue my fingers in the process. Note to self, don't focus so much on camera when dealing with HOT glue...

Now all you have to do is clip it onto a headband! Below are a couple that are from the hair section at the grocery store. Believe it or not, they fit on a babys head! If it is too big, just take it in a little bit at the seam. Another thing I have done- is cut off the leg from a pair of baby tights, and sew the ends together into a circle, and viola! A headband!

You could also use a cute baby headband you already have! This one LaLa got from her Nana for her birthday. It's super cute alone too!

Clip it on! By the way, I wouldn't use grey with this flower, but I already used my white ones.

Removable, interchangeable!

Here are a couple other ones I have made-

Now onto the fancy baby hair clippies!

What you will use-

Put a tiny little dab of hot glue onto the end of the clip-

Stick on your choice of little flower- mine is a fabric scrapbooking one

Add more glue

I layered a pink paper flower to the center.

And, yet some more glue-

(Old Faithful is really getting a workout today...)

I then topped it off with a pink sequin!

For a simply elegant look, just glue a single jewel onto a clip

What a cute pair they make!

If LaLa wasn't napping, I would have her model for you! I put her hair up into a tiny ponytail that sticks straight up, and then clip one on below the hair tie.

By the way, the embellishments might come off, and if they do, just re-glue!

So there you have it, a set of pretty fancy little clippies, and a fru-fru flower ready for any headband!

And because I love all my bloggy readers. I am giving this set away! (Headband not included, 'cause I am out of those.) You will get the giant fru-fru flower minus headband, and the set of little clippies shown here. I haven't ever made any for my shop because I am a little nervous about the liability issues. So, if you enter, please know you are taking responsibility for your child's safety. Always check items to make sure they are secure, and don't leave your baby alone with them. Deal? =)

Leave me a comment to enter! And if you can jump up and down while licking your elbow, I will give you another entry! Hehe. Giveaway ends Sunday night. Open to US and Canada shipping addresses.

I have to go pick the hot glue off my fingers now,

Megan

Happy Birthday Little Girl! And {Music Monday}

2009-02-16T08:45:00.001-08:00

Our music for today? Lenka. Lighthearted, fun sound, all around a good time! I have added the playlist to my side column this week so you can listen while you visit. If you click on her name you can vsit her website. I picked her CD up off of Itunes, I love it!

It's here. Today. It not possible! But it's here. My Baby Girl's Birthday! She's one year old, and it just doesn't seem possible. How did time fly by so fast? It's a celebration, but it's also emotional. She is no longer a little baby. Oh, she is a baby in a one-year-old sense, but a tiny infant no longer.

LaLa, you are precious, adorable, fun, funny...You make us laugh with your little chatters and your funny walk. You bring us to tears with your hugs. We love watching you grow, we love every moment with you. Happy Birthday Little Girl!!!

We had her party on Saturday, and it was great! I decorated my chandelier with curled ribbon, and it turned out so cute! I added curled ribbon to everything. I made some cupcake banners with glitter on top, and hung streamers everywhere. Our friends and family came and we were blessed by their presence! We had a great time. The house is still a mess, and we are having our little family party tonight. So the menu this time? Frozen Pizza. I know, totally gourmet! I might make some more (much simpler) cupcakes though.

I wore this cute little apron that I bought at the antique store for $4, and appliqued a cupcake onto it. I threw it over a skirt (which later became jeans due to all the little kids I had to step over, if you know what I mean...) and wore my cupcake T from Target. The skirt and apron had a 50's look, so of course I tossed on my LARGE pears. (Of course they are real , 'cause like, I have a million dollars.) And, to top it off, I was barefoot! I had NO shoes that went with it! Kindof silly I know, but it was all last minute.

LaLa now has a collection of babydolls, quite wonderful considering she always plays with her brothers hotwheels. It is time to teach her about girly toys! Tonight (SHHHHH, DON'T LET HER HEAR!!!) She gets a cute little baby tea set!

Oh, and she loved smooshing her purple frosting! I will show you more pictures tomorrow, I especially want to get photos of the cupcake banner. And more photos of HER of course! I'm off to clean the house, go to the store, and do all my crazy stuff to get ready for tonight!

Happy Birthday Baby Buns!

Mommy. (Aka Megan)

{Fabulous Finds} Friday!!

2009-02-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

Here it is, what you have all been waiting for, the first edition of {Fabulous Finds} Friday! Maybe we will hook up some Mr. Linky love in the future. If I ever figure that out.

So lets begin! Again, these are things that A) I Want, B) I Need (or think I need), or C) I have and love! It's a plethora of things that spark my fancy, and just might spark yours!

First off, one that I am the most excited to share with you all. It is an Etsy Shop called 5 Dollar French Market. It is addicting, fabulous, and an incredible concept. Everything in their store is FIVE DOLLARS!!! You heard me. And their shipping is very reasonable also! I am all over this idea. With the economy, jobs, and market the way they are, we all want our pretties, but sometimes they are just to costly for us to splurge. The only problem here is you may not be able to pick!

Here is what they say about their shop "...where you can browse through our lovely selection of French inspired items. All of our items are "tres chic!" and perfect for your very own Paris Apartment! So, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and imagine you are strolling through the marketplace in the South of France!"

They have various items, many perfect for adding a special touch to your crafting, others just lovely to display in your home.

Here are some examples-

And these are on their way to MY home!-

Next I will tell you about something you all may have already seen and heard of. If not, you are going to want to get your hands on some of these! They are a great concept, and pair famously with (shameless plug) my onesies.

Babylegs- created to keep your little baby's legs warm. On infants they cover the whole leg. They are great to pair with a cute onesie, they keep legs warm for diaper changes on-the-go, they work as arm warmers on bigger kids or adults. They are cute fashionable leg warmers on little girls. I put them over LaLa's tights for extra warmth, I put them under her pants to keep her little legs warm (those little ankles always manage to peep out!), I layer them under snow clothes on both my kids, and they are recommended for potty training, so you don't have to rush to get those pants off as you try to get those little buns on the toilet!

Here is LaLa around 5 months old in her very first pair-

What seems to be a new fashion craze are Scrabble Tile Pendant necklaces. I really love these, and I think they would be really simple to make, so maybe a tutorial is in the makings. But for now, I snagged a few from two great shops, because I wasn't up to hunting down all the supplies and making my own. Although, I am thinking they would make wonderful easy gifts, simple to personalize for whoever you are giving them to.

From Its All About the Print I got this-

And I Got Squares traded me this-

Finally, I found TWO blogs that spin my fan-

Cupcakes Take the Cake is the first one. Although be warned, browsing this will leave you drooling for a cupcake, and all your New Years Resolutions might just go right out the window! I came upon it searching for cupcake ideas on the web for LaLa's birthday.

The other one I found was Joy The Baker. She is young, funny, makes you want to eat chocolate, and you will wish she were your best friend or next door neighbor. Looking at the goodies she bakes up will make you laugh, and then make you cry, you will want to eat them so badly. I read her tips on making Cream Cheese Frosting for LaLa's cupcakes, her post on THIS Dark Chocolate Sorbet has inspired me to make it for LaLa's party also. I faint.

Enjoy discovering these Fabulous Finds for yourselves! (In no way do I get anything for telling you about these finds. In fact, none of them even know I am sharing about them on my blog! They are things that are too good to be kept secret!)

Feeling Fantastic,

Megan

Cupcakes and Ruffles!

2009-02-12T15:03:00.000-08:00

I haven't had much time to blog lately, what with both kids fighting a nasty cold, keeping up with the house, planning and preparing for the party on Saturday, and a little crafting on the side.

There are ponderings of opening a new Etsy store soon with little things I have made that are for Us, the adults. =) We love to shop for our babies, but we also love to shop for ourselves and our homes! They will be affordable little decor items, I am thinking mainly tag banners. Wathcathink?

Here are photos of the outfit I made for LaLa to wear at her party! I put ruffles on the bum of some pants from Target...I didn't have time to make her a new pair, and found these in the laundry, hot off the clearance rack! The ruffles are chiffon...yum! I am going to be making onesies in the future for my store with chiffon rufflebums, as the weather warms up. Finally I made her a little hair clippy that is, of course, a cupcake!

So take a peak at Cinderella's ruffles and enjoy! And thank you for all your kind and loving comments on my last post!!! Also, don't forget to tune in for Fabulous Finds Friday! It's gonna be fantastic!

Where I tell you how much I appreciate you, and make you drool over my Cupcakes.

2009-02-09T20:27:00.000-08:00

I wish I were more poignant, brilliantly amusing, witty, and profound. I imagine myself saying something so fabulous I leave you all stunned with my amazingness. But really, all I am, is me.

I am slightly random, and more than a little sporadic. I tend to be unorganized. I love glitter, and am sure it has burrowed itself deep into my carpet by now. I love Paris. I love Italy. I love shabby chic. I cook in spurts. I would love to write a novel. I can picture myself singing on stage belting out "I believe in you and me" by Whittney Huston, but that will never happen. I can bury myself in Christian Fiction and not come up for air for a week. I love music. I love taking photos. I wish I were a professional. I have my fingers in too many pies, there are so many things I love to do, and want to do, and never get to because I am a wife and mom, and that is full time in itself!

But what I love about blogland, is that you all love, even admire, me and all my quirks. And I adore all of you. I love reading all your blogs, delving into your lives, seeing your ideas, and knowing YOU. Here in blogland, we can express ourselves, our "MEness" and not be afraid of what one another will say. The kindness and support is wonderful. Blogging is life changing. It seems odd to say that. But it's true.

I sat with my husband the other night, musing out loud about how I love this, and he said- "It's like the olden days when women would get together and share recipes and ideas, and talk about their lives and homes." This is so true. We gather round our computers, and jump into one anothers lives. Life is so busy, and I think that we have fewer chances in real life to do what we do here. It is an innate part of being a woman to be able to communicate with one another like this, and share with and support one another.

We also get to jump past those nervous first meetings, the fear of being judged for how we look, or the struggle to find those in the crowd who are open and honest rather than judgemental or seemingly stuck up. Because on our blogs we pour out our hearts and lives and expose who we are. I can find a new blog and feel like I instantly "know" someone new.

You all fuel my creativity. I am energized by your tips on home decorating, crafting, sewing, writing, cleaning, and loving. Thank you!

Yesterday (Monday) I got started on cooking for LaLa's 1st Birthday party! We are celebrating on Valentines day, although her real birthday is a few days later. I decided to bake and freeze her cupcakes in advance, so I don't totally mess up the house the day before the party. I am quite thrilled with myself for planning so far in advance. I'm feeling a little guilty for my son's party last November, we just went to McDonalds. And not only that, but the playland was closed! Doy. I don't think it really matters to him though. He had a blast.

So I baked and frosted the cupcakes today, and I plan on decorating them a little further tomorrow. I tried a cupcake and it was GOOD! And R.I.C.H. Man oh man. Those kiddies are going to be scraping frosting off for sure, because I wanted them to look decedent, and I succeeded. And so, without further ado-

Here is the baking process...

And here is the (currently) finished product!

Don't you wish YOU were gonna be there? You are invited...let me know when your flight gets in. ;)

There goes my diet this week.

-Megan-

(Be sure to check out Music Monday below, and let me know what you think about my idea, I'm feeling a little insecure about it today...it could just be hormones though.)

{Music Monday}

2009-02-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, my sweet husband got me an IPod. I love it. It is my new best friend. I am, and have always been, a music junkie. BI (Before Ipod), I had lots of CD's. I then began downloading music onto my computer and burning it all onto CD's. Now I have my IPod, and this tiny little credit card sized thing holds all the music my little heart can handle. The joy of technology.

I digress.

I think I have listened to just about every type of music there is. Pop. Rock. Punk. Hardcore. Soft Rock. Country. Classical. Techno. Contemporary Christian. Worship. Emo. The list goes on I'm sure.

And so my Bloggy friends, I would like to dedicate Mondays to sharing the music with you.

Don't be scared, I can almost guarantee there will be no Hardcore or Punk in the mix. That stuff and I don't get along so well anymore. My poor head just can't take it. And besides, that phase was in High School and Jr High. And to quote a friend of mine "Weren't we all Punk in Jr High?".

I also will share a few guidelines I will follow. None of it will contain profanity or crude content. Because as my niece used to say "I can't like that". I want you to feel safe in listening to what I post or recommend. Also, if you want to share music with us in the comments to these posts, please follow the same guidelines. Lets keep it clean, ok?

Now, I have commitment issues. It seems like I start a project like this and then have trouble following through. Hopefully that will not be the case this time, as I have music coming out of my ears. (Haha. Dumb joke. Drum roll please.)

So stay tuned for more Music Mondays!

This week I am featuring an eclectic play list. It consists of songs that I downloaded for a Valentine's CD for my Hunny last year, plus a few more recent songs.

Everytime I Close My Eyes- Babyface (Going old school here...stuck it in for a good old early 90's flashback.)

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You- Lady Antebellum (I just love the sound of this song, the lady's voice is wonderful, and I love the harmony in the chorus. A delightful love song!)

Got It Right This Time- Kieth Urban (This is a joyful love song, and it makes me smile!)

Love Story- Taylor Swift (I love this new song, it really sparks the imagination)

Tailor Made- Colbie Caillat (I just love her! I listen to her CD like crazy. A sweet song)

Love You ‘Till the End- The Pogues (A little different. Fun. From the P.S. I Love You soundtrack. I don't really know how I feel about that movie. But I enjoy the soundtrack. It is definately unique, so beware!)

You can listen to it HERE. I tried to download it right onto this post, but couldn't figure it out. So click and enjoy! Also, please join in and leave your Valnetines music suggestions in the comments. I am trying to figure out Mr. Linky, so you can link up if you want to, but for now, guide us your direction in the comments.

Groovin to the tunes,

Megan

P.S. Stick around and join me on Fridays for Fabulous Finds Friday where I will tell you about my latest greatest fabulous finds, the things that I want, need, or have and love!

{DIY} Delightful Floral Gifts!

2009-02-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

It doesn't get any easier (or cheaper!!) than this!!

Instead of giving your next bouquet of flowers in the plastic sac you got from the store, and instead of buying one of the more expensive vases they offer you at the same said store or florist, why not give something more original, charming, and inexpensive??

It's easy-peasy, low cost, and might even compete with those lovely flowers you bought

Decorate your own vase! Let me break it down for you-

Vase- $1 at dollar store (a dollar!! one dinero!! a buck! 99 cents plus a penny!!) I snagged this with gleeful joy and evil laughter at such a steal. I spotted their FLAT-ness, and knew they would be perfect

Scrapbooking paper- In your craft stash. You can also use wallpaper, wrapping paper, magazine pages, have your kids color on computer paper, endless possibilities!

Scrapbooking elements- Again, in your stash. There are also lots of little goodies at the dollar store. Think outside the box of what you could use/combine/spruce up. Or you can spend a little more cash and shop the craft store. I warn you though, do that and this will no longer be an inexpensive project! Unless you have superhuman strength and can resist all things pretty and crafty. And that would be pretty crafty of you. (Drum roll please).

Glue- Use something a little stronger than a glue stick. After my first vase, I pulled out the hot glue gun, as I didn't have to wait for that to dry.

Ribbon- Go simple, or go wild, thin or fat, whatever floats your boat!

Glitter- this needs no explanation from me.

Embellishments- that tickle your fancy; sequins, gems, beads, etc.

Ready, set, GO!

Cut a strip of paper to wrap around the vase. Glue it in place. If you are not using hot glue, then (as my not only HANDSOME but BRILLIANT husband suggested to me) stick a rubber band around it to hold it until it dries. I pulled out my hairband, because no rubber band would come when I called to them. (Disobedient buggers.)

Embellish the front of your vase.

I use some chipboard elements on one of these, which I sanded (it didn't originally match) an then rubbed on an ink pad. I glued paper behind the chipboard frame, and then added the baby letters. Add some glitter, ribbon, and glintz, and this one is just waiting for a certain friend to go into labor. (She is due in 2 days. Eviction notice has been served to the little bean.)

On another, I cut out 3 hearts and grouped them, and then framed on with a little plastic scrapbook element. Added glitter (duh) and some other fun elements, and tied ribbon around the neck of the vase.

On the white one I used wallpaper for the background. I cannot take credit for the brilliance of the wallpaper. My mom found a GIANT roll at the hardware store for 50CENTS. Yes, you heard me right people. FIFTY CENTS.

We have numerous other craft ideas up our sleeves for this spectacular find, and you will all get a chance to see some more soon. I then took a little free hand Eiffel tower cut out, made from the same wallpaper, and rubbed it on a black stamp pad. Added some spray-adhesive (I'm such a pro now) and some glitter, and glued it onto the vase.

Tied some ribbon on (the velvet and pearl ribbon is ALSO from the dollar store. I know. Gasp. I faint.), stuck some little silk flowers under the ribbon, and viola! I whipped this one up for this post so you could see one with a different look. Think wedding, shabby chic, etc.

And there you have it! I am going to make some with a more general "friend" theme to have on hand for those last minutes flower-gifts. By the way, I stuck silk flowers in from the dollar store in these for the photos. I believe I have read that it is faux paus to have silk flowers as a decoration, but these look pretty stinkin cute to me. And if you add glitter to the petals? Beautiful. What about sticking some silk flowers in with some real ones? I think that would be really different and fun.

If you make some, show me, I would love to see!

I need to get me some flowers now...

Megan

I {Heart} Faces- Childrens eyes

2009-02-05T12:19:00.000-08:00

Find more adorable faces, or enter your own at -

So, for the children category, here is LaLa. It's all about the eyes this week on I Heart Faces.

Sorry to all of you who already commented on the post below and saw this! I had to edit them and do 2 posts to follow the I Heart Faces guidelines!

But this is new!! Check it out, my dog made it into the collage on I Heart Faces, click here to see! It is not any brilliance on my part, just random luck if you read the post about their collages, but hey, I'm all giddy anyways!!!

Figuring it out,

Megan

I {Heart} Faces

2009-02-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

It's been going around. The I Heart Faces blog, that is. I decided to try my hand at 2 different entries. Go check them out, click the button below to visit them!

First, for the pets category. Here is out Top Dog, in the snow. I love this photo. He is hard to capture on film (er, memory card) when in the snow, it makes him all crazy-happy. But here it is, poetry in photo. At least I think so. I might be a little biased.

I {Heart} My Families Faces,

Megan