favorite bible verse and hubby's birthday

I was challenged by my aunt on Instagram to share my favorite Bible verse. I know I've shared this with you before, but one more time wouldn't hurt. 

I find so much joy in being kind, and I try to remember to thank Jesus everyday for His. 

Also, a happy birthday to this hunk!! We had a nice steak dinner and a celebratory  esspresso cheesecake. It was really nice.

Cake, cake, and more cake

Ta-da! I made a few more cakes, and they're all pretty cute. As you can see, I had polymer clay pieces to them. I ordered the marshmallow twists, chocolate bars, and strawberries from Delish Beads. The mini cookies and cinnamon roll I got from Hobby Lobby, and they're Mayberry Streets Minitiatures "Sweet Treats".

My chocolate cake got a chocolate/vanilla marshmallow twist, a dark chocolate piece, and a gingerbread cookie. The strawberry cake was decorated with a strawberry/vanilla twist, two strawberries, and a strawberry chocolate piece.

My yellow cake with chocolate swirl, chocolate icing, and vanilla drizzle recieved two blue/yellow twists, a yellow cookie with red sprinkles, and a marble chocolate piece (I accidently got white paint on it, so this is how I'm going to cover it up, ha). 

I was going to make a red velvet cake, and I guess it can still be considered that even with the pieces on top and chocolate drizzle. The toppings are a chocolate/vanilla twist, a milk chocolate piece, a gingerbread cookie, and creme-filled chocolate cookie, a cinnamon roll, and a dark chocolate piece. Maybe this can be called the diabetes cake? 

Finally, I have a green tea cake with orange icing, strawberry swirl, and vanilla drizzle. It's topped with five strawberries and an orange cookie with a single red sprinkle. 

I had tons of fun making these little guys. My last step that I'll probably do is wrap them will cellophane and tie the tops to make cute wrapped treats. It'll give another cutsie factor and protect them from dust. 

I hope you had fun following along! I know my posts must have seem repetitive this week. I'm pretty sure I'm done making foam foods since my hands are missing crotchet needles and soft yarn. 

Until the next the creation! Have a wonderful day : )

my love for Sundays...

I had a fun Saturday with my family. It was so nice to see their beautiful faces! They left this morning, and I'm proud to say no tears were present. 

Since we were already late to church, Brian and I decided to go antique shopping instead. Of course, I'm the one who bought stuff 😅 a new teacup, a cross stich piece that has flowers and "January" at the bottom, and a ceramic pumpkin for fall. Then we ate lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. Delicious! 

Now, we're lounging around. I'm so thankful God has blessed me with a perfect little family 😊 I just love Sundays.

When God calls you to be with Him, you get up...

Hello all! I'm currently experiencing insomnia, and all I can think about is the sermon by Chris Bogstad, our youth pastor. Like most sermons from the elders of Bible Church, it was extremely good. I can't help but feel something more about it than just "good" though. Once again, it's sticking with me, and I should just share it. Here it goes.

Bogstad decided to make today's message about busyness focusing on the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10: 38-42. For background and content purposes, let's do a short overview of what happens.

Jesus travels to a village where there are two women, Martha and Mary. Martha gets the honor of having THE Jesus Christ in her home. Remember, this is the man who has performed so many wonderful miracles as well as teaches these amazing things, and His name causes a stir. Martha has a lot on her plate to serve this man especially in a culture (and it's still true to today) where hospitality is important and is one of the key services a woman performs.

So, there's Martha bustling around to gather all the preparations and serving. Luke 10:40 says that she was much distracted. Of course, she must have felt a lot of pressure along with anxiety.

Then there's Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus perfectly content just listening and soaking every word up. This is a weird scene. Normally, the women weren't sitting with the men learning. Mary typically would have been running around with Martha. In Mark's version, we find out that she even took an expensive oil to use on Jesus' feet, an act of worship.

Finally, Martha has enough of it. She approaches Jesus and accuses Him of not caring that she does all the work. Then she commands the Lord to make Mary get up and help her. Bogstad comments that this must have made the room go silent and VERY awkward.

Jesus rebukes Martha, and I agree with Bogstad that it wasn't a soft, gentle correction. He uses her name twice. Not to mention, she was very distracted to begin with, and it probably wasn't easy to grab her attention. I could imagine Jesus getting slightly loud and urgent with Martha.

He told her that she was worried and troubled about things,  yet only one thing was needed. Mary had chosen the good thing, which was Jesus.

I won't share all my notes, but I will share the bits that keep standing out in my mind.

Jesus doesn't always want us to act on our culture but to focus on him.

Martha was concerned with the principle of hospitality, which her culture put high expectations on. In our culture, working hard and bringing in the big bucks is a great deal of importance.

I kept thinking of when I got my second job with Dunkin Donuts that I had actually considered getting a third job to take up the hours I'd get off there and wasn't going straight to Hobby Lobby. Of course, Brian discouraged me from that. There just wasn't enough time for me to do that.

I wanted us to be ahead though! I wanted to get things done and paid in a fashion that I'd prefer. I'm sure you see the problem in this.

The more time I focused on the money I was making and the goals I had the more I wasn't focusing or depending on God. He wasn't my main priority. I thought He still was, but I was mistaken.

Even now with a full time position, I have to be careful. I want to be a great worker and to be able to do all that my higher-ups need from me, but I cannot sacrifice my relationship with God.

There should be care for things to get done but not anxiety.

I relate this to bills, pet care, and housework. I have always been a person who loves to plan things minute by minute. When I was in school, the night before class I planned in my head over and over how I was going to wake up and get ready.

First, I'll turn off my alarm. Then I'll grab my towels. Wait, will I want to make my bed first? No, no, go take a shower first. I'll wash my hair for sure...will I need to shave? Well, what will I be wearing? Pants? Okay, no shaving. 

See the craziness? I go to that extent anymore, but I do plan my day. Get up, go to work, then the house-chore list. Getting all the housework done in a day is exhausting and impossible.

Only God can finish His list in a day. Yes, I want things to get done. Does it HAVE to be done by 4:00 PM (I get off at 3:30) tomorrow? No and I don't have to worry about it.

Why do I do what I do? 

Oh, this question...Why do I put up with all this junk at work? All these mean customers? Why do I come home and clean all these stupid messes ALL the time? Why do we have to get up at 7:30 in the morning for bible study classes? Why, why, why. 

Well, it is a part of the burden I carry. I do have to work, but I work for God. I get up and face the world for God. I clean and serve my household for God. I go to the bible study for God.

It is a burden, but it's for a glorious reason.

Our primary assignment is to be a disciple of God. Am I being faithful to what God wants me to do? 

I must value my relationship with God above all else. My work and servitude must reflect that.

I just looked at my time, and I have to be up in about five hours. The moments to reflect on God's word are worth the cost of sleep. I hope I didn't bore you with my sleep deprived ramblings. Sweet dreams!

Guard Flowers

"Guard Flowers"

Written by Reggie Deputy 

Pink, white, yellow, purple, and green.

Memories of my most cherished moments out to be seen.

I gaze up upon them fondly and proudly.

Remembering the young girl who wanted them so badly.

Each flower representing all the sweat, tears, and stubbed fingers.

Their petals counting how many times we felt like winners. 

Our small collection of bouquets together make the garden we all share.

Our bond that was forever strong and nothing could make it tear.

Pink, white, yellow, purple, and green.

The colors of my joy out to be seen. 

I wrote this poem on August 5th, 2012, at ten in the evening. By the way, I don't have that great of a memory. I made a note of it at the end of the page. I thought about it, and remembering how proud I was of it I decided to share it. 

I'm sure many of you already know that I did winterguard/colorguard from eighth grade and all through high school. It was the best thing about high school for me. Period. It made me confident, taught me the value of hard work, allowed me to be strong yet beautiful, it expressed my artistic side, and I had something to look forward to each day. 

At the end of each season, my instructor always had a little bouquet of fake flowers for each of us. They were always the color of either our costumes or our flags for that show. I still have every flower I've ever gotten (fun fact: For my sophomore colorguard show, we got wooden yellow roses with our bouquets. So cool! ) I look at them fondly from time to time just taking in what they represent and the stories I'll have to tell my young 'uns. 

I hope you enjoyed it! 

Ready for more poetry?

I wanted to write another poem, but I was having such a hard time. Then Brian said to write something that was going on in my life right now, and then words turned into sentences that soon turned into this poem. I'm excited to share part of my journey here in Arkansas, but I also regret not being talented enough to put more understanding verses. You'll see plenty of places where the meaning is vague. This journey as been complicated and hard for me to wrap my head around. It is already frustrating trying to solve a raging battle within  yourself let alone putting it into words. I hope you enjoy reading anyway. 

A Journey God Inspired 

By Yours Truly 

I never dreamed this was where I'd be.
Away from familiar faces, friends, and family.
I had my own ideas of what my life out to consist of,
But never would they compare to God's plan, one full of love.
I used to fantasize about a place where You and I would grow close.
You sent me to a flat place where ice storms reign, flash floods rush, and the tornado blows.
I had to start over without my usual comforts and securities
Clinging only to my Bible and the man you gave me to the best of my abilities.
Much was my confusion and many were my tears,
But all I could do was trust and hand You all my fears.
My spirit was dead and anguished
Until all at once You opened my eyes, heart, and soul that were dry and famished.
I remembered my prayers to get away and learn how to live with abandon.
How to get by with only You as my provider, teacher, and companion.
I never thought Id face these trials of marriage so soon and so quick to say, "I'm done",
But You gave me wisdom and helped me to overcome.
You fitted me into a church that as helped me grow,
And to people I could run to when my spiritual level was on low.
And as much as I'd like to see all my loved ones and the mountains that are deeply engraved in memory,
I'd rather stay put and see all the plans You've made for me.

I'm literally blushing as I prepare myself to post this. I know you guys would never make fun of me, but it's still embarrassing to put your feelings out there for everyone to see. This is how moving on with your life feels like though. It's not all the time, and I don't believe it'll feel this complicated forever. It is hard, but I know it'll be rewarding. 

I did take that walk! It was last night instead of Sunday night but still nice. I'm excited to blog about it : ) See ya then! 

My Husband's a Superhero

Hey everyone! I hated leaving my blog to get dusty and lacking updates. As suspected, working Dunkin Donuts was extremely tiring and took up all my blogging energy. That won't be a problem anymore since I *drum roll*...got full-time with Hobby Lobby! I am officially a crafts department head along with the beautiful, sweet Miss Jann.

At first I wasn't sure if I wanted crafts because I always saw people, who were moved to crafts, have a hard time especially with ordering. Also, the truck days seemed overwhelming in the craft department. This week will be my third week working in crafts, and neither one of those problems have been horrible. I love ordering my half of the book, and truck days are fun because everyone works together determined to get things done but still laughing/talking the entire time.

It's still tons of work, and this Sunday is very much needed. I'm actually pretty sick, and I started feeling it yesterday morning. It wasn't too bad then, but the runny nose and constant sore throat were relentless when I attempted sleep last night.

Many thanks to my super-sweet husband (yes, he deserves to lose the just "dude" title) because he has just been awesome taking care of me. I woke up to see him already up, taking care of the dog, gone grocery shopping, with plans to make breakfast and then homemade chicken soup for dinner. He also forced me to take medicine that would make me sleep most of the day, which I wasn't too thrilled about. It was such a beautiful day that I didn't want to spend it in bed, but I do feel slightly better.

I just feel very thankful that I got to experience all this on a relaxing, beautiful day of rest.

Now, I'm sipping lemon water listening to Demi Lovato and writing to you ^_^. I might make the suggestion to go on a walk before it gets dark. Wouldn't that be a fun blog to write about and share pictures? We went on a walk to the wetlands boardwalk near downtown not too long ago, and it was so neat. We saw this small thing swimming incredibly fast in the water, and when we were able to catch up with it saw that it was a vole! I already have several future blogs thought up so get excited!

Let me know how you guys are doing! Thanks : )