Giving Back

Over the last year I have found many blogs that I love. I have found many that provide humorous stories, fun families, delicious recipes, and fabulous tutorials. But, there is one blog that I have found that I have fallen in love with. The author is just a mother of two. I found her blog through a friend who linked the birth story of her second daughter Nella. You can read about it here. Grab some kleenex and read it. This little girl was born with Down Syndrome and is about to turn a year old. 

In honor of sweet Nella's first birthday her mother is raising money for the National Down Syndrome Society. Her goal is $75,000 and I have been watching this number continue to get higher and higher. She has almost reached this goal and honestly, I am confident that she will raise even more. If you would like to donate in honor of Nella you can go here. 

The mission of NDSS is to create a culture that fully accepts and includes individuals with Down Syndrome. What a great organization. I'll be honest, if I hadn't started reading this blog I probably would not even think about this organization. But, at the end of the day, I have fallen in love with this little girl and have been encouraged to share how we can help not only she and her family, but the thousands of others that live with Down Syndrome.

Paper Lanterns

A couple of weeks ago I saw a tutorial for making paper lanterns and thought they were so cute. I started making one and realized I really didn't have any specific reason to make them. After I did one, Amy saw it and thought they were great. She is throwing a "Blue and Pink" party tonight for her brother and sister-in-law. They are all going to find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl tonight. So, I decided to make a few for her party! They are simple, slightly time consuming, but turned out great!

 All you need is the paper that you are going to use, scissors, some tape, a hole puncher, and some string or ribbon. That big thing at the bottom is a paper cutter. You don't need it but it sure did make things easier!

 Start by cutting your strips of paper. They should be the same length and width. I did 16 strips 11"x 1" (it may have been slightly over 1") I did a couple of other smaller ones but I do not remember the measurements! You just have to play around with it.

Next punch a whole in both ends of all of the strips...

 Then...string part of the ribbon in one end and tape it down

 ^Tie a knot at the top and pull it through until it is tight like this ^

 Fan them out like so...and VOILA!

 

You can do different  sizes and then make them different lengths.

You will also need a pushpin to attach it to your ceiling. I thought they turned out cute and I'm sure they will look great at Amy's party tonight! 

Monday Ramblings

Hello and Happy Monday! It was a dark and gloomy day in these parts and I hear many of my friends up north got a good bit of snow! Crazy Alabama weather!!

 So with this cold and gloomy day it called for a cup of hot chocolate this morning and some time with the Lord...perfect morning.

As I spent time with the Lord this morning I was reminded, as I am so often, of His faithfulness. Seriously, the Lord kept bringing to mind the hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." For Christmas, Brett's mom got me this devotional, Jesus Calling. It is just a daily devotional that I have been reading before I spend time with the Lord. There is one a read a few days ago that has stayed with me. It is short so I am going to write it out. It has been so encouraging. This book is presented as if God is speaking to you. 

"Relax in My healing presence. As you spend time with Me, your thoughts tend to jump ahead to today's plans and problems. Bring your mind back to Me for refreshment and renewal. Let the Light of My Presence soak into you, as you focus your thoughts on Me. Thus I equip you to face whatever the day brings. This sacrifice of time pleases Me and strengthens you. Do not skimp on our time together. Resist the clamor of tasks waiting to be done. You have chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from you."

I love this because I am so guilty of letting my thoughts wander or "skimping" on my time with the Lord. I am realizing more and more the importance of my time with Him. I thought it was so encouraging.

And....off the subject....but, check out this adorable mug from Anthropologie. 

Sweet Julie got me this mug for Christmas. I have always liked Anthropologie but NEVER bought anything from there. It is a bit pricey most of the time and although I LOVE the bright colors I see when I peruse their website.....not everything is practical. As I was looking around today, here are a few things I LOVED! Looking at these different things makes me excited to get married and have my own house!

I love this couch....but again...not terribly practical! :)

Cute vases...

Love these bowls!

And these too!!

Sorry, I know that is random but I was just looking around the website that I cannot afford and dreaming.... :) 

Other than wandering around and wasting time browsing the Anthropologie website I was actually productive today too. I have been in an organizing mood these past couple of weeks. It started with my closet, then all of my "teacher" stuff that I have been collecting for the past few years, and today it was my linen closet. Let me tell you it was a wreck. See, my mom shops at T.J. Maxx and stuff there is cheap so we used to buy towel sets often. That closet hasn't been cleaned out since I don't know when...it was definitely time. Everything was so crowded. I didn't really get a before picture but I did get a picture of EVERYTHING that was in the closet before...

I mean...who needs that many towels, hand towels, rags, and sheets? :) haha.

Here is the empty closet......

 And.....afterwards.....

Any of you girls who read this blog and have seen this closet know that this is looking so much better! :)

And tonight.....well, it is Brett's Christmas. Auburn is playing in the National Championship. 

And because I remember so many Auburn fans screaming, "Hook 'em Horns" last year......

I have one word: Quack!

13.1 and DONE!

It has come and gone. The weeks of training built up to this one day. In all honesty, there is not much to say. It went really well! I am so thankful that I did it and I am thankful that it is over. :) They say you catch this running bug while you do races like this....They say that it makes you want to do more after you do one. I can honestly say that during the race, I did not catch the bug. I was thinking...."Okay, way to go Laura! You completed your first and only half marathon." Now that it is over, I'll be surprised if I don't do another one! It feels so good to finish and I really would love to do it again........not tomorrow of course! :) 

Here are some pictures from the day....

 Sam....obviously pumped!

 Mangs and Pudge

 Downs and I

 And....we're off!

 Our cheering squad waited about halfway for all of us to pass.....Pudge in the lead!

 Here comes Sammy!

 The two beasts...

 Mangs and I....this is when I commented that this would be my last race. haha. I actually felt good at this point...

 Trained with him....but he is a stud.

 This boy literally didn't train. He ran our 10 mile run with us then a few days later went to London....got back on Friday and decided to run the half. Seriously? I obviously didn't get the running gene. haha.

 Colleen and LaJuan all done!!

 Coll and Jason

 Our turn to finish!! Feeling great right now! I have to give a HUGE thanks to my sister and best friend!!  Amy has been running for a while. This was her second race. She so didn't have to stay with me but she did the whole time. She has been such an encouragement through all the training and everything! So thankful for you Mangs!!

 All the runners and our cheering section!

Sammy and I after we finished. 

 So happy to be done!!

Oh, and I didn't get a picture with Brett cause he was taking all the pictures but he was a major encouragement through all of this too! 

Overall, this was such a fun experience. I kept thinking towards the end when I felt like I couldn't finish that I was so grateful that God has given me the ability to run because so many can't! He is so good! It was freezing and long and tiring and I am sore right now but I cannot wait to do another one.....eventually! :) 

"......and let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us!" -Hebrews 12:1

Twas the Night Before the Half...

Guess what we went to pick up today?

That's right! Tomorrow is the day! I am so excited and just a little bit nervous about it! I'm definitely ready to just be running! 

I'll post an update tomorrow if I can. I'm sure it will be from the couch. I plan on napping and resting tomorrow afternoon! 

See you after 13.1 miles! :) Pray for me! 

he & she (january 2011)

..: he and she :..

She is job searching/subbing.

He is not looking forward to school starting.

She is enjoying her "stay-at-home-daughter life" :)

He is BEYOND ready for January 12th.

She is prepping to run 13.1 miles.

He is encouraging.

She is trying to cut back on diet coke....

And 2 a day is cutting back

He is cutting back on sports.

GASP.

They are enjoying being back in Mobile together.

I saw this little project on this website. It is quite possibly my new favorite blog. She does so many DIY projects and just seems so fun. I feel like we could be friends. She got the idea from this blog. The plan is to take one "interesting/unique" photo a month and write different thoughts that go along with that particular month. I liked the idea so we are gonna give it a go.

How cool to have one photo and remember a few random thoughts from that month.

In other news.....my half marathon is in 4 days! Eeek! I'm excited and a little nervous. Mostly just ready for it to be here!

Also, guess who has entered the wonderful world of blogging? I have been meaning to mention this but my dear sweet sister has become a blogger! Check out her blog here.

enjoy this rainy day. mmm..I love rainy days!

Goodbye 2010....Hello 2011!

Well, it has come and gone. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was ringing in 2010! I mentioned last year that I really didn't do the "new years resolutions" but that there were things that I saw in 2009 that I wanted to change or new things that I wanted to try during 2010. I have been looking through that list lately. Let's just see how we did with those resolutions:

*I will write letters or an encouraging note to someone once every couple of months....not emails or facebook messages. Snail mail!

(This resolution=FAIL. I mean I won't even try to sugarcoat it. It was just a fail! )

*I want to remember that my role towards Brett is first and most importantly, his sister in Christ.

(I have to say, this is a struggle for me. If you know me, you know I am ready to get married and you know that I struggle with my patience in this area. For the most part, I feel that I was encouraging to Brett but I do have to remind myself that he is never going to satisfy me even when we do get married and that I am his sister in Christ!)

*I want to cook more and learn more about it from the best, mom!

(I think this is one that will be continued in 2011...I call myself a "stay-at-home-daughter right now and I am thinking I will take advantage of this role. However, for 2010, I believe I was somewhat successful, particularly with baking. haha.)

*Save money. Give it to those who are in need.

(This is something I want to continue in 2011 and of course throughout the rest of my life!)

*Blog more consistently...haha. Lets not be too specific. :)

(This was a success! I mean, I am on the blog train and honestly, I should probably get off a little bit. I really do enjoy this blogging business. I love writing on mine and also reading others! I also like to pretend that I have many faithful readers! :) haha)

*Be intentional with all that I do and not waste time.

(This is certainly a day by day thing that honestly cannot truly be measured. I'm sure I had great days and I'm sure there were weeks that I was terrible...)

*I want to be more faithful with my prayer life. I want to be consistent in praying for my family and friends and ask them specific ways that I can pray!

(This actually was better this year! I am so thankful! The Lord truly showed me the power of prayer and I tried to be more faithful in my prayer life.)

*I want to be more consistent with my time in the Word and with memorizing Scripture!

"I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."-Psalm 119:11

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." -Matthew 24:35

(Again, not so great with this. I think it is because I had no plan to help me with being consistent)

*I want to read one book a month...I saw this on someone else's resolutions and I think that this is such a great idea and although school is overwhelming and crazy...I believe that this is completely reasonable and beneficial.

(I really did okay with this. Towards the end it was a struggle. I think once student teaching started it became more and more difficult to find time to read. I'm like a grandma...so once I get into bed....it's over. But, I want to do this again, because, I definitely read more than I would have and this blog kept me accountable for most of the months.)

*I want to take better care of my body as far as what I put into it with the things that I watch, listen to, read, and eat!

(Umm....I can't really measure this one either. It wasn't perfect but definitely a day by day thing.)

And now...for 2011:

I think I had maybe a few too many things I wanted to work on last year. I am going to try and focus on a few things this time.

1.) Back to memorizing more Scripture...Making a plan that is simple and doable.

2.) Plain and simple: Serving. Serving more and in unique ways.

3.) Being consistent. Being purposeful. (No, I don't know exactly what that will look like but I pray that I will be obedient and truly listen for what the Lord wants me to do.)

Well, that is all for now! There are plenty more things I should work on and hope to work on throughout this next year but for now, this is what I have!

I am CERTAIN that 2011 will be just as great as 2010!

Happy New Year and Come Lord Jesus! :)

Broken

That is the only word that describes how I felt this morning as I spent time with the Lord. I won't go into detail but I was brought to Psalm 33:

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then Iacknowledged my sin to you an did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord'--and you forgave the guilt of my sin.Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found' surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule which have no understanding but must be controlled my bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!"

I am thankful that He breaks me. I am thankful for His grace and forgiveness.

And just because....

Been loving this song lately....

"Your sacrifice demands my life and I will live to honor Your holy name..."

Where Are You Christmas?

Christmas break = So far....so good. :) I am loving relaxing and not having any responsibilities. It has been so great being with Brett and his parents for the last couple of days! Last night we went to Callaway Garden's, Fantasy in Lights. It was a little rainy but cleared up just for us! It was a perfect night, just cool enough to let us know it was winter! :)

Beautiful sky....

Pretty nativity...

 Twas the night before Christmas....

Loved those twinkling lights.....

Looking a little tired and windblown but it really was such a fun night!

Today we headed to do a little Christmas shopping in the Auburn area. I remembered Linds telling me about a cupcake shop in Auburn and well, nothing more needed to be said. :) We headed to Gigi's cupcakes. 

 I mean...I had no doubt they would be delicious and they did not disappoint!! 

 Naturally, I chose the one with the most chocolate. It was so incredibly good.

 They were all decorated so pretty!

 If you are in the Auburn area you should definitely check it out. It is one of the few perks of Auburn. Sorry Auburn friends....a small dig. :)

I am certainly sad to leave the Kittrell's tomorrow but excited for a day with this little girl tomorrow...

Happy Friday! Oh, and 7 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!

Whip It!

It is over. College, student teaching, the whole deal and one thing sums up how I'm feeling right now. I'll let Willow do the talking....

Whip your hurr this weekend!