Grace & True Love

Grace. By Phil Wickham
The sky is grey and the light is far
The sea is a rage within my heart
I turn my sight to the crashing waves
I cry in the night just to be saved

I need eyes to be my guide
I need a voice that’s louder than mine
I need hope I need You
Cause I can’t do this alone

Grace I call Your name
Oh won’t Your smile fall over me
I’m cracked and dry on hands and knees
Oh sweet grace rain down on me I need You grace

I pray for dawn a new day to live
I pray for mercy only Jesus gives
Though darkness falls and a million cry
I believe over all there’s a greater light shining for us

Come down and save me

I love this song and with the music it's even better. I'm craving grace in my life lately. I don't think I can ever get enough. The thing is I am FINALLY beginning to understand that my Father's grace from above is given and in limitless amounts. All that I have to do is accept it. Done. But I'm learning that to the degree that I 'know' and comprehend God's grace towards me, that is the degree of grace that I will have towards others. Therefore if I'm not extending grace to those around me, then I'm not understanding the grace that God is granting to me. That grace He gives that is renewing by the second! The very fact that I am still breathing yells multitudes of grace on my life!! Believe me, I'm not perfect {most of you know this ;p} and am constantly being put back on my heels because I push through this life daily thinking I have the power, the ability, the strength to do it myself. And some of you know, very well, the pain that can be caused to myself as well as to the people around me. But God is good and merciful and FULL of GRACE! Thank goodness that He is ready and willing... and just waiting to pour it out on us.

I want to choose to accept it!

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Come close listen to the story
About a love more faithful than the morning
The Father gave his only son just to save us

The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the Father's broken heart
Tears were filling heaven's eyes
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died

Search your heart, you know you can't deny it
Come on, lose your life just so you can find it
The Father gave his only son just to save us

The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the father's broken heart
Tears were filling heaven's eyes
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died

Now Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
oh He is alive
He rose again

When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died

Come close listen to the story

How someone can write, read, or hear these words and not get chills, get tears, get some sort of emotion is truely beyond me.

Jesus is the story of True Love. He was a perfect man, sinless {look for yourself in the bible, find something He did wrong} and then proceeded to die and sinners death. Why? Why would He do something so crazy, so selfless, so humbling, so not what any of us would do?!

True love, that's why.

I love the line in this song also by Phil Wickham that says 'listen to a story about a love more faithful than the morning'. Some times I can hear that line in my head over and over and over, but i never get sick of hearing it. I think its a wonderful thing to be reminded of constantly, of how faithful God really is in our lives. Simple things that prove that faithfulness: Do we question wether or not the sun will go down sometime this evening? Or that sometime in early morning it will rise again? Wow! Yet I doubt sometimes and believe that God may have forgotten about me and even though I don't sit around a think that to myself, my actions show my doubt. My lacking to just trust Him, so I worry about little unimportant things. Stupid things.

'Can't Take my Eyes Off of You'

B got his new glasses today. Although he is lamenting about 'feeling old', I think he looks sexy! I mean it...

I can't take my eyes off of him and every time I look and see his new look I just can't help but smile :) I am so blessed with such a handsome hubby. And best friend!

We are just loving the day today! We have been busy with yard work this morning. Followed by some cat bathing... and then we went to get B's glasses and go to the grocery store. We came home and watched a movie together {I worked on my stitching project} and then we put together an amazing dinner if I do say so myself! I found the recipie... actually I don't remember where I found it, but it's definitely a keeper!! It's from the Biggest Loser Cookbook, but I found it online somewhere... Any who, I'm going to include the recipie on here because I would ABSOLUTELY recommend it to anyone looking for something tasty!!

Putting together the ingrediants...

Just before it goes in to bake, just long enough for the cheese to melt

Southwestern Chicken Pileup:

1 teaspoon salt-free Mexican or Southwest seasoning {we used taco seasoning}

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 small (1/4 lb) boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed visible fat

1 whole wheat pita (6.5" diameter)

2 tablespoons hummus, preferably red-pepper flavor

2 tablespoons no-salt-added canned black beans, drained

Several red onion strips (works better chopped)

Several red bell pepper strips (chopped also)

2 tablespoons chopped tomato

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

2 tablespoons finely shredded cheddar cheese

4 teaspoons guacamole or fat-free sour cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 450 deg F. Preheat grill to high heat.

Sprinkle the seasoning and garlic powder evenly over the chicken. Place the chicken on the grill rack. Reduce the heat to medium. (If it's not possible to reduce the heat, cook the chicken away from heat.) Grill for 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until no longer pink and juices run clear. {*****NOTE: We discovered that using a meat thermometer works so much better with chicken. If you take it off the grill or out of the oven when it reaches 165-170 deg F it will still be juicy instead of dried out. This temp is FDA approved so you won't get sick*****}

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let stand for 5 minutes. Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

Meanwhile, place the pita on the grill rack. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, or until lightly toasted. Place the pita on a nonstick baking sheet. Spread evenly with the hummus. Top evenly in layers with the beans, the reserved chicken, onion, red pepper, tomato, cilantro, and cheese.

Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate. Slice into 4 wedges. Top each wedge with a teaspoon of guacamole or sour cream, if desired.

Per Serving: 356 calories, 38 g protein, 38 g carbohydrates, 6 g fat (1g saturated), 68mg cholesterol, 8 g fiber, 489mg sodium

This recipie made more than enough for B and I to eat and be full!! Yum, enjoy!

And last but not least... a few pictures of my new 'Do'...

I have my eye appointment next Monday... and I already have my 'eye' on a cute pair of Kate Spade frames...

Watch out world! Two of the goodest looking old people are coming your way!!! ;p

So far, so good

That is, our weekend has been.

WOW! Things are finally getting to be how I remember them to be, relaxed and much more easy going. So far this weekend has been quite enjoyable, well besides the summer cold I have seemed to pick up from somewhere :( I have had a cough that is vicious since Thursday, but I am pressing on and determined to enjoy my weekend despite it!

Yesterday we went to the zoo, but B and I. We had a wonderful time just hanging out together, almost like we were on a date :o It's a weird concept I know, I mean we are married now. There is no need for dating... ;p We really did have a good time. The only thing that was really a challenge was the 'baby blues' I had seeing all the cute moms with their babies and little ones running around and just so excited to see the animals! There were some really cuties! But every time one of them was misbehaving or screaming and/or crying, B would look at me with these 'We are so waiting' eyes. And I honestly couldn't help but agree. Don't get me wrong, we are severely excited about the time we will start a family of our own {we already have some names picked out...} but we are also so sure that we have the time for that and we are going to enjoy THIS time, where it's just the two of us and no extra responsibility. This right now is time we will NEVER get back once we start having little ones. We realize that once we have kids, we are stuck with them forever, FOREVER!!!

And someday that will be just the right time and place for us... but right now it's just the two of us :)

After the zoo I went and got my haircut, I have been dying to do it for a while now but just wasn't sure how I wanted it, how short that is and what style. But after a scourching hot day at the zoo, I said 'Enough', just cut it, layer it and thin it a little. I love the way it turned out and I've gotten quite a few compliments too!! People have said they like my hair shorter than longer and I would have to say I agree! I don't have a picture yet but I'll try and get one up soon.

Then last night we went to serve and help in the HS youth room at our church! B and I are getting serious about wanting to commit our time to helping out and getting to know the high schoolers. The are thristy for a true relationship with Christ and I am really looking forward to getting to know them and I hope to get a bible study going at our house once school starts. Please be praying about that opportunity if you think of it!

Today was church and more youth stuff. Then I spent the day shopping with my sister Rachael and we made a major find of this little boutique at a mall near my house!! It's so cute and much more affordable than Urban outfitters and Anthropologie. We were so excited and plan to visit much more often. B hung out at home and read and napped, got some much needed rest. Tonight he has a hockey game! I hope they win...

I'm also really thrilled about a purchase I just made for some projects that Im going to be working on...

They are from Heather Bailey's new designer line and I got them on Early Bird Special {10% off!!} I can't wait to get them in and get to work... I just have to wait til after the 14th of August, when they will be shipped out. But I know it will be worth the wait :)

Thanks for tuning in... more to come!

God Bless!

The Weekend: the retreat; the store; the Sunflower Market.

Brandon and I went to our first ever marriage retreat on Friday night! It was really good! We stayed in a pretty nice hotel (normally $360 a night :s) with a group from the church and we had a Pastor from western CO come out with his wife and give a couple sessions. They we hilarious! But they gave practical and helpful advice and wisdom. We were 1 of 2 couples who had been married less than a year! Everyone was impressed that we were coming at such a young starting point and said if they would have had a marriage retreat available and gone when they were starting out, things might have gone a whole lot smoother, especially the first year or so.

The best thing about it was we got to meet other married couples in our age range and just people at our church in general, makes it feel more like a family! We also won a game of who can make the tallest straw tower with just straws and masking tape, but it had to stay standing. Ours won! So we got a free dessert at On the Border and we plan to use it this weekend when we celebrate TWO MONTHS!!! (Thur)

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Since the retreat only lasted til Saturday afternoon, we had the rest of our weekend to relax and take it easy. I'm really getting into my sewing/embroidery projects and gearing up for a possible outline for a future business!!!! My trusty associate and designer... and sister is earning her place on the team, she came up with a catchy name to use and we are in the process of designing a logo right now! I can't wait to get to the point of sharing it all with everyone... but we want to wait until we get it more together and take care of some legal things. I hope to show off some previews of a couple projects I've been busy working on the last couple days....!!!

And I just want to say how much I appreciate my husband who has been so supportive and encouraging, I'm not sure if he is as excited about it yet as I am, but I just know he will be!!

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One last thing I wanted to share is about this incrediable find we found this weekend! The Sunflower Market! It's a health/ support local venues in the state kind of place. They have SO MUCH fresh produce and the prices are jaw dropping!! Everything is so fresh and tasty. They also have a station where you can make your own peanut butter and add things (ie flax seed, etc.) to make it taylored to your needs but it's freshly made right there in front of you... with the peanuts in the grinder and you just crank the wheel that does the magic!!! And the other unique station is the honey station where you can bottle your honey! I mean it comes out of a dispenser and they have differnt types of bottles to choose from, even the honey bear! You just put it under the nozzle and pull the lever and it fills it up!!

A lot of the stuff is organic, but not everything. Actually most things they had both options, a regular and then an organic one. And there was almost NO junk food... but i did end up leaving with a bag of salt water taffy! Yum.

So if your in the neighborhood and want a sweet place to shop at low prices but high in healthy content, you have to try the Sunflower Market!

fairy tale dinner!

Oh my word! Was I surprised with a treat when we got home from work today!! Some of the women from my study came over to the house while we were at work and prepared an excellent and tasty dinner for Brandon and I! The places were set with the meal waiting in the oven for us. There were flowers on the table and a fresh baked chocolate cake for dessert! I was shocked and in awe of the love I have been showered with. It actually brought me to tears.

I wish I would have thought to take a picture or two because they did such a great and adorable job setting it up, but we were so hungry and it smelled so good when we walked in the door, we couldn't help ourselves but sit down say grace and dig in!!

Thank you Jesus for you overflowing mercy and grace that you poured out on my today through three {four including Brandon who was in cahoots} amazing people, so ready to serve and show selfless love on a sister!!! You are worthy of our praise!!!

Sew, It's time to get started!

Brandon helped me set up my sewing/craft room yesterday. We had to move some furniture around and I finally got to take my sewing machine out of the box! {Can you say WAY too busy...} I can't wait to turn it on and start using it :) I have so many projects that I just can't wait to get started. I want to focus on making curtains first for our house. And then, if I have time, have a few smaller projects on the side.

The sewing/ craft room! And some fabrics I picked up at the thrift store.

The Machine

I found several really cute apron patterns and also totes/bags that I think would be so much fun! Who knows, maybe I'll even be able start my own business from our home!

I know, that's a little far off since I haven't even turned the machine on yet... but a girl can dream can't she?! Actually I got to spend the day with my wonderful 'little sister' {she's not really my sister, but I consider her so because I really think we were meant to be related! I love her so much} and we went to the book store and talked over a Starbucks for awhile. Then we hit up a thrift store by my house to see if we could find any interesting material to make some of the projects I'm thinking about. We found a few good finds, but nothing major. What a great place to look though!!

I would like to just say that I truly adore my sister Rachael, she is so amazing to me in that she is so real and just living life with all she has! I admire her and really look up to her for her love for the Lord and her desire to be all that He would have her be. She is one of the most beautiful women I know, inside and out.

And we had a blast just hanging out and catching up. We always enjoy our time together and I always miss her after we finish! I am so glad to have a sister so wonderful!

Well we got to talking yesterday when we were hangin out and I told her how I would love to have a business in the home and sewing would be so fun! She loved the idea and even spit out the idea that should could help me come up with some designs! Then I figured I could draw the patterns and we can both sew them up.

Now we are brainstorming a cute name for business ...

John 4:14

God is so good to us. Can I just say that I truely love my bible study and the women God has surrounded me with by being a part of this group. I have never know such a caring group of people at are more real and genuinely care about what you are going through.

I've been feeling a little overwhelmed the last couple weeks and with out even realizing it really I had pretty much pushed God out of my daily life. By that I mean that because I didn't feel like I had control of 'my time' I let my personal time with God slip right out of my schedule. I even found myself avoiding it, maybe because I knew it was the main reason I was feeling so overwhelmed. It's just really been draining me lately. And I hadn't even realized how much it was effecting me until last night, when I started to talk about it to the group and explain the struggle I was feeling. I broke down and realized the impact of leaving God out of my day, first thing even, and it broke my heart.

My amazing sisters all surrounded me and prayed over me right then and there! It was so encouraging and I felt so loved, by God for placing these women in my life at the right time and place and by the women themselves. Sometimes we just need to hear it, that we are loved. And that's exactly what happened to me last night.

I realize that God so desires 'my time' {really it's His time since He is the reason I am even alive!} and first thing each day is because He loves me so dearly and just wants to be what my life is about. He knows that my plate just got fuller with getting married and having a house and that I have had a lot of adjustments in such a short period of time. He knew that I wouldn't be able to handle it with out Him. That's why He is so readily available, any time I need Him to get me through.

I just want to praise Him for that and thank Him. For His love for me and His desire to have a relationship with me so personal and real. I love Him so dearly.

Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thrist. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

John 4:14