From a young age I struggled with loneliness and depression. But it was during those times in the valley when I sought Him. And it was there He found me and Loved me. This life is a journey and this blog is about my journey. It's about finding Him in everything. It's about learning to hope, love, and forgive. It's about my daily ups and downs, my sweet kitties who bring me so much joy, and my amazing husband who I am honored to share my life with. It's about learning to cook and hoping to one day be a back up dancer for the Black Eyed Peas. It's about my passion for creating and crafting. It's about my struggles and prayers and funny stories. It's about ...redemption.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Discovery Channel, Babies, and...



The Discovery Channel makes me believe in God. 

Scott and I love watching the Discovery Channel.  We don't have cable at our house, but whenever we go to my parents house we immediately turn on the Discovery Channel.  

I think we both love it so much because we see things that amaze us!  Our favorite subject to discover is Deep Sea Creatures!  Wow!  I am shocked by the variety of creatures out there and just how uniquely made each one is.

The other day we were watching a show on octopuses (octopi?).  We were both just in awe of these magnificent creatures!  I was trying to cook and Scott kept yelling, "babe, you gotta see this!  Come look, hurry hurry.  Look how awesome this is!" 

Some octopuses could make the pigment in their cells change color so they looked like flashing neon signs, and this warned their predators to "stay away cause I'm bright and flashing and I just might be poisonous if you eat me!" 

Others would find a shell or bottle or whatever and carry it around and use it for shelter.  It was so cute to see these creatures carry around their little houses everywhere they went!

Others were about an inch in size, soooo tiny and so hard to find that they were rarely caught on tape.  Others were soooo monstrous you wouldn't believe!  

Each creature was so intricately designed, so uniquely made, how could you not believe in God the Creator? 

I've heard some mothers say that babies make them believe in God. 

Shauna Niequist, author of Cold Tangerines, said that "babies really do make you believe in God because there's something just beyond understanding about their freshness and fragility and their smell and their toes.  "

Now, like I said we don't have cable, and some people believe television is a huge distraction in their lives, BUT I say that if I had the Discovery Channel I think my spiritual life would get a boost.  

To sit and watch and learn all day about the things God has made!  Wow! I am in awe of Him everytime I learn about the deep sea creatures, the galapagos islands, outer space, and the rainforests!  

What things remind you of God in your daily life?  What things in this life take your breath away and leave you just in awe of Him?  




Perhaps sunrises or sunsets?  The perfect margarita?  Thunderstorms?  OOOOH  thunderstorms, that's a good one!  

Friday, June 26, 2009

No Joke!


Ok, it's no joke that we're broke!

Looking through our finances we decided to cut back our expenses wherever possible.  We no longer buy soda at the grocery store, and we canceled our $12 blockbuster online subscription.  Seriously.

One time Scott asked me if I could do without my hair products!

What?  Really?  Wow!  

I've used hair products since the beginning of time.  Mousses, gels, sprays, oils, leave-in conditioners, etc. etc.  

But today I started thinking...

What if I just let my hair dry naturally?  

So I dared myself to do it and this is what I got...

(if sarah jessica parker can go on national television with her hair a mess and no make-up on, well then...)




Wow!  Wow!  

I know it is a little vain, but I have often pondered the idea of moving from this awful humid city just so I can have one good hair day!   

Seriously, what did women do before Garnier Fructis Leave-in Conditioner and Curl Sculpting Cream Oil???  

What do you look like without makeup and hair products?

Interesting.  Interesting.

MAYBE




Maybe we'll free circus elephants. Maybe we'll ride a chocolate merry-go-round, or make tennis shoes for camels.  Maybe we'll find a child who feels unsafe at home and take her out of there right away.  Maybe we'll mail so many letters to God that everything gets healed up.  Maybe we'll take all the mean people, and use them to fill up the ozone hole.  Maybe we will make airplanes out of the same material that the "black box" is made of.  Maybe we'll live in real communities, equal for everyone. Maybe 100% of the people will vote, and start a new world.  Maybe there will be naprooms everywhere.  Maybe dreams are real and AIDS is only a diet candy.  Maybe all the homeless will move onto all the golf courses.  Maybe schools are filled with imagination, and prisons have nutritious food and spiritual programs.  Maybe we are all free, safe, and loved.  Maybe we all want the same things. Maybe we all love.  
-Sark