Off the beaten path

SO… we (my sister and I) were on the way to Galveston and we saw a sign for the Strawberry Festival.  We definitely had no plans of visiting the festival, had never heard of it, didn’t have a clue what it was.  But we made a spontaneous decision to GO! Ha ha!  We started following the signs… had to stop and ask for directions… and off we were on an adventure.  Sure we could have stuck with the plan and gone straight to the beach… but we would have missed this opportunity for fun randomness!  It was totally hilarious and made our trip very memorable!  We bought tickets and rode the silly rides and ate yummy strawberries… in fact I bought a flat… so I’m still enjoying the “fruit” of our random adventure.

 

Lesson to learn:  Don’t get so focused on your final destination that you lose sight of the journey.  Travel is not arriving at point B, travel is learning the trails.

Strength Training

So, I like to workout… but mostly I like the results.  But when it comes to circumstances in life… I like to look at it as a form of strength training.  I faced some tough stuff.  I lost a good friend in January.  I was talking to her one night on the phone and made lunch plans… that night she dies in her sleep.  The girl was a professional dancer, singer, college student with a promising future.  I don’t pretend to understand why things happen the way that they do.  Sometimes the simple passing of time gives us anwers, but some questions will remain. 

We can’t get stronger without overloading the muscle; it’s a basic concept.  Same idea can be applied in life, adding a little weight helps your strength to grow.  There’s no way to learn trust without practicing it; for faith to grow, we must practice faith. Some people are called to a deeper, richer faith, requiring more strength.  For these people, more strength training is required.  What I faced in my yesterdays might have been my most strenuous exercise yet, but the next thing will be harder. That is how my faith and trust in God will continue to grow.

Brent, a good friend and workout maniac, was discussing this topic with me and brought up an interesting perspective. God is continally testing us. He wants to gain trust and faith in us.  He did promise in His word that he would never give us more than we could bare.  Number 1 rule in weight training- have a good spot.  God is our trainer. He’s our spot.  If that’s not an incredible, exhilerating thought then your thinker’s broke!  He knows our every strength and weakness and He has a keen eye watching out for our well being. 

I pray daily that God will order my steps and take control in my life.  I have a precious peace knowing that my life is in His hands.  My future isn’t left up to my human weakness, but is divinely ordered by my maker and God’s spotting me!

2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

What do you live for?

Today I was talking with a friend.  Something I do quite often, actually.  Today we were sharing our hearts.  Funny things, humans, we’re so very human, and yet we forget everyone else is human too.  We have faults, failures and short-comings… but when others fall short of our expectations, we don’t seem to be as forgiving.  In this life, I have chosen a narrow path.  My life, while it may be criticized, scrutinized and analyzed by the world, it will be lived out for the glory of God; it’s Him alone that I seek to please.  It’s in Christ alone I place my trust; He is not human and cannot fail.  My faith is not dependent on the strength or weakness of any mortal man; on them we cannot depend.  If I live for God and trust in Him, my faith should not be dampened by the storms of uncertainty that surround me.  Though others may disappoint me, I cannot let it distract me.  I live for God, with or without the rest of these humans on earth!  My relationship with Him is not contingent on the success or failures of others.  He is all I need.  How quickly we humans give up on God, though He never once says “I guess that’s over, my child’s gone too far off course, no use counting on them”.   When a teenager is out past curfew, their father doesn’t say, “Well that’s disappointing, guess I’ll have one less child to count on my income taxes, won’t be seeing them again”. Nonsense, he has faith that his child is on his way. If the father knows it’s bad weather he has an extra portion of concern for his child as he waits for their returning entrance and embraces the wet teenager with a big hug when they come dripping in the door.  God waits up for His children to return home, He leaves the porch light on and the front door unlocked.  Though as humans we fail Him, we lose faith, and question if He’s still there, He never once loses faith in us!  He has never failed me; He is always there.  It’s my weakness and failures that reveals the beauty of His grace.  It’s through my weakness He makes me strong…. in my darkest night He becomes the morning light.  Although we get distracted by cares along the way, He reaches out His hand.  He’s still there.  He never left my side.  And He’s still guiding me on my way. What do you live for?

Packing my suitcase and ready to GO!

So… lately I have really been wanting to get away!   I love to travel!  I have had many opportunities to travel lots of wonderful places!  I thought I might try to post some pictures and start writing some reviews and travel tips for the web world!  I always research my destinations and look for those hidden treasures away from the tourist hot spots!  I love to find the local stuff!  So stay tuned for my “Suitcase Reviews”! 

She doesn’t wear bows… she plays with them

Katelyn Rose’s spring viola recital at First Baptist… She had a lovely performance

Once Upon a Pecan Plantation

Just snapped a few pics after church Sunday…

kinda like the setting….

Wedding Shower Gifts

For my best friend’s wedding shower I wanted to come up with a special and personal gift

I made this apron using a Sew Simple pattern… Pink and black are her kitchen colors

The  recipe scrapbook was a compilation of recipes from her family and friends… I thought it turned out precious and she really loved it!

Senior Pictures

Outdoor Fun Pics

Winter Wonderland