length and width

my last Friday as a 25 year old.

hello, wrinkles...

I am on the downward slope to becoming a forever young mature 30 year old. (which by the way is less than 1500 days away, you know...)

but even though those numbers make my head starts producing even more gray hairs, I love looking back and seeing where God has taken me these last few years, post-college. I pulled a few old posts from 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. looking back, I'm reminded of how faithful He has been. in the moments of joy, peace, satisfaction, confusion, unrest, quietness... He has been there.

I saw this quote sometime this last year and it has stuck with me since.

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often I find myself scratching the surface. while it's definitely the easiest {read: laziest} thing to do, I don't think that's what I need to do.

so here's to my last two days of a quarter-of-a-century... see you soon 26!

ocd gets the best of me

if I worked for Papermate things would look alot less like this...

and alot more like this...

organized by color with the logos facing out for everyone to see.

and now you've wasted approximately the same amount of time reading this as I did reorganizing these pens.  but look at how much prettier it is! Happy Saturday!

how to create a fabric bookshelf

This is my first how to on my blog!  I'm sure you will all be enlightened at the end of this post... or maybe just inspired to go look at pinterest.  Either way, I call that a win!

While pinning away one day I came across this bookshelf.  Hello pattern... Hello color!  

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I thought this looked simple enough to recreate.  And since I had this ugly little shelf that was screaming, "please make me over," I headed to the fabric store one afternoon and bought a yard of fabric.  And then – appropriately dressed in a skirt and high heels – I made my way to ACE Hardware to buy some primer and a roller. (note: I use this roller. It works really well, it's super cheap and I throw it away when I'm done.)

After ripping off the cheap backing board, a quick prime and paint update, I let it dry like this... 

And then I pinned the fabric to the back of the shelf.  I read on some blogs where people stapled the fabric to the back but I didn't have a stapler handy and I liked the freedom to change out fabric if I came across something I liked more.

 

Here is the finished product.  I'm still learning how to arrange shelves (as you can tell, it's not something that comes naturally to me).

Does anyone have any tips on arranging?  Or places that I can buy pretty (and inexpensive) fabric?

plane ticket, please

I saw this video when someone posted it on twitter today...

And now I have a new place I want to travel to: Barter Books.


Won't you join me?

I can't move my legs...

This week I decided it was finally time to get back into the gym.  After a month and a half of using the "I just had minor surgery" excuse, I decided it was time to get back.

So you want to hear the sad part... the way I convinced myself to go? I rewarded myself with a hot gym shower post-workout.

Whatever it takes, right?

Last year we had our bathroom renovated and ever since then, our hot water heater and I have not been friends. It neverrrrr gets really hot which can be really frustrating. I know, I know... #FirstWorldProblem

So while I pushed myself on the treadmill and a little medicine ball action, I kept telling myself, "this is good for you... you ARE having fun... HOT SHOWER, HOT SHOWER, HOT SHOWER!" And then I finally made it to the shower I had been dreaming of.  And it was miserable. A hot shower after an afternoon workout? Gross.

And now I'm left with no motivators (other than all the super-fit pictures of women floating around pinterest) and two very sore legs and abs.

And of course, this picture...

Because we all know we look that good while we're running.

{seek}

Trying to remember that in even though I may be busy, I have to take time to continue seeking Him.  To be in constant communion so I can hear His voice and know - without a doubt - it's Him speaking.

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And I'm so thankful for those moments that He does reassure me that He is there to "uphold me in His hand" (psalm 37:23-24)

In other news... do you ever do something that confirms without a doubt that you are w-e-i-r-d? Well if you haven't, I challenge you to spend some time talking about yourself to a video camera.  All kinds of craziness will come out.  So today, I'm thankful that's now how we are required to make friends.  

On second thought, I'm probably even more awkward in real life.  Eeeps... I may never leave the house again. 

living for Jesus

we sang this song last week in church and it's been pretty hard to shake.  

live for someone other than myself... yield... follow... give myself... no others... 

This is what He requires.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,

This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,

Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;

Such love constrains me to answer His call,

Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,

Doing each duty in His holy Name;

Willing to suffer affliction and loss,

Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,

My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;

Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,

Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

"living for jesus" - thom­as o. chis­holm

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simple truth

obedience  >  sacrifice.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. 

And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.  

john fourteen twenty-one

trying to remember this.  easier said than done.

...those who do

well I'll be real honest. I've been enjoying the slacker train for far too long when it comes to updating my blog.  but don't you worry, I still remember how to do it {even though blogger got a nice little facelift since my last visit}.

so speaking of doing... I've been challenged by this little saying lately.

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Do you ever feel like you have to wait... and wait... and wait for something? I always struggle with that in between time.  If I've learned anything over this last year and half {and trust me, He's always having to remind me of this one} it is to continue to move during that waiting process.  I often get trapped in the wondering that causes me to lie motionless rather than trusting His timing of it all.  But I realize over and over how much precious time and the many opportunities we miss when we do things that way.

So instead, I'm going to move right along... I'm going to do things... I'm going to live... enjoy the sunshine... and of course, smell the flowers along the way.

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And while I'm at it, I'll pick up some of those flowers so whenever I arrive at where He has me going, I'll have a sweet little bouquet to remind me of my journey.

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hello friends, it's good to be back!