Fab Five {20}

Every Friday we reflect on our week and post Five Fabulous things.

Sometimes it is not always easy.
But, we do it!

We ponder on the good of our week.
We encourage you to do the same.

Share with us!!
We love reading how your week has been too!!

1) This week I am grateful for:
Falen:  This lil' girl.  She brings a smile to my face on a daily basis.  This week she said a sentence that  was God breathed and shot straight to my heart at a time I needed to hear it most.  So in love with this blonde angel.

Laura: Loads of prayers from others while I struggle through Finals.  I am soooo very grateful for friends and family who have and are helping with my kids during this stressful time.
2) This week I enjoyed:

Falen:  The OU v. OSU bedlam game.... By far the most enjoyable part of my week - maybe even month!

Laura:  Putting my Christmas tree up with my kids.  Little known secret:  I normally hate this task.  It stresses me out...my slight OCD kicks in and drives me insane!  Welp, this year momma didn't move a single ornament...it was liberating!

3) This week I learned:  

Falen:  How we (Upward Not Inward) won ad space at these awesome blogs:  Sunlight After Rain, Not Your Average Baby Blog, Big Apple Mami, The Fontenot Four, Our Love & Our Blessing, (Bee)autiful Blessings, Live Laugh L0ve, Designs By Emily F, Pamela's Heavenly Treats, Eloquent English, Rambling Momma, and Life Of A Sports Wife from Newlywed Moments.

Laura:  My local K-Love station is being moved :(  Annnnd......being replaced by Air1 :)  !!!!!!!!!!

4) This week I accomplished:

Falen: Stacking firewood, some shopping, some Christmas decorating, and at least two and a half hours a night of third grade homework all week with baby girl.

Laura:  Nervous Confidence, aka Law School Finals......today is #2 of 4......

5) I am looking forward to:

Falen: The first ever Divine Mug Exchange at #CoffeeAndJesus in the morning!!  

Laura:  December 8....Finals will be OVER....3 1/2 week break!!!!
We look forward to hearing from you every week. So, please share something the positive from your week. We love to learn about you, engage with you, and get to know you. Have a great weekend!!

           

Linking Up With:
 Faith Filled Friday; Oh So Amelia; Favorite Things Friday; High Five For Friday; That Friday Blog Hop; Womanhood With Purpose; Truly Lovely; Find & Follow Friday; Fellowship Friday; Follow Who Social Hop

ITWW ~ Features

Into the Word Wednesday is a link up and blog hop where fellow Christian bloggers share something they have learned this week while Into the Word. If you are a Christian blogger, feel free to connect and follow other bloggers who are sharing their recent steps of their walk with the blogosphere! If you are not a blogger and you are interested in reading more biblically based posts, scroll down and click until your heart desires.
Each week, at least one of the hosts of this hop will be highlighting some of our favorite posts from the prior Wednesday. This week, that host is me! 
Barb linked up last week with an amazing post on identity.  Pretty sure I am printing it and putting it in my wallet to reference whenever I am having a text, phone, or real life conversation with someone who is defining themselves by the wrong things.  Stop by and show her some Into the Word Wednesday love and check out her must read post on "A New Name."

When I visited Rubi's post, I just grinned ear to ear as it was yet another reminder of my identity in Christ.  Love how she mentioned what we are not defined by, but you hear so often used.  Her title was fitting, "I am none of these."  Plus, she had super cute pictures of her and her friend that will make you grin. 

Amanda posted about those lil' annoying messes in life that we all deal with all the time.  In fact, in the post she thanked God for messes.  She reminded us that "God can turn a mess into a message."  Such a true statement, right?!  Those little annoying messes and even those gigantic don't-know-what-good-can-ever-come-of-this messes.  

As for me, I am so incredibly thankful for each of you that Link Up with us each week!!  I am always encouraged, inspired, and blessed by each and every post.  You bloggers out there, keep up the amazing work with staying in the Word!  You never know when those dreary and weak eyes will stumble onto your experience and read the words they needed.  It's an honor to blog with you!

Let's get this Link Up Party started!

We would LOVE it if you linked up with a post about what God is showing you in the Word or in your life. Please also stop by and see what God has been teaching each co-hosts this week:

Sarah at Fontenot Four Kelly at The Houtz House Party
Becky at Tales For Ashes
Kelly at Exceptionalistic Falen at Upward Not Inward

Into the Word Wednesday Blog Hop Rules:

1. Write a post about what God is teaching you this week.

2. Follow the host and hostesses via GFC.

3. Grab a button to put on your blog - the more the merrier!

4. Check out (and comment) other people's blogs.

5. Be blessed by all the sisters and brothers around the world!

Linking Up Here:

Wisdom Wednesday; Followers to Friends; Follow Me Wednesday; Encourage One Another; Winsome Wednesday; Internet Cafe Devotions; 

Cara Box {Nov}

Kaitlyn, who blogs here:

Started a Swap:

Since I love making friends, receiving gifts, and sharing encouragement I signed up for November! I was paired with Jasanna, who was an absolute doll!! INSTAGRAM ** PINTEREST ** TWITTER

From the get go, Jasanna was so incredibly sweet.  We exchanged numerous e-mails, and it was really fun to reminisce about the fun stuff from being a kid.  Why were we talking about being a kid, you ask?  This month's Cara Box theme was {Childhood}!  How fun, right?!

I opened my box and saw... 

BUBBLE WRAP!

We didn't discuss it, but how fun is was bubble wrap when you were a kid?!  It alone was like a toy! Ha!

Fingernail polish, a Christmas ornament that matches my tree perfectly, an old school slinkie/"spring toy," Revlon eye shadow, Lauren Conrad seashell earrings, and an adorable flower clip from The Littlest Bean.  The slinkie was tied with that adorable lil' tie too. 

My favorite thing:

I told Jasanna how much I loooove Christmas and the colors of my tree.  She found this beauty and it goes perfectly!  Each year, from now on, when I put each ornament on my tree, I will always remember this one from Jasanna for the Cara Box Swap. 

Yet, the funnest part of this month's swap was getting to know Jasanna and talking though e-mail like we have known each other for a while.  We both are fans of #SheReadsTruth and have hearts for Jesus.  She opened up to me, and I even opened up to her about a few things.  It was refreshing to meet such a lovely woman through a blog swap.  I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Well, I am doing it again! Wanna sign up for next month's swap? I can't wait to find out what December's theme will be and who my swap partner will be for next month!

Join the fun :: HERE ::

Linking up here too:
Like Me on Facebook; GFC Blog Hop

Miscellany Monday

Joining Carrisa over at lowercase letters for:

The last four days have gone by way too fast.  

Thanksgiving was oodles of fun, filled with food, kite-flying, remote control helicopter buzzing, and card playing.  

Friday was filled with "Santa's Adventures" in the boathouse district here in Oklahoma City.  Rock climbed, mechanical surfed, played in bounce houses with the kids, even crossed zip lining off my Bucket List (I really need to update that post).

Saturday, we (after selling efforts failed) went to the OU v. OSU game and watched one of the best bedlam games LIVE.  It was absolutely incredible!

Sunday, I watched a Furtick sermon while I got ready in the morning.  We finished the weekend with many rounds of Euchre, Kobi beef hamburgers, and children tears when the out-of-town family headed back home. 

Not wanting to lose this spirit of gratitude, I want to embrace Monday in hopes of establishing routine  again, diving into the Word this week, and hopping back on the P90X train.

How was your weekend?  Why are you glad it's Monday?

Linking Up With: Miscellany Monday; Covered in Grace; Monday's Musings; The Better Mom Monday's Link Up; Life Lately; InstaTuesday

Saturday's Song : Link Up {2}

Join

Laura @ Upward Not Inward

Shannon @ Imperfectly Perfect Grace

Danette @ All My Love for All My Days

Rachel @ My Hearts Mission

for

***

Saturday's Song is a Blog Hop where bloggers who love Christian music share the music that God uses to speak to them!  So, turn on your radio, Pandora, Jango, or pop in your favorite CD, and get your post ready for next week's Link Up!!

This goal of this Blog Hop 

is to broaden your view of

Christian music using a different

theme/challenge each week.

If you are a blogger who loves Christian music, join us in connecting with other bloggers and sharing our love of Christian music with the blogosphere!  Enjoy!!

This week's theme/challenge:  

A song off a Christian album you listen to, but you have never heard that song on the radio.

I LOVE Lecrae's Rehab album.  This is my favorite song on the album! Enjoy 'Used to Do It Too' by Lecrae!  
 

Next week's theme/challenge:

A Christmas song by a Christian Artist
Get your post ready for next week's Link Up!!

Did you fall in love with a song after purchasing the album for a different song?  Tell me all about it!

Let's get this Link Up Party started!
We would LOVE it if you linked up with a post about what song did you fall in love with after purchasing the album for a different song.

Saturday's Song Blog Hop Rules:

1. Write a post that follows the weekly theme/challenge.

2. Follow the host and hostesses via GFC.

3. Grab a button to put on your blog - the more the merrier!

4. Check out (and comment) other people's blogs.

5. Be blessed by all the sisters and brothers around the world!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!! What are you Thankful for today?  

 I am thankful God is in the  miracle working,  the freedom giving,  stronghold breaking,  grace covering, life restoring,  identity establishing, slate wiping,  heart cleansing, endless pursing,  blessing gifting, true loving,  mistake forgiving,  joy bestowing,  peace distributing, perfect fathering, business.
Above all else, I'm thankful He calls me His own. 
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Linking Up Here too:

And here:

Oh So Amelia

ITWW ~ Respect Dare Pt. 2

Into the Word Wednesday is a link up and blog hop where fellow Christian bloggers share something they have learned this week while Into the Word. If you are a Christian blogger, feel free to connect and follow other bloggers who are sharing their recent steps of their walk with the blogosphere! If you are not a blogger and you are interested in reading more biblically based posts, scroll down and click until your heart desires.

As I embark on Dare Eight of The Respect Dare, I want to highlight some of my favorite attention grabbers this week.  Let's face it, the whole book in and of itself is quite attention grabbing.  
Dare Three included an introspective personal assessment in different areas of life as a wife.  The single question that resonated with me most was:
"Am I more concerned with being holy or happy?" Tweet
Honestly, this one had me a little heated at first.  My defenses went up and I could feel the sign "Doormat" creeping up behind me ready to be worn like advertising across my heart.  Where is the line between agony and doormat?  I ended up at the questions at the end of the day's dare that asked how you felt answering those questions, where do those feelings come from?  Can they be trusted?  
As I prayed, processed, and answered, I realized why my defenses went up so quickly.  Fear.  Yet, what is there to fear if I walk obediently hand in hand with the One who gives peace and can transform A N Y T H I N G?  So, can this fear be trusted?  Then, why do I entertain it?  It's a legit fear, right?  The Bible is full of folks who suffered horrible lives and still loved Jesus.  Then good ole Jeremiah 29:11 surfaced and I just shook my head.
"For I know the plans I have for you,"  declares the Lord,  "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,  plans to give you hope and a future."

What are your thoughts on holiness v. happiness?  Do you view it differently in your marriage than in other aspects of your life?   

 

Let's get this Link Up Party started!

We would LOVE it if you linked up with a post about what God is showing you in the Word or in your life. Please also stop by and see what God has been teaching each co-hosts this week:

Sarah at Fontenot Four Kelly at The Houtz House Party
Becky at Tales For Ashes
Kelly at Exceptionalistic Falen at Upward Not Inward

Into the Word Wednesday Blog Hop Rules:

1. Write a post about what God is teaching you this week.

2. Follow the host and hostesses via GFC.

3. Grab a button to put on your blog - the more the merrier!

4. Check out (and comment) other people's blogs.

5. Be blessed by all the sisters and brothers around the world!

Linking Up Here:
Wisdom Wednesday; Followers to Friends; Follow Me Wednesday; Living Well Wednesday; Works For Me Wednesday; Encourage One Another; Winsome Wednesday; Internet Cafe Devotions; Crafty Spices

Pep Talk

I am exactly one week away from law school finals.  I try really hard not to complain about law school.  I feel like there are much worse things I could be experiencing right now.  AND...hearing the inevitable empty pep talks are enough incentive to NOT complain!

Sunday night was spent wallowing in the fact that there was no way to live up to other's expectations...let alone the expectations I've placed on myself.  And since I didn't want to hear any of those empty pep talks I held it all in.  I went to bed and prayed for everyone on my mental prayer list and prayed for unending energy for the weeks of unending studying facing me.

And when I woke up and checked my Facebook the Holy Spirit had left me a very real pep talk through a classmate!  Thank you for sharing Taylor!!

"Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men."
Colossians 3:23

Other's expectations...my expectations...none of that matters.  What matters is that God has me here at ONU Law School for a reason.  God has greater things in store for me through the law.  I am reminded of what called me to law school...not the need to impress anyone but the calling to help those who are accused and forgotten by society.

"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"

Romans 5:3-5 (The Message)

And as if Taylor sharing that simple verse from Colossians weren't enough, I heard this on the radio as I drove to school Monday morning...

So while I was avoiding the empty pep talks from those around me...the Holy Spirit had the pep talk I needed!!!

Father, thank you for the encouragement you provided through Taylor.  Thank you for using her to speak to me this week.  I am so grateful that you use us in unexpected ways.  Father, please give me the energy and the motivation to be diligent in my studies in the upcoming weeks.  Father, please give me unending patience with my children as I'm over stressed in the upcoming weeks.  Father, I pray that you will continually guide me back to you when my perspective is off track.  Amen

Respect Dare Pt. 1

If you have read the blog for a while now, you have heard me mention the phenomenon of "respecting your husband."  My husband and I participated in a Love & Respect event at church.  About a year later, we watched the entire teaching on Love & Respect.  This really taught us a lot about each other when it came to communication in marriage.

So, when I had the opportunity to score an advanced copy of the book "The Respect Dare," I jumped at the chance!  Because honestly, I find this whole respect thing just fascinating.  I know we, as wives, are called to respect our husbands (Ephesians 5:33), but I am still blown away by how big this issue is for a man. Is it just me?

We watched Fireproof as a family.  That's the movie where Kirk Cameron completed "The Love Dare" and transformed his marriage. Nina Roesner has written a similar dare book for those wives out there who, like me, may need some nudging, prompting, and even direction when it comes to respecting their husbands.  

Right now, I am prayerfully completing a dare a day.  I plan to share with you snippets of my journey.    Stay tuned!  Wanna join in?  The Respect Dare will be released on December 11, 2012.  :: Click Here :: and RSVP for the Online Release Party.

Linking Up Here:

Covered in Grace; Monday's Musings; The Better Mom Monday's Link Up; Mom's Monday Mingle; A Life In Balance; Grace Laced Mondays; Make the Scene Monday; RachelWojo; Mom Initiative; Sharing His Beauty; Matrimonial Monday;

Saturday's Song : Link Up {1}

Join

Laura @ Upward Not Inward

Shannon @ Imperfectly Perfect Grace

Danette @ All My Love for All My Days

Rachel @ My Hearts Mission

for

***

Saturday's Song is a Blog Hop where bloggers who love Christian music share the music that God uses to speak to them!  So, turn on your radio, Pandora, Jango, or pop in your favorite CD, and get your post ready for next week's Link Up!!

This goal of this Blog Hop 

is to broaden your view of

Christian music using a different

theme/challenge each week.

If you are a blogger who loves Christian music, join us in connecting with other bloggers and sharing our love of Christian music with the blogosphere!  Enjoy!!

This week's theme/challenge:  

What song has God used this week to speak to you?

Lately it seems like I'm asking God to help me with the same thing over and over again...but he never leaves me and never gives up on me...he is always there to strengthen me. Enjoy 'Need You Now' by Plumb!

 

Next week's theme/challenge:

A song off a Christian album you listen to, but you have never heard that song on the radio.
Get your post ready for next week's Link Up!!

Do you have a song that God used to speak to you this week?  Tell me all about it!

Let's get this Link Up Party started!

We would LOVE it if you linked up with a post about what song God used to speak to you this week.

Saturday's Song Blog Hop Rules:

1. Write a post about what song God has used to speak to you this week.

2. Follow the host and hostesses via GFC.

3. Grab a button to put on your blog - the more the merrier!

4. Check out (and comment) other people's blogs.

5. Be blessed by all the sisters and brothers around the world!

Fab Five {19}

Every Friday we reflect on our week and post Five Fabulous things.

Sometimes it is not always easy.
But, we do it!

We ponder on the good of our week.
We encourage you to do the same.

Share with us!!
We love reading how your week has been too!!

1) This week I am grateful for:
Falen:  My husband surprising me by bringing down the Christmas decorations/tree.  The tree isn't up yet! But, it will be by day's end today.  

Laura:  Being used by God even while super busy in law school.
2) This week I enjoyed:

Falen:  Finding my husband set out Christmas trees but left the pumpkins out too. Haha.

Laura:  Discussions of religion with classmates.

3) This week I learned:  

Falen:  I am a fast blood pumper!  Donated blood for the first time ever (Bucket List), and I filled my bag in no time!

Laura:  The law isn't big enough for me! (see video clip below)

4) This week I accomplished:

Falen:   Day 1 & Day 2 of The Respect Dare!!  Details coming soon!!

Laura:  My writing assignment!!!

5) I am looking forward to:

Falen:  An OKC Bloggers event tonight and a Thunder Game on Sunday! 

Laura:  Having a fun-filled weekend with my kids before settling into studying for final exams...on the agenda:  visit Grandpa and Grandma, movies, horse parade, church and meeting our  new pastor, and ending the weekend with a birthday party for Aunt Jennifer in Heaven!  Only 11 days until my first ever Law School Final Exam.  I am really, really looking forward to having 3 weeks off in December!!!!!!
We look forward to hearing from you every week. So, please share something the positive from your week. We love to learn about you, engage with you, and get to know you. Have a great weekend!!

           
Linking Up With:  Faith Filled Friday; Oh So Amelia; Favorite Things Friday; High Five For Friday; That Friday Blog Hop; Womanhood With Purpose; Truly Lovely; Find & Follow Friday; Fellowship Friday; 

Stand Out

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."
Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

To all those who have ever called me strange, different, weird, crazy...THANK YOU!  This is one of THE BEST compliments you can give me.

I do NOT want to blend in with the rest of this world.

Normal is not good...
Blending is not good...

I want to be different and weird!
I want to be crazy on fire for God!

I do NOT want to simply blend in with the world around me!!!

When you look at the photos above, which one catches your eye?  The boring, normal photo...or one of the amazingly unique photos!

Linking Up Here: Link & Mingle; The Sunshine Project; Thought Provoking Thursday; It's Almost Friday Blog Hop; Mingle With Us Blog Hop; Legacy Leavers; Thumpin Thursday; Thoughtful Thursday; Mega Social Link Up