perspective

I had a very well-timed and thoughtful chat with my lovely friend last night after small group. We both feel like we're in a state of limbo. Like we aren't too satisfied with how our lives are currently, but don't quite know what to do next.

Near the end she brought up a great point about how maybe this time in our lives is what's actually a crucial point in it. Maybe it's more important than the times we think we know what we're doing?

And I think there is something to that. If you have a different perspective than the culture we live in, that is.

We've been feeling like failures because of the influence culture has had on our thinking:

"You didn't get xyz degree, you don't have xyz job, you don't have anything figured out, so there must be something wrong with you..."

But then I have to ask, "What has been your definition of success? What do you value in life?"

And it's a hard one to answer... Because I think I get caught up somewhere in between what the world wants for me and what God wants for me far more often than I care to admit.

I so want to be entirely focused on what He values and wants for me and not the other way around!

And so... the limbo parts of my life can be just as important...

Will my life get snatched & consumed by the culture I live in?

Or will I continue valuing what God does and therefore feel purpose & dignity?

I'm definitely shooting for purpose & dignity...

more cake & flowers, just for fun

I enjoyed decorating my own birthday cake so much (which I do every year) that when I got my Real Simple in the mail and found their section on cakes, I was very excited to try it out! It was A LOT of work making it all from scratch (not to mention time consuming!) but I was very happy with the result!

We shared it at small group last night and it seemed to go over well. I was worried about the strawberries staying fresh so I kept it in the fridge and the cake was a little bit denser (is that a word?) than I would have liked, but it was still very tasty!

Lemon Strawberry Cake

(which consists of : yellow cake, lemon curd filling, lemon frosting, and fresh strawberries)

(Recipe from Real Simple April Issue)

Daffodils from Trader Joe's and Roses from my front yard:

cake

I decorate my own birthday cakes, since I'm the creative one!

Homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting-- My favorite cake by far!

peach roses are one of my favorites

Even my front yard gave me a gift for my birthday!

isaiah 41:9-10

"I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God."

best birthday gift ever

In light of the recent events in my life, my insecurities have seemed to multiply like bunnies...

Any sort of stability I had two months ago seemed to come tumbling down in such a short time.

There was death...

There was being fired...

There was loosing confidence in my talents...

There was loosing what I thought was a friend...

There was moving to a new home... (which was voluntary, but nonetheless, change)

There is still not being hired...

There is still more uncertainty to come because that's what life brings...

But I'm getting more clarity.

And... I'm becoming thankful for it all.

I don't know how I can say that other than by the grace of God.

He's teaching me more about relying on Him...

And it's exciting!

I'm reading So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore and all I can say is--

perfect timing, again, Lord!

The truths I'm learning and the freedom I'm beginning to feel are powerful.

love him

I'm doing laundry at my parents today and came across a picture we took on our hike on christmas day last year :

I really love that man.

vonnie

My parents decided to try looking for another dog. They found a basenji rescue site and decided to adopt a basenji/rat terrier mix from a couple in utah. The couple who had her found her at their local humane society but she ended up being too high energy for them. They wanted to find her a home where she could run around in a backyard and get more exercise.

Since they didn't have a yard and both worked so much they wanted to find her a home that would let her have both. My parents love going on walks and have a yard so they thought it would work out well for Vonnie. Since she's also not a pure-bread, they thought that might mean she won't get sick like all their other pets have.

I rode up with them to the Utah/Arizona boarder to pick her up this weekend.

She's one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met!

She's got such peaceful eyes and loves to give kisses!

She loves sitting on laps and being a close as possible to people!

Hanging out in her new yard (even if it's all rock, it's still a yard!)

She's just adorable.

Since Andrew and I can't have a pet of our own (mostly for money reasons now) I can get in my doggy fix at my parents again!

Pets are definitely not more important than most things in life. But they sure do make some things more interesting and fun. And I'm glad my family can find some happiness in having animals around.

note to self

So cheesy but true none-the-less...

For your birthday this year, I'm giving you a whopping pile of growing pains...

I know they're going to be painful,

make you doubt,

make you cry,

make you want to run away,

make you want to give up.

But if you get through them...

it's going to be so worth it.

-God

more kiddoes

Since my niece & nephew are so darn cute, I can't resist posting more pictures of them :

new living room

We're getting settled into our new place and our living room is the closest to being "finished" so I thought I'd share...

For having nearly all of our stuff given to us, it fits together pretty well...

I draped the fabric I'll be covering our pillows with since we haven't sewn them yet, haha...

Got this chair at a thrift store for $15!

Thanks to the Muellers for the side table!

We have a rose bush out front that's been blooming. They smell wonderful, too!

My dad tunes pianos and was given this 1800's upright a couple years ago and promised it to me once we had space for it... it's fits perfectly in our home!

Music set-up