Changes

So, if you've happened to stop by recently, you may have noticed a few changes to the look of my blog.  I had to change the background b/c the website I got it from doesn't have it anymore.  I couldn't find another one I liked that was similar, so I decided to change the whole shebang.

Please be patient.  I'm very picky!

**UPDATE (at 2:48 PM, two days later):  I'm done!  What do you think?  Now I need to work on my Jewelry Blog!  Yikes!  I don't think I'll need to completely overhaul that one, though.  At least, I sure hope not!  Also, I still might change the background here.  I'm still not completely happy with it.  :(

LOVE Modcloth.com!

If I had enough money, I would probably buy most of my clothes from modcloth.com!  I mean, really, how can you not love this dress:

Or this one:

I especially love this one:

I heart RED:

Hows'bout this bright yellow sweater to brighten up a dreary winter's day?

I like this shirt, too:

 oooOOOOOooooo!

*sigh* Maybe in the next life.

I dunno, though.  I doubt that I could spend that much money on clothes, even if I had all the money I could possibly want.  I got really excited the other day when I bought a shirt at Khol's for $3!

Warm Christmases are the best!

I know, I know.  Most people want a WHITE Christmas!!  Not me!  No sir!  When I lived in Africa, we went swimming on Christmas Day.  That was our tradition--and I LOVED it!

I am definitely a warm weather person, and it has been gorgeous this week!  High 70's/low 80's.  I'm lovin' it!  I hope it stays this warm through Christmas.  It looks like it's supposed to get cooler towards the end of the week, but you never know!

Even though I have been known to partake in a cup of hot chocolate while curled up in front of a roaring fire, it's more fun to go outside when you don't have to wear an entire closet's worth of clothing, 6 sweaters, and 3 coats all topped off with 4 blankets.

Here's hoping!

You have given life to me. . .

I will serve thee
Because I love thee
You have given life to me
I was nothing
Until you found me
You have given life to me

Heartaches, broken pieces
Ruined lives are why you died on Calvary
Your touch, was what I longed for
You have given life to me

I will serve thee
Because I love thee
You have given life to me
I was nothing
Until you found me
You have given life to me

A blessing - or is it a curse?

Special Lady

We recently had a baby shower in our church, and one of the ladies asked all the grandmothers in the room to say something to the new grandmother--word of advice, special memories, etc.  That got me thinking about my own grandmothers.  I loved them both, but I don't have many memories of them.  My dad's mother passed away when I was very young, and my mom's mother passed away when I was in 9th grade.  The few memories I do have of them, I hold very dear.

Listening to the grandmothers speak that day, I realized the important role a grandmother has, and the impact she has on her grandchildren.  While I didn't have that close relationship with my own grandmothers, I am blessed to have had wonderful ladies that have kind of filled that gap.  One such very dear lady is my Aunt Linda.  (Now, Aunt Linda, I know you're not old enough to actually BE my grandmother, and that's not what I mean, so don't take it that way, OK!)  She not really even my aunt, but I've known her since I was 3 years old.

Now THIS lady I have memories of!  We moved into the house across the street from her those many years ago, and I know it's of God when I look back at our relationship.  I have always been close to her.  She lived about 30 minutes away from where I went to college, and I would go over to her house just about every weekend.  My parents were in Africa when I was in college, so I spent most of my Thanksgivings and a few of my Christmases with her and her family.

My Aunt Linda has been such a beautiful example of a Godly woman.  She's so encouraging, and she always makes me feel so precious and special and loved and important.  When I talk to her, I know she's actually listening.  She is my friend and my confidante.  If she's ever had to correct me for anything, I've never noticed because she knows just how to speak in love so that it doesn't feel like a reprimand.

I don't think of Aunt Linda as a "replacement grandmother", but when I think of how I would want my relationship to be with my grandmothers if they were still alive, I think of my relationship with Aunt Linda.  I do believe God brought this wonderful lady into my life to fill that gap left when my grandmothers passed away--so that I would not be without the impact of that role.  

Aunt Linda, thank you for being so kind and sweet to me all my life.  I am so thankful that I did not have to live my life without having the kind of friendship I have with you!  I have been so blessed by you!

Give Thanks unto the Lord

While we should be thankful every day of our lives, Thanksgiving Day is a special time set aside to remind us to be thankful for our many blessings.  For the last several weeks our church has been splitting up the men and women in our Wednesday night service for the Bible study time.  The ladies spent a few weeks on Love, so this particular topic has been on my mind for a while now.

As I sit here contemplating what I'm thankful for, I keep thinking about our Bible studies.  I am so thankful for all the love in my life.  Not just that which is directed at me, but for all the examples of love that God has allowed me to witness.  There are so many people in the world today that feel blessed to have just one person that shows them love, and I have an abundance of examples.

I have two wonderful parents that have been married for over 30 years that love each other immensely.  Those in my church family love each other.  Now I consider that amazing--you get any number of random people together in a room, and eventually they will begin to clash.  Our church is diverse, and even though we are each different, we still love each other, and we love to fellowship.  My boss has been married to his wife for over 60 years, and every time he mentions his wife to me, he just absolutely gushes with pride and love.  

My whole family loves to be around each other, we love to laugh, and we love each other.  I have some amazing friends that love me, and some that I haven't spoken to nearly often enough over the years that I know would be there for me in an emergency.  My church family loves me.  My animals love me (and nothing you can say will convince me that animals don't love)!!

I really could go on and on about all the examples of love in my life, but I will leave you with this:

Colossians 1:3-4  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the LOVE which ye have to all the saints.

Thank You, Lord, for showing me LOVE!  You were the ultimate example of love when You died on the cross to pay the price for my sin and offer me the opportunity of redemption.  Thank You for every iota of love You have put in my life.  You truly are an amazing and wonderful God!