Friday, November 30, 2012

Oh the holidays...

I know that for many people this time of year is a struggle for one reason or another.
There have been deaths.
There have been storms.
There have been illnesses, surgeries and pain.
There are memories.
Good ones.
Bad ones.
There are dreams, hopes & regrets.
The one thing that does make my heart happy and my feet want to dance is that I am loved by the King.
The celebration of His birthday is coming!!
May we remember this when we find ourselves going to that un-celebratory place in our minds.
Now; go(!!) sing & dance! ;)


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Gratitude

In addition to being extremely grateful for everything that I have I am grateful that I have just enough. Right now. Right here.

I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I pray you take time out of your day to be alone and to be extremely grateful.




What I am most grateful for is I have a savior with a strong cozy back to carry me on whenever I need it.




Monday, November 19, 2012

Complete Canvases...

Here are a few pieces that I thought I would share from my Brave Girl Art Class.
I feel like they all need a bit more love but here they are as of now...


This little cheery lady is the cover of my art journal. 



I hung this one on the wall straight ahead of my front door.
I guess I needed it to remind me of what to be as I leave into my day and return home to my family each day...



This piece is going in my kitchen, right smack dab by my coffee maker.
Its a good reminder as I start my day. :)




Friday, November 16, 2012

Time for a Friday Chuckle!


Wishing you all a good Friday and a relaxing weekend!!
I know I have  been a bit heavy lately so I figured it was a good day for a little giggle on the old blog today.
:)






Source: pinstars.info via Ok on Pinterest




Source: via jessica on Pinterest




Source: google.com via Lizzy on Pinterest












Thursday, November 15, 2012

As I ponder Thanksgiving...


I have shared a few of these videos on Facebook over the last few weeks. Today, I thought I would dive a bit deeper.

As I sit and ponder Thanksgiving and all of the many people and things that I am super grateful for I also can not imagine what is going through the minds of the people that lost their earthly possessions. While I know as Christians we are to not store up riches on earth as ours await in heaven, however we are human. We like our stuff. Our homes make us feel safe, our homes are where we have wonderful memories that have been created throughout our lives. We have favorite things, favorite shoes, the best winter coat, the family photos, the quilt that our grandmother made that you were saving for your daughter... 
While I know for a fact that the people I know that lost everything are grateful for their lives & their families there may come a point where they are just pissed that they lost their homes & their stuff. 
I pray for them during this time.
I remind myself every single morning when I get out of my bed in the morning that there are people down the street that lost everything. You too need to remember these people. Remember the storm. 
I know that there are many people that just want things to go back to normal around here but I pray that we do not forget those so very close to us that are still trying to get a grip, build a new life and may be going through a new stage of grief here very soon.


A few YouTube videos:

Union Beach: This is where Ryan's grandmother raised 7-children & lived for over 60-years. This is where many people that we know lost everything.





This is one of many of the lines for gas after the storm. This particular line went for miles and led to the Wawa gas station at the highway near our house. While we wanted to film this we didn't so I am glad someone caught it on film. And you wonder why we had to go to odd-even fueling days around here?!




Here is Sea Bright. Our beaches, our restaurants, our fond fond memories...




Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Canvases...


I signed up for an art class a few weeks ago through Brave Girls Club and boy am I having fun.
This week I am to make a canvas to go in my home as a reminder...to myself...
As I contemplate my phrase I thought I would post a few that I like from Pinterest.
Do any of you have phrases that get you through the day? Verses? Quotes?
What are they?

I will post some of the pieces that I have made over the last few months soon...promise. :)
Have a great day lovelies!!
ox


















Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Sweet Potato Mac

I have a feeling I am just going to have to dive back in. So here I go!!
This is one of my favorite healthier comfort meals:

If you have read this recipe on this blog before I apologize. It may be a repeat, but its fall and this is a good reminder meal. ;) 

Sweet Potato Mac
(A tale about sneaking yet another veggie into dinner...)

1/2 c. veggie stock
1/2 c. almond milk
2 Tbs butter
2 Tbs flour (I use spelt flour)

1 c. grated cheese (I use sharp cheddar, use your favorite)
1-2 baked sweet potatoes

1 bag cooked pasta of your choice

One: Create rue
Melt butter in sauce pan, add flour (enough to create a paste).
Once it is pasty and boiling a little add room temp stock and milk.
Two: Thicken the sauce
Stir until thickens (If you are having trouble add a tad bit more flour)
Once thickened add graded cheese.
Once cheese is incorporated add mashed inside of sweet potato(s).
Stir.
Three: Combine
Lightly grease casserole dish.
Add Pasta
Pour cream sauce over. Combine.
Top with a bit more cheese and bread crumbs if you please. :)
Its yummier that way!
Bake for 15 min at 350 degrees! (or until top is crispy melty)



Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Sailing the seas.

Lets be clear. I am not afraid.
When trying times come I pray that I navigate my ship correctly.

This ship is weary. She prays that she is used in the way that God intends...that she has a giving, grateful & joyful heart while sailing the seas. What powerful seas they are...


Source: etsy.com via Michael on Pinterest




Friday, November 2, 2012

Trying to praise in the storm...

I have a bit of battery on the ol laptop right now so I wanted to vent a little bit...forgive me.
First of all, we are safe, and we have a home. We are without power and surrounded by sadness that I can not express.
I am struggling with not only lack of patience, a broken heart, freezing to the bone, and a sick child...but I am struggling with sadness over loss of places...loss of places where family gathered, where family felt safe and happy, places where I had my first date with my husband, places where I took my baby to swim in the ocean for the first time, places I used to go to for peace.
I didn't know these feelings of sadness existed.
Sure, I had seen people loosing their lives on the news before.
Sure, I am grateful that I am alive and my whole family is safe.
I assure you it is not the loss of the "stuff" that is making me so stinken sad, its the loss of places that hold very special memories to me that is making me so so stinken sad. Its the fact that people that I love so very much have lost everything and do not have a home anymore...

As I am literally screaming at my 3-year old during a ride home from a grocery store breakdown when this song came on the radio.
This song was a direct message from God to not harm my child. It was. No doubt about it.
You can think I am a bad mom. That is okay because in that time I was a bad mom. I was so mad, I was so tired, I was so over the whole mess that we now live in that I was screaming at my baby.
I am thankful for a God that still reals me in. I will choose to praise Him in this storm.

Thank you for listening to the vent...now if you too are going through stuff please choose to praise Him in the storm. He knows just what you need and will carry you. I just need to be carried today, hugging my heavenly father as he carries me...Do you?