Friday, February 26, 2010

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Crazy Love

Call me an old fashioned girl, but my favorite music is comprised of vocal standards, light jazz, and oldies.  Yes, I like an eclectic mix of rock, R & B, musical soundtracks, and alternative/funk/etc.  But for the most part I love Frank Sinatra, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, and Harry Connick, Jr.  Bring on the Dean Martin, Tony Bennet, and Bing Crosby, too.

I love to listen to music when I'm cooking, baking, and cleaning.  My mood sometimes shifts to up tempo latin music if I'm cooking a Mexican-style meal or if I'm exercizing.

Most recently on my playlist is Michael Buble's Crazy Love album.  My lovely husband bought it for me for my birthday...and I am really enjoying it.  I really dig the classic sounds of "All I Do is Dream of You" and "Stardust."  The duet, "Baby (You've Got What it Takes)" is loads of fun.

I'm a fan.  You can click here to listen to samples from the album.  If you get it, let me know what you think!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Fun with Photos!

Here's another photo for Friday.  If you or someone you know is planning a wedding, this is a great idea for the bride & groom and their guests.  Get a photo booth.  The couple will end up with fun pictures of everyone and the guests get to take home a memento from the event.

Photo Friday

Here's a blast from the past:

From our trip to Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  Back in 2003--whew, can't believe it's been so long!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Love

Okay, so Valentine's Day already came and went.

Better late than never.

I LOVE MY HUSBAND!  God was gracious to me when He blessed me with my husband.  He is my brother in Christ, my best friend, my companion, the shoulder I cry on, the person I love to laugh with the most, and my true love.

I can honestly say that I love my husband more now than I even could have imagined when we were first married--and I loved him so much then!  Watching his love for the Lord grow and how he's developed into such a strong yet gentle man has blessed my heart.

So, Happy (belated) Valentine's to everyone.  May you find and keep your once-in-a-lifetime love by the grace of God.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Friday, February 5, 2010

Trust Walk

Things are crazy...but good.

This is already a BIG year.  We are so incredibly blessed and we are living by faith each day.

Both of us are redefining our visions of success, family, maturity, and goals.  It's a daunting, yet EXCITING time for us.  We're poised to experience many major changes this year and all of it is requiring that we place our complete trust in God.  It's challenging!

Especially for me.

I'm a planner by nature.  I like lists.  I like checking things OFF of my lists.  I like knowing what to expect and when to expect it.  I like having a plan.  I'm not a control freak.  I'm actually pretty flexible.  I just like having some structure to things and knowing what comes next.

Right now, everything is out of my control.  But that's a good thing.  I'm learning SO MUCH through this.

Redefining your life is a humbling experience.

Success is no longer measured by a paycheck, but by the value my life has in investing in others.  Family is not just flesh and blood, but also our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Maturity doesn't mean having all the answers, but being comfortable admitting that you don't while also having the discipline to seek and find those answers.  It still requires silliness, youthfulness, and plenty of laughter.  And goals...well, let's just say that I'm working on letting God determine my goals, both short term and long term.  It's hard to break old habits.  It takes time and purposeful effort.  I've spent most of my life seeking to have the perfect job, status, paycheck, marriage, 2.5 kids, house with a white picket fence, and everything else this world tells me to value...but really, those things don't bring satisfaction and can really be very shallow.

I want more than that:  I want real substance.

For me, that means more of God and less of my petty desires.

He must increase, but I must decrease. ~ John 3:30