The Good Women Project Guest Post

I am honored to be a part of the Good Women Project!

Pop on over and read about "What No One Told Me: The Best Parts."



I'm Home I'm Home!

What a great little vacation... a few pictures to come.

In the meantime, use the code HOME30 for 30% off in my shop. My welcome home gift to you!

O Canada

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I'll be "out of the office" until next week. I'll be busy doing stuff in Canada. Finally, my passport is coming in handy! My cousin is getting married so we'll be celebrating, Canadian style (whatever that means).

My shop and I will be back Tuesday.

Love you all!

Growing Old

Dear Kyle,

I hope this is us some day.

Love, Laura

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Praying for Each Other

Each Monday I will be posting prayer requests so that we can hold one another up and pray for each other throughout the week.

You can e-mail your prayers requests to me at iamalongfortheride[@]gmail[.]com. Feel free to e-mail today and I can add them. If you e-mail me throughout the week, I will post them next Monday.

Recent comment: Yesterday, a tornado tore through the heart of my hometown. There have been 89 confirmed deaths & thousands of injuries. It's been difficult cleaning up and rescuing because it was late when the tornado hit, & today it has been storming (rain, lightning). There have been multiple gas leaks, power lines downed, fires, & so on. We are on a boil order & getting into Joplin to help is not possible for us right now. The people of Joplin need your prayers.

Me: My husband and I live in Missouri, a few hours away from Joplin. Our hearts ache for those affected and for those who have lost loved ones. I pray that God's loving hand is upon each and everyone and that they find comfort in Him and others during this terrible time.

Kathleen: If you could pray for my 21 year old daughter Jocelyn, I would really appreciate it.   She has been having really swollen joints for the past month and is really down about it.  Please pray for healing.  We are going to see an orthopedist tomorrow so please pray for wisdom for the doctor.  She is staying at school (IUP) for the summer to take some summer classes so it's been hard having her so sick and being so far away

Jacky: My fiancé & I are getting married in October, and right now there are lots of decisions that need to be made/are being made, including where to live & job choices. The prayer request is that things will come together smoothly & that we'll have wisdom in making these choices.

Emily: Could you please be praying for my family?  We've been dealing with a lot for the past two years because my mom has lung cancer.  She is doing well, and the cancer is shrinking, but it's getting really hard to continue to fight this battle.  We all just want the battle to be over, so our lives can get back to "normal" again.   We're trusting and praying that the Lord will continue to heal mom's body, but are getting very weary.  Please be praying for us to have strength to take care of mom, for mom's body to be completely healed, and that we can win this battle.  

Lauren: I've been suffering with sinuses and allergies off and on for almost a month and its starting to affect my day to day life (again). Will you just keep me in your prayers that my allergies and sinuses go away without me having to take a lot of medicine which makes me tired, irritated, and quite crabby.

Megan: My husband and I have a prayer request. To keep it simple, I will just say that we are struggling with being comfortable at our current church. We are practically the only young couple there and feel like it might be time to move on. Personally, I feel alone, as in without girlfriends, simply due to demographical issues. I am young, married, and do not have any children. Here in the south, most couples tend to have children early; therefore, having different schedules and needs as far as friends are concerned. Please pray for me to be diligent with my prayers and discipline, and for my husband that he will listen to the Lord and lead us in a manner like Christ. Please pray for us as we try to be as sensitive to the Spirit as possible. See this post for more information.

How Can We Pray For You?

How can we pray for you this week? 

How can we lift up your worries, fears, concerns, struggles to our Father?

Feel free to e-mail me your prayer requests for tomorrow's post.
iamalongfortheride @ gmail . com

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...
Colossians 1:8-10

1 Corinthians 13:7

Saturday is Crafty Day #41

What great projects you all linked up last week! I loved so many!
Hair bows by Funky Polka Dot Giraffe

Silhouette pillows from Straight Stitches

Paint chip wreath from AliLilly

Vintage spool frame from Silly Pearl

What have you been working on?

Making Our House A Home

Where we live really matters. I'm not talking apartment versus house. Renting versus owning. Living in a neighborhood versus living in a residence hall (which is what I do since I run the place).

What matters is how we feel when we're at home. When we walk in the door, do we let out a sigh of relief from the day and feel relaxed? Do we feel safe and comforted? Do we feel cozy (my favorite feeling)?

Does our home feel like a place where our family lives and loves?

If you're anything like me, you go to great lengths to fill your home with beautiful things. Purposeful items and memory-filled trinkets. You love a great Pottery Barn knockoff and would never buy what you could make (for much less mind you).

So I'd probably say that our homes feel like places where our families live and love and make messes and cuddle and jump on the bed and kiss goodnight.

But when we're at home, snuggled on the couch or washing the dishes, do we feel God?

Before we made our house a home, God was there, waiting for us to unpack and join Him. He fills every nook and cranny of our space and longs for us to view our homes as a place of worship and reflection. A place where we can dwell in His presence.

I love having beautiful reminders of Christ and His love around our home. Things I can see throughout the day to help me stop and think about Jesus. I also love having these little pieces around for others to see and know that our house serves the Lord.

I was honored to do a product review for (In)Courage and  DaySpring. Their Inspired Deals this month features items for our homes that celebrate our savior.

I was given this gorgeous piece by Urban Soul. 

Although it's a little hard to tell in the picture, it's not just pure black, but instead has a great texture of gray shades.

This month has been a hard one, and Kyle and I have needed to rely on the Lord's strength more than ever. We really can do anything through His strength is there when our strength isn't.

What do you have around your home that speaks to your faith? What reminders do you like to keep?

(In)Courage and DaySpring are offering a $35 credit so you can add a few things to your home. 

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about what makes your house a home.

For extra entries, spread the word! Leave a comment each for bloggin, FBing, tweeting, etc.

Please know that shipping charges will apply to the winner's purchase. Giveaway ends Sunday at midnight.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
   LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
   for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
   for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
   LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
   they are ever praising you.
Psalm 84:1-4


** I received this item free from Dayspring to review. The opinions in this post are all mine. 

Shops I Adore: In His Grace

There are just so many gorgeous handmade shops out there that I want to start sharing some of my favorites with you. Those shops that catch my eye, make me happy, bring a smile to my face.

Simply, shops that I adore.

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I'm saving up my money to own a beautiful print from In His Grace (although not much saving is necessary as they are super reasonable). And which one would I pick? They're all so beautiful!

She also has checkbook covers, pillows, and the most amazing list makers (for all us list makers out there!).

I just love Chrissie's shop because the virtues of faith and family shine through every piece.

Interview with Chrissie:

What is the story behind your shop name?

After years of making and selling a variety of art, including mosaics, paintings, quilted items, home decor, and writing and publishing a variety of books, I was told by those in the business that I needed to specialize in one area to ever really succeed. I had started to believe them until I had a revelation one day...  As long as I was honoring the word of God, I was already successful. God would not give me  a love and talent for many different types of art, if he did not intend for me to use them.

So in His grace was born. All items are handmade by me, and reflect the beauty of Christ's love. 25% of all proceeds go directly to CBC Seminole, a local foster and adoption agency.

What inspires you to create?

I think I was made to create! I am inspired by colors, patterns, textures...scripture, quotes, and books...my children, (and all children!) being outdoors in nature, and my relationships...

What can be found in your shop?

*original paintings and prints

*hand-sewn items, such as: pillows, bible bags, and small quilted items

*mosaics

*custom items, such as: embroidered portraits and name pillows

What is one word to describe your work?

Inspirational...:)

What We Really Need

I love pinterest. Like really love it.

Pinterest is a digital warehouse of photographs, and I love seeing all the beatiful pictures, the inspiring ideas, and the wonderful products.

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Also, I love how handy it is. Instead of saving pictures to your computer and organizing them into folders on your hard drive (yes that's what I used to do), you can pin your pretties to virtual bulletin boards that allow you to add a caption, categorize them, and easily find them later.

But lately I've been seeing a lot of pictures with captions like "I need this" or "I have to have" or "this is it!"

Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I think I "need," and don't let this post fool you... I've definitely tagged a few lovelis as "must haves."

 But what do we really need?

For me, the answer is two-part and pretty simple.

We don't need much, yet we need it all.

We don't need stuff and things. If we don't get those gorgeous new shoes we won't stop breathing. If we don't get that fancy promotion, or that wonderful house, or the perfect man, or the best body, or the most money, we won't die (although it may feel like it sometimes).

We don't need much to physcially survive. Food, water, shelter. The basics.

But we need it all. We need (and already have) all of God's love. We have all of his attention and affection and grace and we absoultely need it all.

Living in the fullness and wholness of the Lord means that we have been given everything and that our needs and wants on earth should be few. Our stock is in heaven and our eyes should be forever looking forward to that ultimate treasure.

Does it mean that God doesn't want us to be happy with the little things while we're on earth? I don't think that's what it means at all. That pretty dress, those dangly earrings, the beautiful desk that you found on the side of the road and helped your husband painstakingly restore for you (yea, you should have seen the look my  hubby's face when I hauled that thing home).

These possessions and treasures are wonderful and make our moments on earth sweeter. But they should never keep us from the real prize.

As the story of the necklace in my previous post says, our real pearls are in heaven, but first we have to give up what's holding us back.

The Necklace

I usually don't think much about these, but my mom sent this to me, and I though it was beautiful.

via pinterest

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box..

"Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself.. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite."

"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one.. Daddy loves you."

And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style.

As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here daddy, this is for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny ...

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.

God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place. 

These buttons were totally made with me and my husband in mind!

pinterest via etsy

Lately

Lately I've been tired.

Emotinally, spiritually, physically.

Naps have been my best friend.

But...

I think I've getting over, or rather, coming up from this slump I've been in. I'm excited for what the summer holds.

picture source

Saturday is Crafty Day #40

I hope that with summer my party posts will once again be consistent, but for now, accept my apologizes for being a party pooper.

What have you been up to lately?

I've been reading Little Women, taking walks about campus now that it's warm, telling my students goodbye, and closing up the residence hall for the summer.

You know what I haven't been doing? Crafting. I hope you have though!!

A Great Visit

I'm home, back from a fabulous visit with my parents. You know what we did? Nothing really...and it was glorious. Every single relaxing, quiet, sweet moment was amazing.

I hardly took any pictures. I'm just not a picture person. I know, blasphemy, hold my tongue! But it's true.

I did manage to take a few little shots around our backyard.

So what made my visit so great? Simply put, just being with my parents in our home in the country.

Dad's building a pigeon coop. Dad grew up racing homing pigeons and has always wanted to get back into it, but there were always reasons and excuses not to. But he said that he had a coming-to-Jesus meeting around his 60th birthday and Jesus told him to build a coop.

More information on this classic sport can be found here.

Mom and I did what we do best. We read, and hugged, and talked, and shopped.

I also shaved the rest of her hair.

She told me that a daughter isn't supposed to do that kind of stuff. I disagree. That is exactly what we're supposed to do.

Mom is doing well and had a great report from the doctor today. The large lump in her breast is now a little lump, and that's with only 2 chemo treatments! Mom's 3rd treatment is Monday and then just 3 more to go.

I am so proud of her. All of the side effects are just proof that the treatment is working. It's all temporary. It will all get better.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day friends!

I'm loving every minute of my time with my momma. She's beautiful, strong, and pretty much my hero.

Going Home

I leave Thursday to go home to visit my my parents. I would love to post a little while I'm there, but I can't make any promises.

So please forgive me while I'm away the next few days. I'll be home snuggling with my mom, helping my dad around the house, chasing our dog Chase around the backyard, and probably trying on my mom's wig a few times. I'll take pictures of that one.

Pray for safe travels and a great great visit with my family. And of course, keep praying for my mom.

[source]

Praying for Each Other

Each Monday I will be posting prayer requests so that we can hold one another up and pray for each other throughout the week.

You can e-mail your prayers requests to me at iamalongfortheride[@]gmail[.]com. Feel free to e-mail today and I can add them. If you e-mail me throughout the week, I will post them next Monday.

Gemma: I would like to request prayer for my friends father who has been diagnosed with lung cancer which is very advanced.  As a result of their illness they have lost their sight and are not able to work or have a standard of life that we often take for granted.  Please pray for healing for him from the cancer and that his eyesight will be restored and also for strength and courage for his wife and children. In Jesus'name, Amen. 

Kate: I would also like to request prayer for all of the affected areas of Alabama and the southeast. I lived in Tuscaloosa for 4 years, and it is my husband's hometown. While we are very blessed that our friends and family are accounted for and well, there are so many people who have lost everything. It will take months and probably years to repair the physical damage to the cities hit by the tornadoes. Please pray for healing for those who have lost so much!

Vivienne: My friend Erin (who is 41 with 2 young children) was just diagnosed with malignant melanoma.  They are waiting for the results as to whether or not it has metastasized.  Please pray for her complete healing and protection from the melanoma that can lie in wait and grab her 5 or 10 years from now.

My sister Monica is on a destructive path where her drinking has cost her her job and is about to cost her her marriage.  She has turned her back on God and says "it doesn't work for her." I am praying that God softens her heart and that she will eventually find that He is all she needs.

Paige: My hometown area of DeKalb County, AL as well as the city I have called home for 3 years, Tuscaloosa, AL are both in shambles. I moved out of my apartment 5 days before the tornado struck Praise the Lord because where my apartment once stood there is now only a pile of rubble.  The school I worked at was one of the most heavily hit areas.  7 of my students are still unaccounted for.  Many more in the community are still missing as well.  Many families in this area had very little to begin with, and nothing now.  Entire families lived in this community and ALL homes were destroyed leaving them with no other place to go.  My hometown is in shambles, and although it is an area where funds are not plentiful, the human spirit is.  Many lives were lost, schools, homes, and churches destroyed but we still have Faith.  It is amazing to see areas come together and raise each other up.  Our God is greater and will help us all.  Just continue to pray for ALL the needs. 

Me:

1. Continue to pray for healing for my mother and grandmother

2. Pray for our men and women in the service. That the Lord protects them in the line of duty and blesses the work they are doing. 

3. Pray for the victims of the victims of the horrible weather lately. Where I'm from, so many town have been ravaged by tornadoes and flooding. Pray that the Lord provides for the families who have been affected. Pray for a quick rebuilding and for protection against future storms. Pray that individuals will find strength and courage that can only come from the Lord.

4. Pray for married couples, especially those who are struggling in their relationships. Pray for honest communication, strength to endure struggles, and a heart to forgive.

How Can We Pray For You?

How can we pray for you this week? 

How can we lift up your worries, fears, concerns, struggles to our Father?

Feel free to e-mail me your prayer requests for tomorrow's post.
iamalongfortheride @ gmail . com

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...
Colossians 1:8-10

2 Corinthians 5:17