Field trip, anyone?

Oh, how I wish I could pack all my friends and bloggy friends up in an instant and go somewhere magical, like this.

via: source

Oh hey, Easter.

More to come later, just had to share this photo. Love this chick, Stephanie. 

If you want my two cents on it...

I’ve begun to realize that college is just about the ideal lifestyle, except for these pesky things called classes.

Couldn’t Agree More..

Image: Source

Anyone who knows me, can realize just how perfect this describes me! 

You Are My Sunshine.

source.

Art Wall

Art Wall, a photo by I heart Norwegian Wood on Flickr.

Next year, I’m going to have more wall space.

Remake this wall? Check.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most.  We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?”  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us.  And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

–Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural Speech

***the quote is originally from Marianne Williamson, but was used in Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural Speech***

Good Friday (part 2)

Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to our own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:3-6 (NIV)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

Galations 3:13 (NIV)

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

7-10Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

11-12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

Ephesians 1:3-12 (the Message)

I hope you know how perfectly loved you are. What a high price was paid for you.

I hope you are living in the more-than-enough freedom that has been purchased for you through the blood of our Deliverer!

Good Friday

I just read this post from Cherry Tree Lane. It’s too rich not to repost.

Why I'll wake up sick, on Friday

I remember when "The Passion of the Christ" came to theaters.

When it hit the box office, my husband and I, along with a group of friends, purchased our tickets and took our place in the red, velvet chairs.

Wept.

Even my husband and the grown men who were with us.

I had never seen my husband cry during a movie before.

And I haven't since.

We walked outside in complete silence and went to our respective cars without saying a word.

I have never left a movie so impacted.

When I shared my experience with others I felt like I was met with absolute avoidance, from so many people.

"I don't need to see that to know how much Jesus suffered"

"I can't stomach blood and guts, really."

"I feel like it's marginalizing the importance of the cross."

"It's too Hollywood and I hate Hollywood."

"It's sensationalizing the crucifixion."

Of course anyone can argue anything and I'm not here to start a firestorm if you share one of those aforementioned opinions.

But I would encourage one thing, as it pertains to Good Friday.

I would encourage each of us to

GET UNCOMFORTABLE.

I truly believe that people are afraid of what they will discover when they confront the ugliness and brutality of the cross. I think that fear propels people to come up with reasons to not face what really happened.

If you face it you might have to cry {the ugly cry}, be vulnerable, look silly being emotional or

face your own mortality.

I don't necessarily believe that you have to run out and see "The Passion" to fully grasp Good Friday and Easter. People have been taking time to reflect and fully immerse themselves in this special week for years, without the aid of a film. It's by no means a "must".

I simply think that we need to pause, this Friday. We must take time. We MUST reflect on the impact.

I wake on Good Friday, each year, with a pit in my stomach. I literally feel sick.

Even though I know that the crucifixion is done. The price is paid. The blood is shed.

Even still, I wake up nervous, silent, remorseful, in reverence. As if I'm waiting for the ball to drop and the Earth to breath a sigh of relief. I'm waiting.

I hear the laughter of my child, the sounds of lawnmowers outside, breakfast crackling in the castiron skillet. I see the news on the television and watch the mailman go about his route. The phone rings and the dog barks.

Everything is moving like normal but I feel like I'm standing still. I feel sick. I feel fake. I feel like a Pharisee who stands and acts holy, but knows nothing of what it means to be authentic.

And at noon, on beautiful Friday, as I sit in church,

I will let tears roll down my face, uncomfortably.

Sick of myself. My selfish and black heart.

And I weep and thank the Lord for loving me and my ugliness.

My wicked and contrite spirit.

And feel His wide-reaching arms reach down, pick me up and embrace the sinner.

I will wake with uneasiness, but slumber that night with rest assurance.

I have been saved.

Today, I fast. Today, I’m enduring temptations and laying them down before my Lord and Savior. 

Father, it’s only 4:00, and I’m struggling. 

But God is worth it. so so worth it. Tomorrow is Good Friday. This whole week, the reasons as to why I believe have been so pressing in my mind, as I’ve been reminded through the public’s celebration of Easter. A part of me has been frustrated with myself, for not always thinking about the tremendous suffering my perfect savior chose to go through for me. Why does it take a week that’s set aside as a reminder for us for me to focus on it so much? 

I don’t have an answer. 

I just know how grateful I am for his unending grace. 

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 
to loose the chains of injustice 
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry 
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, 
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

~Isa. 58:3-8

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,

And I will not remember your sins.”

~Isa. 43:25

Maundy Thursday

“He humbled himself and became obedient to death-
even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:8

"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there would be peace."

- John Lennon

Photo Dump

Pictures from the past few months. 

Fun babysitting activity=jumping on the trampoline to “try to take cool pictures"

These three were from my last day of Spring Break at one of my favorite places ever, Julie’s House. She made that dress Ruth is wearing! 

Snapped this at the library one day, where I’ve been living, basically. 

One week at Blue Book, a lot of guys from Campus Outreach just walked up and said, We just want you to know how much we appreciate you, and love you as your brothers in Christ. And then they gave flowers. How awesome is that? 

Also in the Library, one of my friends modeling a new headband.

Pictures from Earthfest start here, this is Kristian, who I got the pleasure of hanging out with more this weekend! We’re both in Environmental Science Club together, and she’s a pretty awesome chick! I was so happy when she came with me to New City Sunday morning.

Beautiful friends, modeling the headbands they purchased! 

This was a new experience for me, this past Sunday New City did their first baptismal service. Here is one of my good friends, Summer, getting baptized! Such an amazing thing to witness. 

One of the first things planned for Earthfest, river cleanup. Here’s the team afterwards. I heard we collected approximately 800 pounds of trash! 

Palm Sunday

(just a wee bit late, HEY! You can pretend it’s Sunday, right?)

I love what Joy’s Hope  does each Sunday. Julie chooses a verse each week and simply posts only the verse in this precious polka-dotted template. I hope to start something similar soon. 

Image: Source

I’m ready for change, who’s with me?

Image: Source. 

Saturday Dreamin’

I promise I did really mean to post this Saturday, since that’s when I wrote it :). But here’s some photos that might provoke some day dreamin’. Enjoy :)

(favorite. flower. ever.)

 fruit=favorite food group that I could be perfectly satisfied living off of for the rest of my life. mmmmm. :)

"Poison & Wine" | The Civil Wars | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO [HD]

Good afternoon (or late morning if you’re just rollin’ outta bed :D), lovies!

I found this on Em’s Blog, a friend from High School.

I am not sure what this song is trying to convey, or what the lyrics mean, so if it’s something super ridiculously offensive...please forgive me!! 

I was drawn to this by the soft and beautiful voices, and of course the incredible harmonies. I will always be a sucker for anything that pulls off harmonies well, and am pretty much always humming harmony parts when I listen to jams. 

Here’s a tidbit about The Civil Wars that I got from the “info” section of this vid:

"Poison & Wine is a musical snapshot about the dichotomy of love - that while it can be the thing that destroys you, it can also be the very same thing that beckons and builds you. JP and I are both married have been for several years now - and we got to talking one day about what a tug and pull our individual relationships can be. The longer you know someone - and the longer you allow someone to know you - the more the light and shadows inside each person become more vivid. This song was our attempt at being as brutally honest about the dangerous and beautiful process of knowing and being known. (-Joy Williams, The Civil Wars)"

8 months away and it already gets my heart going!

This girl=SO excited. John Piper. Matt Chandler. Harry Reeder. CHATTANOOGA. 

This past Christmas Conference was amazing. And that was only a few Campus Outreach regions, this one is national! AH can’t wait!!! 

12.28.11-01.01.12

National Conference 2011 Teaser from CO Greenville on Vimeo.

WATCH THIS.

No, I’m not yelling at you with that title. But seriously, whoever’s reading this, you have GOT to watch this. John Piper’s talking in the beginning makes this video incredible.

I could listen to this video every morning before I leave. and. never. get. tired. of. it.

"As you begin to copy the carbon copies of Christ 
And conform to his written image you should be shinning a light 
If you not, why is that? 
Is it fear that's been grippin' you 
Cause you scared they'll be dissin' you 
Flipping birds while that spit at you 
If you not, why is that? 
It don't matter so bump it 
Perfect love cast out fear and he ain't save us for nothing 
This is a privilege (privilege) 
Your life to give to him (give to him) 
So stand firm for him dawg and lets get it in”

Awesome. We’ve got an Awesome God. 

Teaming up with Craft Hope for Project 12: Orphan Outreach

Hello lovely readers! I subscribe to the wonderful Craft Hope, where they are “spreading seeds of hope one stitch at a time.” Now how awesome is that?! Two of my favorite things in a love relationship, crafts + charity. 

So, I am attaching the post that describes Project 12, from the Craft Hope website.

“There are more than 143 million orphans around the world. The majority don’t live in orphanages, they live in communities. They live in extreme poverty and many are homeless.” Orphan Outreach

One hundred and forty three million. 143 million. Can you comprehend this number? Staggering. Mind boggling. Overwhelming.

A few more statistics that will stop you in your tracks…

• Every day 5,760 more children become orphans.
• Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but…
• Every year 14,050,000 children still grow up as orphans and AGE OUT of the system.
• More than 1 million orphans are waiting for a home in Russia.
• In Russia, 60% of girl orphans become prostitutes and 70% of male orphans become hardened criminals.

Kids don’t get to pick their parents. They don’t get to pick what their upbringing will be like. They have no choices. We can’t change this, but we can help. We can share a little love from across the globe.

Time and again we keep coming back to helping kids here at Craft Hope. Empowering a generation and changing our future for the better. There just is something about putting a smile on a kids face. Spreading hope. Doing what we do best.

For Project 12, we are partnering with Orphan Outreach and sending them with a little love to take to Russia. This time we will be making bracelets for them to pass out to kids. Bracelets are a huge hit with kids of all ages — hemp bracelets or beaded bracelets. They are going on a trip in August and have asked us to collect bracelets for them.

Carin Vogelzang, Director of Margaret’s Hope Chest and an angel in disguise, has stepped up yet again to help us coordinate this project. She’s a sweet friend of mine from across the miles who we partnered with previously for Project 5 to provide handmade quilts to homeless children in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We collected 436 quilts!

Basically WCSG, the local Christian radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is teaming up with Orphan Outreach to help children in Russia. They’ll be working at St. Petersburg’s Crisis Center 15 — a triage for children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. The children who are brought to the center range in age from infant to teen — many are newborns who have been abandoned on the street or left in dumpsters. They’ll be reaching out in a variety of ways to help meet their physical and emotional needs. They’ll also be visiting orphanages in the region on Leningrad.

A little about Russia — When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, it’s shaky orphan-care system also fell. Alcohol consumption increased 10 times the U.S. level. The instances of divorce also climbed, along with the HIV-infection rate, which is now one of the highest in the world. And, according to a 2007 UNICEF report, the annual number of children without parental care in Russian ‘has more than doubled over the last 10 years, despite falling birth rates.’ Currently, there are over 750,000 children in the orphanage system and hundreds of thousands more living in the streets. The goal of Orphan Outreach in Russia is to involve and empower local churches to do the work of orphan care. The ministry focus is on orphan graduates – those orphans who are leaving the orphanage system. Without essential living skills, education, or employment possibilities, many of these young people resort to addictions, prostitution, or suicide. To help prevent such outcomes, Orphan Outreach has begun to support local orphanages and ministries to bridge a child’s transition from orphan-care to independent living.

(a picture of my own collection)

So here is what we need — We need bracelets. As many bracelets as you can muster. They can be hemp, woven, or beaded handmade bracelets. The one major requirement is that they are handmade. This is a great project for kids and groups to be involved. So please start rallying your groups. Make as many bracelets as you can. Let’s get together and craft these bracelets! For any of you college ladies who may be reading, let’s do this! 

The deadline for this project is June 15, 2011.

Please leave a comment on this post so we know how many people will be participating. 

Spread hope!

Crafty To-do list

So, as promised, I’m going to give you a little snippet of what’ve top on my to-do list currently....although, in all honesty, this list is never ending.

Feather-Light Hair Flowers

Large Layered Flower Pin

I have so many embroidery hoops that need to be put to good use, anyone else think this Hoop Art is nothin’ short of precious? 

I think these would be such a huge hit for gifts. 

Paper bag skirt - Make It and Love It

 ok, these? Guess the price tag on these babies. 

Hm, how about a whoopin’ $65! 

Buy them here, BUT I’m gonna be recreating these soon, FOR SURE.

I have TONS of zippers, and have been saving them for this purpose exactly. love.

More rosette necklaces that i hope to be adding to the collection very very soon.

Now, isn’t this gorgeous?! 

I think I can make this Anthropologie-look-alike, for about a third of the price. 

 Love the classic simplicity of these clips. I hope to move to a more cleaner refined look (like these) in my creations. It definitely takes more time and precision, but the end result looks so much better! 

 So, what about you? What’s on your list? What do you think I should tackle from this list first? Have a happy monday, friends!