Blessed, Indeed

These last six months have been really difficult, for a number of reasons that I won't go into.  Suffice it to say, it's been an emotional, financial, spiritual, physical battle that has left me feeling vulnerable and stripped of any confidence in myself, in every area of my life...personal, educational, ministry...all of it.
If you know my husband, you know he is an open book.  He doesn't mind talking things out and just being upfront and honest about things.
Me....not so much.
I am happy to hole myself up in my house and avoid the world.  Ridiculous, I know, but true, nonetheless.
A precious friend of mine made a way for me to attend a ladies' retreat this past weekend, and I was so ready to just get away and BE.  I absolutely could not WAIT to get away without distraction, relax, and let the Lord pamper me and build me up....
Well....
The retreat definitely was AMAZING.  The theme was Beauty for Ashes.
Worship was beautiful, and I cried.
Then someone would share their testimony, and I cried.
Then the person beside me started crying, so I cried, too.
The Lord definitely met me there and showered me with love.

(Wait....flashback of that 1989 Surface song is stuck in my head....Okay.)

BUT He also gave me a swift kick in the patooshie when He reminded me of the blessings He has continuously bestowed on me.
I remember being the sad woman who desperately longed for a baby, and would put a smile on her face and struggle to make it from point A to B without being too fake.  Today I have a precious, beautiful, strong-willed two and a half year old who I can't imagine my life without.  I have a sweet husband that, while neither of us will ever be perfect, takes care of us, protects us, looks out for us, and genuinely LOVES us!  I have both of my parents that are good to me, well beyond what I deserve.  I have true friends that stand with me, even when I want to stay holed up in my house.
And He also reminded me that ministry is everywhere I am, to everyone I come in contact with.

16 Months

One year and four months since I last posted.
So long, that I was apparently hacked and unable to access my account!  I had to delete four posts that I didn't create.  I apologize if anyone clicked on the link and saw anything inappropriate.
Because, you know....this blog is SO popular!  ;)

Man...a lot has happened in a year and four months!  Too much, I'm sure, to delve into much detail in a few sentences, but the biggest change that has occurred is my admission into respiratory therapy school.  It is a five semester program, and I have three down and two to go!  After 12 years, I left Kirkland's for a job in my field of study, so now I am employed with Baylor Scott and White Healthcare System as a student RT.

School, work, my family, and....just....LIFE keeps me pretty busy, but I want to try to find more time to write.  I miss my little blogging world.  (Sigh.)

She Didn't Get it from Me!

This girl cracks me up with her moves!
She LOVES music and always stops to throw down the groove.
And when she's done, she's done.  :)
Love her to pieces!

I Think We're in Trouble....

....Considering that she loves to look at herself in the mirror, see pictures of herself, play in Mommy's make-up bag, and her first object word was "bow". Yes, I think it's safe to say we are in trouble DEEP. AND LOVIN' EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!!! Check out her monthly updates here!

Did I mention the girl is a climber? She loves to try new things! (As I cringe...)

A Little Friday Night Fun....

Photo Booth with Mommy! Masie LOVES seeing herself in the mirror, in pictures, on video...anywhere she can see that cute little girl! So, this was fun to do for both of us...'cuz I kinda like seeing that cute little girl, too. :)

Really, Really Simple Homemade Ornaments

I LOVE Christmas, but I loathe spending a ton of money on decorations. (Please disregard the fact that I work at a home decor retail establishment. LOL) I did buy ready made ornaments as well, but they were all on sale for at least 50% off. For the homemade ornaments, I had a roll of 2 inch wired ribbon, a bag of wooden spheres with a hole in the bottom (not all the way through the top), some floral wire, and hot glue. You can decide what length you want for the body of the angel. Put a good amount of hot glue in the hole of the wooden head then insert both ends of the wired ribbon into the glue. Cut a smaller piece of ribbon for the wings, cinching the middle with the floral wire in such a way that it doubles as a loop to hang from the tree. Hot glue the wings to the back of the angel, and VOILA! Ornaments! It's simple, I know, but it adds that personal touch to decorating that is important to me. :)

Project Completed!

All of Masie's headbands and bows have been kept in a ziplock bag since our last trip. I had purchased a small wall hat rack on sale with the intent of converting it into something to keep all of her "head gear" but had just not gotten it done yet. Well, yesterday was the day! I simply added ribbon to the back of the rack to clip the bows on and used the hooks for the headbands. It took all of five minutes. That is one project complete...now to just finish her room since the move! ;)