Kari Jobe - You Are For Me - Live Version

Found this video this morning... the message before the song is simple yet powerful, and I just love her music!

I'm such a bad blogger...

Hello, my 13 followers... are you still there? :)

Forgive me for being so absent. I have the best intentions, and then life gets in the way, and then the words don't make it to the page. Maybe that isn't a bad thing? Life has been busy since school started. J just finished basketball and has Boy Scouts every Tuesday and M has cheer practice on Mondays, Girl Scouts every other Tuesday, and cheers every Saturday morning right now. We all have church activities and I am co-leading a GA's group on Wednesday nights.

I'm not complaining, but maybe I've stretched myself a little thin?

I feel so thankful that my kids have so much to do, so many opportunities to be active in school and church and community, but some days I wonder why I signed up for so much. Our family has gotten into the habit of being busy and we get so caught up in the busy that we often forget to slow down and just live life.

On good days, I get everything done and we run here, there, and everywhere. Some days, I don't do anything. Nothing. Notta. (Like today.) The dishes pile up and the laundry piles up and the toys aren't put away and I don't even change out of my pajamas or wash my hair. I pile up in the recliner and drink coffee and browse (in)courage and play on Pinterest and catch up with friends on Facebook. This usually happens when my husband is working and won't be home for a day or two... on those days, I know I should be doing something, but I just feel too mentally exhausted to even care. It sounds horrible, but it's an honest confession.

Do any of you have days like that or am I the only slacker here today? I'm determined to get the dishes done and the laundry folded before church this afternoon... pray for me?

It's Fall, Y'all!

I love this time of year. I love the smell of pumpkin pie candles burning throughout the house. I love the reds, oranges, and yellows of the leaves falling from the trees. I love the crisp fall air and being able to wear cute scarves and sweaters and boots. Most of all, I love being able to pull through a Starbucks drive-thru and order a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

(Because the arrival of the Pumpkin Spice Latte is how you really know it's fall, y'all.)

Kari Jobe - Beautiful music for your weekend :)

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

I look at her face as we open the cardboard box that the UPS man carried to our door today. It's glowing with excitement and wonder at what might be inside. As I cut through the tape and pull the flaps back to reveal the new friend that's waiting inside, she erupts into giggles and one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen.

"Mommy, is that for... ME?"

Dweeber is just one of many cute and cuddly little friends available through DaySpring's U-Neeks line of products. 

She lifts him out of the box, we unwrap him and this is the first thing she does. See that smile? She just loves this little guy called Dweeber! I tell her that Dweeber is here to remind us that we are all special and unique... fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God loves us just the way we are. She smiles bigger and holds him tighter. I thank God for this box of goodies from (in)courage and Dayspring, this box of little reminders of God's love for us. 

I love that every time we use one of these notebooks, folders, or binders, we will see a special message, like the ones inside the front covers of the composition books... scripture and words that uplift and remind us that "we are never, ever alone in this world" and that we are cherished and chosen. 

Our school made a few changes this year, and one of those changes was that parents no longer had to purchase school supplies for their K-4th grade students. I didn't find out about the change until after we received the products, and since my daughter is in the 1st grade, that means she isn't able to use them at school. At first, I was disappointed, but then I thought about how we could use them at home. I decided to use a folder and binder to hold materials for the GA's class I am leading on Wednesday nights. I am using one of the composition books as a prayer/gratitude journal, and I am going to give the other one to my daughter for the same purpose. 

For those of you who have students who can choose their own supplies, and use these at school, they are the perfect way to share their faith with friends! (I would have sent them with my 6th grade son, but I don't think he would have appreciated hot pink notebooks or binders!)

Just a few days ago, I gave my kids the greeting cards to let them know that even when we are apart during the school day, they are always on my mind and in my heart, and that God's love is always with them, too. 

There are so many uses for these wonderful, beautifully made products! 

You can find them all at DaySpring, and through August 31, 2012, back to school products are Buy 2, Get 1 Free! I am linking up over at (in)courage, please visit their Inspired Deals page to link to more posts on these awesome products! 

*All products were sent to me by DaySpring for review. The opinions expressed here are my own, and no compensation was received other than the products themselves. 

Thankful Thursday...

Things I'm thankful for this Thursday:

#24 It's looking a little cloudy... I love grey days. There's something so peaceful and calming about grey, possibly rainy days. Call me Eeyore, I guess. :)
#25 The school year is starting off smoothly. No morning fuss so far!
#26 As always, my morning cup of coffee. (This morning, in my beautiful mug from the Holley Gerth collection at DaySpring.)
#27 Friendship. I've had a rough week, mentally and physically. It's nice to know that just when you need it most, God places words on the heart of a friend, and that friends places them in your path. Thankful for Brandi's post on Facebook last night... scripture I truly needed to read, right then.
#28 This blog. I may only have 13 followers, and they may not even be reading these words, but if there is even a remote possibility that something I say here might lift someone's spirits or speak to their hearts, then I am happy and thankful for that.

What are you thankful for today?

Happy Thursday! :)

Grati-Tuesday!

What am I thankful for this Tuesday, you ask? Well, I'm here to tell you!

#16. The kids had a great first morning of the school year! All smiles and happy faces!
#17. I discovered eleventhgorgeous. (Hey, this girl loves girly things. And so do these girls. Perfect match.)
#18. Turquoise and Pink Mani. (inspired by eleventhgorgeous) I did it myself, and it made me feel pretty and happy. Happy girls are the prettiest, right? :)
#19. The box of back-to-school goodies we received from DaySpring this week. The kids can't wait to use them, and I can't wait to share them with you.
#20. My always muddy when he's spent the day outside puppy dog, Marley. I can't be mad at him for tracking dirt and grime into the house when he looks at me with those big, brown puppy dog eyes. I'm in love with that little guy.
#21. Peace and quiet, the three cups of coffee I had this morning, and good (free) music on Spotify.
#22. Instagram.
#23. Just life. So thankful for each new day the Lord gives us. : )


A few of the things I'm thankful for, and proof of my Instagram addiction:

Oh... and I almost forgot! These went out this week, so I'm thankful for that, too! :) 

What are you thankful for today? Please comment below! Have a great Tuesday!