Sparkling Green Earrings- Melanie Shankle

This book is similar to "A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet" in that is a book written by a southern mom and full of wisdom. This book showed up on my Kindle recommended list after reading another one of Big Mama's books (Antelope in the Living Room). Oh yeah, Big Mama is Melanie Shankle... I hope I have a cool nickname like that sometime in this life of mine. 

Anyways, this book is basically gold. It is chalk full of realism, wisdom, and hilarity. I know I am not a mother yet, but I think this book is just a little glimpse into the life of motherhood. I highlighted basically the whole book and journaled my favorite excerpts.  I want to share those with you, who am I kidding I want to share these mostly with myself since I am the one who reads this jibber jabber. 

"Real motherhood is different.  It's better and its messier and it's more complicated. It will break your heart and make you laugh harder than you ever imagined. You find yourself alternating between feeling like your friends talked you into some pyramid scheme so you could share in their misery and thinking this is the most fulfilling thing you've ever done in your life."- Big Mama

Love those words. I hope I can remember them when I step into the season of motherhood. Life is messy, complicated, and awesome! 

Just like Boo Mama, Big Mama has the ability to throw some words at you that really hit you in the gut...well at least they did for me. 

1st world problem- Oh, we can't have a baby right now because we have to go to Colorado and ski, then to Italy to tour.... Hello it's not our plan! God is in control! God works on His timetable not ours! 

Wow... those words were like a punch in the gut. I find myself saying that crap to not only myself but actually out loud to people sometimes. How incredibly selfish am I to think that I am going to plan when we actually have a baby when the only reason I am even here today is that its God's plan? Yep, Big Mama got it right when she said 1st world problem. 

"God doesn't always answer prayers as we expect- - He answers better!"

Super thankful for that truth... God's plan is always immeasurably better than my plan! There's that phrase again, I just love it! I need to write it on my walls. 

Big Mama also had a specific verse that she prayed over for her baby- Isaiah 44:3-5. 

"He may take away the Earthly things we look to for comfort and security so that we can feel Him better and love Him more." 

"He takes our disappointments, rejections, and hard times, and he makes something beautiful. He creates life and shows us what beauty looks like in places where we look and see nothing."

"He blesses us beyond our imaginations, in spite of all the broken roads we've walked. He reminds u that he sees us-nut just for who we are at any given moment, but for what we could be one day."

Woo wee... those three truths are huge! 

Big Mama reminds us through the stories of her baby girl that the "days are long, but the years are short".

"Looking back the sweetest things are often the hardest."

Big Mama said that "having a child was the beginning of a glimpse into the kind of love Christ has for us. Sacrificial love. Love that doesn't keep score. Love that isn't dependent on whats in it for me. Love that is consuming and protective and unconditional."

Y'all, just a glimpse into the love Christ has for us, that is HUGE! I am not even a mom, but I know the kind of love my mom has for me and the kind of love my sister in laws have for their kids. That kind of love is fierce. 

Big Mama shares her prayer for the future and I just couldn't and haven't been able to shake it. "I want to be home. I want to have time to bake cookies and haze lazy morning watching Bert & Ernie with a snuggle girl in pajamas who was;t going to be little forever". Yes and Amen are my thoughts on that. 

"Kids- we like to believe they are better versions of us, but the truth is, they are us." If that statement doesn't make you want to be the best person you can be then I don't know what's wrong with you. I see that truth every time I am around my nieces and nephews and sister and brother in laws. 

"God gives us these raw, little people, and we have to form them and mold them and teach them how to operate in society. And if we get a glimpse of all the ugliness that lies right beneath our own polished surface? Thats a humbling lesson."

"Having bad manners is worse than having no money"- Suzanne Sugerabaker, but maybe can take a cue from the toddlers and not filter out all the real parts.- Big Mama

--I told you this book was full of gold!-- more wisdom ahead!

"The kids aren't going to get it right every time, but neither are we. Our job as mothers is to do the best we can to teach our children that life is better and friendships are richer when we treat others with kindness, when we use nice words, and remember to share. To remember that people have a few cracks in their hearts even if we can't see them and that love is always the best response."

**Trust God... Jump into the deep end with Him!

"You will never be fully prepared. Only the reality of doing something every day prepares you for what it is really like." 

Well if that isn't another shot in the gut I don't know what is... This truth is something I need taped to my forehead. 

"You can't give your kids perfection- thats where the grace of God enters and he fills the gaps". - such a comforting statement 

"God can't take us anywhere if we keep clinging to little bits of the past".

Big Mama stated that God's theme in her life tended to be "like ok you're in the comfort zone let's keep moving". I think we have all probably heard that God does most of his work in growing you when you are out of your comfort zone, but boy is it hard to listen sometimes. At least for me it is... if it's not for you I need to read your book.

"Sometimes the best families are the ones God builds using unexpected pieces of our hearts."

"Motherhood gives us the first true flips of how God loves us. The kind of love that is irrevocable, unrelenting, unconditional. It's the closest humans get to living out 1 Corinthians 13. Motherhood is a Holy Communion with goldfish crackers and juice boxes". 

"Nothing survives when it's being smothered. Life, real life, requires being free to move about in the great big ocean, not being cradled in little hot hands that will stifle independence and creativity. We can't keep our kids in a bucket and expect them to go far."

"Raising a child is a fleeting moment in time that sometimes gets swallowed up in the daily routine of car pools and soccer practice and it is the most important thing we will do. It's the daily balance of treasuring the moments even as we wish some of them away. It's treading water in a sea of imperfections. It's a delicate balance of guilt and joy."

Daniel 112:3 "...Shine bright." Prayer for the babies!

** When we loosen our grip he tightens His.

"He doesn't make mistakes. He loves unconditionally. His plans and purposes are perfect. He created her/him with a purpose and a plan for this time, this generation." - for the babies

"God is always there. Watching, catching, loving, and molding her into the person she was created to be. She's safer in His group than she'll ever be in mine."

A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet- Sophia Hudson

Also known as, one of my most favorite easy reads ever! My mother-in-law stumbled upon Miss Boo Mama's blog and soon after told me to read this book ASAP. I remember reading it right after finishing up my first semester of graduate school when I thought I was going to die and the last thing I wanted to do was read. But, boy was I wrong. I am so glad I read this book and now I read everything that is written by her or any of her friends. They make me laugh and I kind of just want to be them sometimes.

Some of my favorite things that Miss Sophie wrote I highlighted and jotted down in my journal and want to remember forever. Miss Sophie is a hoot and a half (I think that would be a phrase she would say) and she is a lovely southern gal so you can't help but love her. These are her words, not mine, I just wanted to write them down for my memory and because y'all need to read this book!

"The welcome mat is out, the crazy is on full display, and there's always room for one more around our table." - the southerner's motto

I want to remember and keep this motto in mind- ya know you can't ever have too many bodies at a dinner table. Speaking of which... I can't wait to have an actual dinner table!

Love... is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by the grace which both partners ask and receive from God.- C.S. Lets

Boy am I glad we receive grace from God because He knows I need it.... a lot of it. My love habits sometimes a lot of the time stink.

"Life with kids: fun and fulfilling, it can be an also and a choice. "- wow Miss Sophie way to open my eyes... so you're telling me having kids can be a definitive choice or just an also. Way to make this baby fever/pusher awayer? open her eyes.

"Having a wedding is easy, being married is hard". Enough said.

"God is so much better than I deserve"- AMEN sister!

Miss Sophie was talking about Ephesians 3:20-21 as she was talking about her plans vs. God's plans. God's plans are "immeasurably more" and I just love that phrase. God prepares you for it even when it's nowhere on your to do list. That God of ours, sure am thankful for Him.

...Learned to listen and to laugh, to forgive, some Earthly love is unconditional God is always at work in the day to day.

"Sometimes the Lord has to take us back to a place we've been so He can remind us how far we've come."

Good news- He can meet us anywhere.

Miss Sophie states that "the character of a marriage is forged in the difficult times when you're grappling with heartbreak or illness or disappointment or even betrayal."

She spoke about a specific verse that she prayed over for her baby and I think I highlighted and circled that verse twice. Ephesians 3:16-19

She also stated a simple fact of life- "Southerners love their grandmothers"! Yes they do!

God is always doing something the very best thing, the thing we ourselves would certainly choose if we knew the end from the beginning He is at work to bring us to our full glory- Elisabeth Elliot

His plan is always greater than our plans.

Remember the Lord's goodness. Say it out loud. Thank Him for what He has done for you in the past. Make a list of what you've seen Him do in your life. Speak it. Remember.

I haven't done this yet, but writing down here again makes me want to do this.

"Life isn't always easy sometimes you will get your feelings hurt, sometimes you may even be the one who does the hurting, but you stay with it. And you get after it, and you love each other, and you forgive, and you keep coming back to the table."

Sometimes I don't want to go back to the table, but life is beautiful even when its messy so Miss Sophie's statement is a good reminder to keep on trucking.

**"At the dinner table the Lord gets to work. He knits together our hearts, strengthens our bonds, and connects our narratives. The table is where he links generations, where he prompts us t join hands and bow head and remember and laugh and pass our stories back and forth to each other."

I have always loved family dinners and I think I have figured out why... As Miss Sophie says, the table is where God is doing work!

Christmas is coming!

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I love the lights, the trees, the joy, and so much more! However, since becoming a Christian this holiday season means SO much more. God sent His one and only Son to Earth. He sent his beloved child to be born to a virgin woman. He sent His boy to this hurtful, scary, and sometimes horrible world for me. He did that for us. Christ is born and for that I am forever thankful.

Last year was my first year to do any type of advent and I chad bought the Naptime Diaries calendar. I loved it and came back for this years! This years advent is even better, it comes with the cards (that are so pretty and awesome) as well as a journal. Y'all should go check it out if you haven't already.

I can't wait for all that comes with this season. With that said, here is my decor that I put up in our little home this year.

This is the ornament we got in Disney World... the date is the day we got engaged!

every vacation we get an ornament and they are so much fun to see each year

This ornament I made from my wedding bouquet. The picture was on my bouquet and is my Uncle Jackie who has passed. 

 I tried taking pictures with Deuce in front of the tree... That turned out just as well as you would imagine!

Love Makes The World Go Round

    The other day I was reading my daily 1-minute devotional that I get from You Version on my i phone... The topic was "divorce prevention" and it provided a startling statistic. It stated that 1 in 2 marriages will fail... I knew the divorce rate was high and I have actually seen the new textbooks say the divorce rate is 50%, but seeing the numbers 1 in 2 really blew me away.

The devotional passage went on to state that there are 12 words that should be spoken and lived out daily.
     These words were:
       " I love you"
       " I admire you"
       " I was wrong"
       " Please forgive me"

The passage also stated that expressing love and admiration are the ingredients for divorce prevention. I could not agree more... If only we humans could love as God loved. If only we could look past all of the issues and the ugly stuff. This also got me thinking about the love dogs show us.

I have written about a dog's love before, but I do not think I expressed the need for this type of love. I just wish that we could all love as our dogs love us. A dog's love is always unconditional. A dog's love never comes with "ifs, ands, or buts". A dog's love is never untrusting. I was reminded of this excerpt from the movie and book "Marley and Me" and I think it explains the love we need to have quite perfectly.

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. 

A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. 

It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. 

As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see."  ― John Grogan

I just wish that everyone in the whole world could have a love so pure, but I know that is near impossible. I also know that type of love is waiting for me in heaven and I could not be more grateful. I wish I could see more of it on a daily basis down here on Earth... Until then I will continue to cling to the people who do love me and hold tight to the many dogs that hold a huge place in my heart. 

Jesus Napped

Source

Today while searching the internet and creeping looking through blogs I stumbled upon this. Pastor Mark Driscoll is the lead pastor at Mars Hill church and he blogs over here... I have watched a couple of his podcasts and I follow him on Twitter. He is a pretty inspirational and amazing guy. Anyways, this blog post was about napping. Particularly that we should nap because Jesus napped. You should go check it out...

I know that in this crazy, multi-tasking, busy, "get it done as fast as possible" world it is hard to just lay down and relax. Pastor Mark explains that while on Earth we will get tired, just like Jesus.

Luke 8: 23 states "Jesus settled down for a nap."

Now I am going to go nap. You should too! :) 

Jesus Calling

   Over the past two years I have had the privilege of being a part of an amazing bible study in Stillwater. God placed me in a group of senior girls that would touch my heart more than they will ever know. Our bible study leader, Nacoe, threw a graduation party last week for everyone... well I still have one more year, but she (being her sweet self) did not want to leave me out.

I feel so blessed to have known each of these ladies and am so happy that I will continue my relationship with them. Nacoe and her husband gave each of us the Jesus Calling devotional. Nacoe has read to us out of her devotional a couple times throughout the semester and I was wanting to buy one. I was happily surprised when she gifted these to us! I started reading out of it this week and I love it...

So here is a passage from today's devotional that I wanted to share.

   Living in this world we know and have come to expect that life is full of ups and downs. We know that we are not going to get through anything without having at least a little problem. I know this fact and I know that this is how life is, but I still seem to forget it every now and then. This passage reminded me that I do not need to worry about the problems that are inevitable because I have God on my side and he has already conquered all our problems. 

This passage states that we "will have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven." Sigh.... what a relief. How amazing is it that we have a problem-free heaven to look forward to. That statement definitely took a weight of worry off of my shoulders. I constantly worry about things that I have no control over, this is something that I am working on. It is an ongoing process. Reading this passage today has just filled me with hope for my day and my whole life. 

I know God has a plan for me and my life. I know that He will use me as He wants. I just pray that I open my eyes and my heart to hear everything He tells me and shows me. This week I am going to do as this passage says and take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that God and I can handle.

I encourage you, whoever you are, reading this to do the same. Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."