"Captivating"

yes, i am reading this amazing book by john and stasi eldredge! i am halfway through it and i am already highly recommending this book! my favorite part so far is a reference to "kisses from God"--stasi talks about how john went to the ocean and the Lord gave him a "kiss" by having a huge whale show up (it was neither migration season or a reason for that whale being there!)--so stasi went to the beach asking for a "kiss" from the Lord--she didn't get a whale but saw a beautiful starfish! she was blessed and kept walking, turned a corner and got a whole beach-full of starfishes!-all ranging in different colors! she was completely wowed!

i have my own "kiss" from the Lord story---and i still want more! it was about 5-6 years ago, living in Sheboygan, WI....went for a walk on the beach, and took my camera--felt compelled to do so, and i just had this feeling that i was going to find something from the Lord. i kept walking (i was 8 mo pregnant with ember at the time) and was just about to get off the beach when lo and behold there in the sand was written:

"YOU MAKE MY WORLD HAPPY!"

i was speachless and so overwhelmed and excited with the Love the Lord had for me! wow...really? i do? woah!
how has the Lord given you a kiss? please share!

5 things i love Friday!

1. having a creative outlet....this season it's bread! i'm experimenting with artisan bread/sponge starter!! yum!

2. Fresh basil from the garden!

3. $5 movies--just bought "March of the penguins" at kmart!

4. planting/growing flowers!-just bought more potting soil to do so! yay!

5. asking God for "impossible" things!--it's an invitation to be wowed!

Isaiah 40

"Comfort, yes, Comfort my people!" says your God.
"Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

Isaiah 61:7,8
"Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs."
"For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery for burnt offering;
I will direct their work in truth, and will make them an everlasting covenant."

These verses stand out to me today, through a dream i had this morning....may they speak comfort to you as well!

new inspirations!

lately i've been inspired to explore the making of bread. it's been sooooooo fun!! i made my first sponge starter, and bread.....this is the way to go!! i never want to do the other ways again!! so much more flavor and crust!! wow...i'm amazed and in love! so we had a wonderful yummy italian dinner tonight,....had to invite some friends over....i couldn't help but share! we have lots of fresh basil in the garden, so bruschetta (on the amazing crusty bread) and pesto over pasta! a dear friend of mine bought me a bushel of peaches so i made a yummy peach pie for dessert~! oh, i'm a bit full...and i need to explore a new hobby not involving food!--maybe excercise? :)

Five things i love Friday! :

1. spending a whole entire day with my great friend trish! i took her to Amelie's French bakery....yum! good eats, good conversation...then a chick flick (27 Dresses)!

2. i love ivory!--ever since we have visitors she's been camping out in my bedroom....she wakes up randomly, talks in her sleep and wakes up super early....she is so sweet when just waking up...how i love her!

3. Friends. i feel like i am learning more and more about friendship, what i means, how to be one and such. i am thankful for all my friends--you are dear to my heart!

4. fresh cut grass---looks amazing, smells great!--(thankyou Genevra!)

5. giving! i am realizing that one of the great benefits of being a parent is that you have decided already to give to your children.-time, money, emotion, energy......and then, you can still give more, if you so choose! i am blessed with my children and i'm inspired to give to them more!

We are having beloved friends from Wisconsin visit us this week! it is so GOOD to be with friends! especially in this season where the Lord is giving us trials in various relationships. i am reminded how good it is to work things out with each other....it gives history, trust, and wisdom, as well as character development. how we need all of those! i am blessed to have loving, forgiving friends who are determined to work things out, no matter what! i am so blessed!! i want to be a better friend to all of my friends, and future ones too!-- this i pray.

ATLANTA

i had a blast today! i was able to help my dear friends, jenn and joel as they went to a one-day seminar on autism. i went with, and watched their darling girl Bella Rose--6month old cutie!
she was amazing!! i was able to go see a far-away friend and catch up with her! we had a good time catching up and going to my all-time fav new store LUSH! if you ever have a chance to go visit, please do...it's incredibly smell-icious! oh man!
and i also realized that i love road trips! haven't gone on one in a while and it was so much fun! getting to know what's around the area i live...it was a blast!
i would love to thank my wonderful husband who made this all possible! thankyou honey!!

my boy is getting cuter and bigger by the minute!! he's almost walking, and just got 2 more teeth in the last day or so...sheesh! he only likes to eat what daddy is eating...what can i say? he's a man after his father's heart!

....we had an unfortunate death of a friendship....out of the blue...not prepared, but like death, alot of people aren't prepared. didn't see it coming, so i'm confused and have lots of questions and hurt in my heart. mourning, grieving...talking alot to Dad about it. wow, i can't believe how heavy my heart is....sorry to all around me...don't mean to be the downer, i just have to process this out,...somehow. any ideas? someone suggested i write it all out, all feelings, hurt, joy, loss, gain...it's been helpful....but the feelings remain...oh how i love those friends so stinkin much. seasons come and go......unfortunately friends do too.

happy birthday ivory! yep--my second child turned 4 on may 25!! she's getting so big! she got 2 barbie dolls--one a tinkerbell and another aurora. she was thrilled! we had an intimate small dinner gathering to celebrate her birthday...it was really sweet. i was able to make this yummy cake for her...which i found in Joy of Cooking...it was an amazing "1-2-3-4 cake"--took 4 bowls to make it, and it was AMAZING! she requested it to be pink, so we just add a little bit of red food coloring to the homemade whipped cream...yum!! we love you ivory!! can't believe how fast she is growing up!
i'm really feeling freed up to just enjoy my children, i'm free to not worry about what all is going on around me, or the world...i spend my day with them and cooking food for them, and it's a happy thing! i'm finally really embracing this calling of "mother"--the other day some of their sin issues came up and i found myself heavy in my heart praying for them to overcome..wow...that's what a mother really does...she prays for her children, even without "praying"--just feeling a heaviness on your heart IS prayer!! wow, that's real! and freeing! what a sweet life and a sweet God we have!

here's my latest hobby! making bread! oh how fun this was! and i learned that if you beat up an egg and brush it on top--that's what makes it so pretty and shiny! it was delicious and made my night! now i am on a bread-making kick, want to do it everyday! yay for hobbies and creative outlets that are yummy!

Disagree with Fear

i had a dream that i was telling a girlfriend that i was afraid of something happening, she immediately responds "no, that's not going to happen."
in my heart i don't like that, when people act like they know what will happen...how do they know?

but in retrospect, the lesson the Lord is teaching me is to disagree with fear. that's what she was doing in my dream, disagreeing with fear! it had nothing to do with what will or won't happen in the future, but everything with Fear. our enemy is fear. and yes, it does affect the future!

1 John 4:18 (New King James Version)

¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

i need to be filled with more Love and move and live in that. i have been realizing that fear is freezing me from doing so. from little fears like--what will they think of me? if i do something for this neighbor, i'm leaving another neighbor out! ah! so i do nothing. very frustrating.

Jesus please let your perfect love come in and cast away all our fears!!

amen.