Nesting

One day I will have my own house. One day I will be able to decorate, move and create all that I want. That season of life is not at the moment, so I will put it all together in my head.  (before you get all preachy, I know all this will probably never happen, buy I will continue to be my mothers daughter. I will go to the stores and create wish list online.)

Some things I like come and go, but there are a few that are must haves. Even if I live in a double-wide out in Loyd with a pet goat.

One, is outside will be an extension of the house. I don't know where I will live or end up, but even in Florida where the weather is only nice for 3 months out of the year, I must have these strung across the porch:

And my kitchen will have counter tops like these

and a sink like this one: 

Also, I would like to have a fancy, crazy, eclectic chandelier. Like this one:

And a funky chair that would sit next to the over stuffed chocolate brown couch, with the bare brick fireplace as the focal point and black and white pictures of my husband and 2 1/2 kids. 

The first step? Marry rich. 

OH! and fresh flowers are a must. 

Pie

There are many things and ideas I am always bouncing around in my head.
One is my own baking shop, cafe or something of the sort. Lately it has been pie.

Thats right- a pie shop.

Did you know that outside of a lil shop in Crawfordville (that doesn't even specialize in pie) there is no pie shops in the Big Bend area? No place you can go, grab a piece of cool key lime goodness, a cup of coffee and chat.

If I had a pie shop I would name it "Laura Jeans" 

It would have to consist of at least 2 design elements:

A wall full of books! 

Everything from Jane Austen to Stephanie Meyer to Tolken to Moses. 

And then, bare brick. There is something timeless and classic about looking at a bare brick wall and knowing it is seeping with history and is yearning to tell stories of its own. 

At this wondrous pie shop, there would be cozy chairs, over stuffed love seats and a mood that sparks thought and enables an escape. 

But, most importantly we would have Pie. 

Spring would be filled with chilled Key Lime and a zest of Lemon Meringue  

Summers would over flow with the classic crispness of Apple pies dripping with a la mode. 

The Autumn falls, so would the Pumpkin and Pecans.

As the Holidays approached, Cheesecake and Razzelberries would keep us warm. 

Of course we have warm quiche, cute lil pies, and

 all the espresso you could obtain without dropping your fork.

WHO WANTS PIE? 

A case of the Mondays

   All I want to do is leave this place. To step outside this building and let the sweet sunshine hit my face. To know that I can take off my shoes, let the grass crawl between my toes, and allow my shutter speed capture the day. To enjoy the light breeze and let go of the breath I have been holding in. 

"For you will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." Psalm 18: 28

Questionnaire

Just because its a slow day at work... and I am a Curious George.

1. What is your favorite band right now? (can even be a Pandora station)

2. When you are not feeling too hot and you are forced to suck it up and go about your day- what do you crave as a comfort?

3. Favorite "dang it, I am having a fat day" outfit.

4. If there was nothing holding you back- what would you do with your life?

5. Secret talent you wished you had?

6. good book lately?

7. pet-peave you can never let yourself do

8. name on things that you are looking forward to.

9. half empty or half full?

10. are you a dreamer or a realist?

Fall

Last night in my 1st and 2nd grade class, I was teaching the story of Moses. In the middle of the story, right as I was about to blare my trumpet, the youth decided to play our anthem. And without fail, all my 7 year olds fell into FSU unison, ending with

"FLORIDA STATE! FLORIDA STATE! FLORIDA STATE! WHOOOO!!!!"

(No worries, we finished with moses.)

But it once again reminded me, that in less then 48 hours I will be here:

I am so ready.

Forgotten God

Currently I am reading the new book by Francis Chan called "Forgotten God" and ultimately the only adjective I can think of to describe it is mind blowing. Most would read the title of the book and question what he is talking about, but to have it spelled out and broken down to be brought to your face- that yes, the church and the Christian body as a whole has forgotten our God. We have forgotten the most powerful tool and essence of our God: the Holy Spirit.

  When I pick up the book, I always pick up the high lighter to go with it. I think the book is bathed in neon pink and yellow. Last nights reading was no different.

"I don't want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. I want people to look at my life and know that I couldn't be doing this by my own power. I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through. That if He doesn't come through, I am screwed..."

  What a challenge: to not have the markings of you on your own life. To have the complete earnest desire to see the Holy Spirit working in you and nothing of yourself. To take a step back from your own steps and see if you notice that the only reason life is going the way it is, is because your hand prints are not on it. 

"I deeply desire that the Spirit of God would do things that I know are not of me and that cannot be faked or accounted for by human reason."

Forgotten Mission

   A friend of mine from school asked me to write a devotion for his church newsletter. Of course i was willing to help out. Hope you are blessed:

We live in a world that is often a reminder of the sin that fills our days. The news and media are a constant reminders of the realm in which we are living. But, every once in awhile, you hear of the people whose light is able to defeat the darkness. We hear the stories and lives of the brave missionaries and courageous pastors who have made an eternal difference in our world. We read about the lives and follow the stories of men and women who have made a difference. And it begs the question- what about me?

The majority of us are just ordinary people. Our mission field is not in some foreign country or living in a slum. Most of us don’t spend our weeks preparing for a sermon that will affect people’s lives or write books about something spiritual that will benefit thousands. In actuality, we most likely work in an office full of lost people or go to a school full of hard hearts. Yet, the realization that our “ordinary” lives are a mission field placed in front of us by the Lord Himself is one that we cannot ignore. We may be ordinary people, but we have been given an extraordinary gift. That gift is the Holy Spirit, living inside each of us.

We cannot step outside our front door without the eternal mindset of knowing the commandment that was given “to go and make disciples.” Going doesn’t necessarily mean to a foreign country or even leaving your everyday routine. It just means we must realize that we were given a commission and that we cannot allow our lives go on without the hand-print of our Lord Jesus.

“Then he said, ‘If YOUR presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.’”

 Exodus 33:15