What She Said....

Please pray y'all!

http://www.graspingforobjectivity.com/2011/04/alabama.html

Warning: Do Not Ask Me To Pick Out Paint Colors

It's true, people. The paint color in the pictures you are about to see has been picked out by yours truly. *round of applause* No, seriously, do not applause me. It looks like, well, what she writes a lot about. (I'm too scared to use that word on my blog or maybe you can guess once you see it.) By the way, the first three pictures don't show the true paint color. Also, ignore the fact that one of our ceiling fans on our back porch doesn't have a cover. But, thats beside the point. (Sometimes, I have to let out all the imperfections to see the perfections. Hence why I said those things above.) 

Anyway, Secret Church came around again and, like always, Clay brought some guys to experience it. 

After the event was over, they came back to our house for more time in the Word. Or should I say discussion about the Word. And, some food. (we'll talk about my grammar later, too. ;) ) 

This is what they were all looking at in the previous picture. 

The normal picture....

L to R: Clay, Justin #2, Justin #1, Jojo, Matt, Ash, Josh, Dad, Joel, and Jason. (Note: Jojo and Matt did not come with Clay)

The "Time of Your Life" Picture.....

Personally, I like it when Clay brings guys to our house. And not just because their guys (lol) but, because their men...in training. Warrior-Poets seeking after God. Maybe they do this because I'm a girl but, all their conversations when I was around or close by without them knowing it, were focused on Christ. At 1 AM after Secret Church they all gathered around the kitchen table for an hour and talked about what they had just sat through. And the next morning they had an hour long devotion. Yeah, I think these men are headed in the right direction.  

To "The Guys", thanks for coming and I hope to see y'all again sometime!

Your Not So Average American Wedding (And Jessa's First "Session")

(For all who don't know, Jessa is the name of my NikonD3000 and this was the first wedding where I shot with a professional camera.)

Some people may not get this. Actually, I don't think anybody will unless you know about Radical. Our pastor has been preaching on this subject for awhile now and he wrote a book on it. So, this sweet couple decided to have a Radical Wedding. Yes, you read that correctly, a Radical Wedding. An average wedding cost over $28,000 and they pulled it off with $1306. Yes, you read that correctly, $1,306.00. There were some differences than what an average wedding looked like. First, it was an outdoor ceremony and reception at the groom's mom's house. Second, the ceremony only lasted 10-11 minutes. Yes, you read that correctly, 10-11 minutes. (There were only two bridesmaids and the aisle was pretty short. :) ) Third, their parents cooked all the food for the reception. And last but, not least, they served zero alcohol.

I really enjoyed this wedding and hope that there will be more like this in the future! :)

Please enjoy the pictures and please bear with me as I am not that great of a photographer.....yet :) 

Stay tuned for Part 2 - The Reception! :) 

Follow Friday

Hi everyone! I decided to start a feature on my blog called "Follow Friday". (my apologies to Twitter and the like! :) )

Every other Friday, I will mention a few of my blog friends and their blogs! I will encourage you to follow them and hopefully you will make new friends! :)

Okay, I would like to start with this wonderful blog and southern lady, she has a lot of DIY and Home decorating tips, and shows off cute little houses too(!). Her name is Rhoda and she blogs @ Southern Hospitality.  One of my favorite features on her blog is Feature Friday! Through that, I have fallen in love with Meadow Brook Farm and, recently, this cute little house! :) She used to live very close to me and, because life changes, she has moved back in with her parents for now. Why don't y'all go on over and introduce yourself! ;)

Now, I just have to mention this one this week, primarily because of her recent posts. Believe it or not, I met Mrs. Allison, along with her three kids, in a checkout lane at Publix a couple of years ago. (She shares some of the story here.) Its been a privilege getting to know her and family through this fantastic blog! And follow their adoption journey too!! She is also a professional photographer who knows how to catch precious moments in a photograph! Her latest post should inspire you and marvel at how great our God is!!


For the third and final one for today, I am proud to introduce.........My Mother!!! (I really had no choice in the matter considering she is my mom. :) ) This was supposed to be our FAMILY blog but, alas, it has turned into a book blog. :/  Y'all should still go and check her out (and not just because she's my mother)! :)

If you decide to follow in my footsteps, please let me know in the comments and I'll be happy to drop by! :)

Day 18 - Your favorite birthday

I don't know what my favorite birthday was.....I'll have to think about that.


Maybe it was my cooking party, or the time I turned my house into a castle.
Maybe it was the time I went to pump it up or had a water balloon fight in my own backyard.

Whatever birthday was my favorite, I will always remember the people who were there with me through it.

My family.


So, I guess the verdict is out.

My favorite birthdays are the birthdays I spend with my family.


'Nuff said.

Day 17 - Something you regret

I regret not saying things when I should.
I regret not keeping silent.
I regret the mistakes I've made, the friends that I've pushed away, and the things I haven't done.
I regret not saying Goodbye or Hello.
I regret looking for something that wasn't there.

I regret a lot of things....

But, the one thing I have regretted the most is the way I've treated God. I've only read my Bible just to get through it. I've prayed habitually just to get over with it. I've even just sang the worship songs mindlessly just to say that I did it.

Don't worry, that was before Lent started and maybe a couple of weeks into the season.

BUT, that doesn't excuse my attitude, behavior, or mindset.

I gave up secular music during the time of Lent. Yes, it was a struggle at the beginning and it still is a struggle but, I have grown in my relationship with the LORD through worship of Him. I had become so self-centered that when I worshipped on Sunday morning, I was actually worshipping myself. I didn't even know what I was singing and I could barely push away self to worship Him. My Creator. Healer. King. Savior. The very Man who died for me and bore the punishment for my sins, the wrong things I have committed, I couldn't even sing  His praise. It was sad and I knew I needed to change so, this is what I did. Its been hard but, SO worth it! I'm even contemplating not putting it back on my handy dandy little touch.* It's been wonderful!! No, really it has! :)


So, I'll leave you with these verses and a song....

"My lips will shout for joy, 

when I sing praises to you;

my soul also, which you have redeemed." 

- Psalm 71:23

"Your way, O God, is holy. 

What god is great like our God?"

- Psalm 77:13

"There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

nor are there any works like yours.

All the nations you have made shall come 

and worship before you, O Lord, 

and shall glorify your name. 

For you are great and do wondrous things;

you alone are God. 

Teach me your way, O LORD,

that I may walk in your truth;

unite my heart to fear your name. 

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, 

and I will glorify your name forever. 

For great is your steadfast love toward me;

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 

- Psalm 86:8-13 

Song: I Don't Regret by Barlow Girl


(*side note: there's this thing called "Turn-Off TV Week" and I'm contemplating that too!)

Day 16 - Your first kiss

Wow.

I wasn't old enough to remember. But, I think it was when I was just minutes old. I received my first kiss from my dad. :)

yeah...I kinda surprised you there, didn't I? ;)

Spring

What does your spring look like?