for the daughters

down by the docks

This weekend was a busy one for us.  On Friday, Joel took the guys in the youth group on an overnight fishing trip and I hosted an all nighter for the girls.  Then on Sunday morning we dedicated Legend to the Lord and Joel was ordained as a minister in a service that same evening.  It was a great weekend full of the blessings of God.  By Monday, though, we were exhausted.  So, we decided we needed some family time and we headed out to the docks.

Daddy fished while the kids splashed and chased bait.  Even Legend put his toesies in the water.  Joel caught fish as fast as the kids threw them back.  Then he started pulling up shrimp with his cast net and that's when I got excited.  There's nothing like feasting on fresh shrimp for dinner.

Mmmmm....I love days like these.

Days filled with unplanned but intentional togetherness.

God is so tangible in the simple days.

my birthweekend

This month has been a whirlwind!  The weekend before last was my birthday and it was amazing!  We celebrated all weekend long!  On Friday my honey took me out to eat at our favorite restaurant, Kona Grill, and we had the most wonderful meal.  We laughed like two school kids over jokes and stories and it felt so good to just be together.  Then he took me to the mall and let me browse for two hours (I say "browse" because it usually takes me almost two hours before I can convince myself to buy anything! ha!)  He really loves me.  A lot.

Then, on Saturday, the girls in our youth group threw me a surprise birthday party!  I have to say, it was nothing less than amazing!  Georgia and Rebecca came to my house earlier that morning and cleaned my entire house, baked me a pretty cake, made me a banner, fixed yummy red beans and rice for the party, invited some of the youth group, and then surprised my socks off!!  I really, really love these guys.  God has blessed us with some wonderful youth leaders and young people with a desire to serve Him!  It's just so incredible to watch them grow in the grace of God and so humbling to be a recipient of their servant hearts!

Of course, such a wonderful weekend couldn't end on Saturday.  We celebrated my birthday again on Sunday at my mother in love's house with a delicious fresh strawberry cake and seafood gumbo!  It was the most incredible birthday weekend.  

I feel so very loved and not one bit older.

And that is the way every birthday should be.

my new shop!

This is where I have been of late...stocking the shelves in my new online vintage treasure shoppe, The Vintage Ruby

I had planned on listing at least 100 of our items before I let the cat out of the bag, but I had NO IDEA how LONG it takes to upload one single item.  Holy Moley!  So, I decided to spill the beans anyways and welcome you all to my little store!

I plan on hosting a Grand Opening Giveaway for all my blog readers next week so check back in after this weekend!

The story behind the birth of this shop is really pretty simple.  I love vintage, I love etsy, and I love searching for treasure.  But even more than that, though, I wanted a way to give more; to help my family while investing in the lives of other people as well.  Thankfully, I have a sister in law that feels the same away about all of the above.  So, we partnered together and opened The Vintage Ruby.  We were too scared to do it by ourselves.  And it's sooooo much more fun when you can share your exciting finds with someone who cares!  (lol.)

I'm still ironing out a few details and every day we're uploading something new and beautiful.  It's exciting!  I'm also working on a button for our store and I can't wait to share that soon as well.  BUT there are only so many hours in the day and as much as I love staying up at night with my little Legend, I think I need whatever seconds of snoozing I can snatch, so it's off to bed I go!

Oh, and I can't wait to share what a lovely birthday weekend I just had!  It was amazing!  I don't feel older, just more loved!

winner winner

Oh dear!

In case you were wondering where on earth I was on Friday--it was my Birthday and also the day our TAXES were due!  So I was busy, busy, busy!  Everything blurred in a rush of frenzy and then slowed down to a delicious pace and I got to enjoy a marvelous evening with my honey.  

But I forgot.  I forgot to announce the winner of my giveaway!!  Please forgive me, lovely ladies!!

I just sat down and had my dear man draw a number for the marvelous GUSSY giveaway....

#31  Danielle at Take Heart

Yeah, Danielle!!  Enjoy your gussy!

I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend, mine has been amazing and I have SO MUCH TO TELL !  But it will have to wait until Monday.... :)

a gussy giveaway

Sew.....

I think it's time for a giveaway, don't you?

Just because....

You all have been so patient for me in these baby days (and long baby nights)

And....

You make my heart smile.

Real big.

Something else that makes me smile?

Gussy!

I have to say, I love her cute little clutches and wristlets, and laptop bags, oh my!

Like this gorgeous vintage floral laptop bag:

delightful!

Here's some info about the giveaway:

Winner will receive $30 shop credit to be spent at www.shopgussy.com
-all baby blankets are exempt from giveaway credit

First entry: 

visit Gussy's shop and comment with your favorite item

Multiple entries:

* follow my blog and/or Gussy's blog

*tweet it, facebook it, or blog it 

I'll announce the winner next Friday!

Have a Lovely weekend, dears!

daddy's little ballerina

Dearest and Sweetest Astair,

You are sunshine and light, rose petals and pink tutus.  Like autumn leaves, you're rarely ever still.  You're a flash of color, laughter floating on a fragrant breeze.  You have a gentle radiance that captivates us.  We're mesmerized by your sweet almond eyes and that little nose that scrunches up when you smile. 

You change clothes faster than I can blink.  That's why Mimi bought you a tutu last year and we were so sure you would love it.  But you adamantly refused to wear it.  So, I put it away in a closet.  You found it the other day and wouldn't take it off!  You wore it to bed over your pajamas, you napped in it, you danced in it, you refused to remove it for almost three straight days!

Watching you run and play with gleaming eyes and joyful abandon makes your daddy and me so unbelievably happy.  This must be just a taste of how your Father God feels about you. 

You utterly delight him!

"The Lord you God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."  -Zephaniah 3:17

God loves you like crazy and so do we!
♥ ♥
Mommy and Daddy

so i'm just a little excited....

I have an article featured in the latest Christian magazine for teen girls, 2:21 Mag!

If I could do cartwheels, I would!

But for some reason my cartwheels always end up looking like a half-hearted bunny flop, so I think I'll celebrate by going to bed early tonight.  That just made me sound really old.

I love this magazine.

To the moon and back.

Know any teen girls?

Pass it on!

can I unload on you?

....pictures from my iphone, that is (smile and breathe a sigh of relief).  Thaddeus loves the hipstamatic.  He's hip like that.  I have about a hundred pictures on my phone Thad has taken around the house and I think they're all great!  Most are pretty blurry, but he managed to get a few steady shots (and I helped him just a little bit). 

This week we've been quarantined.  My twins share everything....including sore throats.  So life has slowed down to a crawl and we've been drinking chicken broth and taking cool baths.  

And if you happened to drive by the Shell station on Railroad the other day, yes, I was digging in the trash can.  But I was wearing the gloves the kind gas attendant gave me.  And I did find my debit card.  Just in case you were wondering....

Have a lovely weekend!

superstar kidz club

Superstar Kidz Club

Where do you think you would find five teens every Saturday morning for months in a row?

Not sleeping in!  They're out on the streets by 9 am taking the love of Jesus to the poorest neighborhoods in our town.  That takes commitment.  That takes passion.  That takes radical hearts!  I am amazed by this generation.  As my husband likes to say, "this is the generation that will!"  And it is.

We don't have to travel thousands of miles to find our mission field.  It's right here.  In our backyards.  In lines at the food pantry, under the interstate, in fatherless homes and neglected playgrounds.  And if we really believe in a love that's bigger than this world, then we'll find them.  We'll find hungry hearts and fill them with Jesus.  If we really believe in eternity, then what is temporary won't matter quite as much anymore.  

I asked God to break my heart for what breaks His.  And I'm overwhelmed with heartache.  I cry every time I visit Superstar Kidz Club and get to pray with a little lonely boy or girl as tears run down their cheeks.  "God, they need love!  What can I give them?"  Those thoughts tumbled through my mind, arms wrapped over a little boy's shoulder as he cried over the loss of his best friend.  You can give them my Son.  I'll never leave them or forsake them.  God's love is the greatest gift.  We prayed and I told him that Jesus will be his best friend.  Closer than a brother.

Because he's been that for me.

I've lost best friends.  I've been that lonely little kid who cried themselves to sleep.  Something beautiful happened to me, though.  Jesus really and truly became my best friend.  He was always the first one I shared my secrets with.  The one I ran to with my hurts and my fears and my insecurities.  He held my hand and never let go.  He showered me with his love, filled my heart with joy.

I want that for everyone.

such a coon

Dear Boston aka my little rascal,

You have eyes that twinkle and a smile that melts my heart into putty.  Give me one of those toothy grins of yours and I forget all about the mountain of flour you spilled on the upstairs carpet or the honey you drizzled all over the dining table and chairs.  Moments like this one, when you found your daddy's coon hat and the gorilla he had when he was just a boy so much like you, make my heart flip flop and flutter.  You wrap your little arms around my neck and tell me you love me and I could hold you like this forever....

I love you my little coon,

your Mommy

eeeek!

Okay, so I'm not the most organized person you'll ever meet.
I'm one of those really laid back type of personalities.  As in spur of the moment, fly by the seat of your pants types.  I don't like to start fires or cause waves.  I'd rather be the one to put the flames out and throw a life buoy.  So far, this has worked for me.  My unorganized state of existing has occasionally created stressful situations, but nothing that couldn't be fixed in a mad dash of productivity.

Well, those mad dashes have now been occurring in increasing frequency.

God's putting his finger on one problem area of my life and I'm squirming just a little bit under the pressure.  After all, being unorganized isn't exactly sinning, is it?   I can justify my lack of organization.  I can think of a million reasons why I can't be organized.  But the problem is that I've now seen a bigger picture.  I know the unnecessary stress it causes and while I never thought before that it affected anyone but me, I've discovered I'm wrong.  It affects my ability to be my husband's best helpmeet, my kids best instructor, a good neighbor, an available friend, a ready witness.

There is so much God is calling me to do right now and the truth is that I really can't do it.  Not by staying the way I am.  I have to be putty in His hands.  Moldable.  Changeable.

I must become less.  He must become more.

And right now, "more" of Him includes a calendar in every room....(smile)

the poems that find you

copyright: Orissa Kent, image protected by copyscape

My lovely neighbor friend blew in with a rare breeze in this stagnant southern heat.  And with her, she brought the winds of inspiration.  On a picture of sunny poppies, were these fragments and phrases of words cut out of books.  And if you're a book lover like me, that sentence alone likely gave you a heart attack.

"It's a found poem," she told me, and I read it aloud.

"Discovery of a Living Valley... Life is clad in gentle colors.  "The air...is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious.", the words washed over my spirit, awakening my senses.

How many poems are there just waiting to be found?  Hidden in "living valleys", cloaked in dense life-giving air.  They're in the moments we miss if we're not looking,  the seconds that slip into years unaware.  

Yes, the valleys are just as tremendous as the view from the mountaintops.

Life is in the poems that find you.

I finished reading the last line aloud, "for those who have eyes to see, are beloved of God."

Open my eyes, God.

a first for everything

On Monday, my heart walked out my door in blue tennis shoes and a red backpack.  

And I'm still trying to learn how to cope without it.

I expected him to cry, but of course, I'm the one that can't seem to hold the tears back.

I now know what the Bible means when it says to pray constantly.  From the moment I leave his classroom in the morning until I return in the afternoon, I am praying.  

If I could have my way, I would homeschool my little boy.  But this year it is not an option for our family and I'm trying to be okay with that.  I'm really trying.  It helps that he has a wonderful teacher.  I am praising God for that answered prayer!

Now we're nearing the end of this week, with a surprisingly smooth transition.  Every morning, he has gone willingly.  And the few stories I can creatively extract from him are mostly positive.  I can tell it's been a huge adjustment, though, and I find myself lingering in his room after he is asleep, whispering prayers, and wiping warm tears from my eyes.

I'm taking lessons, too, in learning to trust my God.

blogging for hope

Today I am here:

Blogging for Hope for Women Magazine  and talking about "surveying our homes".

today and a winner

bounty from my flower garden

I feel like the vase in my picture.  Brimming with promises.  Overflowing with life.  Precariously holding it all together.  


God is bringing dreams to my doorstep, all neatly packaged and smelling like heaven.  Like a child, I'm eager for it all.  And He smiles into my giddy face, my excitment only mirroring His own.

"Do you trust my love for you?", again He asks and I remember the first time I heard this question from my Father.  When the dreams felt so distant...   He had asked me then to trust Him.  How God must burst  with the secrets He longs to tell us!

It was only a few weeks ago I felt my future was in limbo.  I was clinging to the promises of God.  I knew what my husband and I were called to do, but I didn't see it happening any time soon.  I found a treasure of wisdom in this quote,

"Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person's seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next." ~ Elisabeth Elliot

My prayer has become, "God, show me what you desire for me to do this day.  However small, however big, give me the grace to do it."

And He is.  And He will!  He gives grace!  His dreams prevail.

Our family is on a new journey.  God has opened a door for us to do what we love.  We have been given an opportunity to serve the youth in our city as youth pastors at our church.  And we're beyond excited!  Our hearts have always been in youth ministry, ever since we served as youth pastors several years ago and we feel so blessed to be doing it again!  God is burdening us for this city, for the teens, for the hurting, for the needy.  We want to follow the footsteps of Jesus!  He's giving us big visions and big dreams and we know only He can accomplish them.    We're just trying to find that perfect place of balance that God wants us to live in, cherishing our family time, while working part-time with the church and in our business.  God is leading the way!

I hope that explains why I've been a little absent lately.  That and the fact that my little boy just started kindergarten this week.  Which is a whole post in itself!  It's one my heart is still trying to work through.  I promise I'll post it soon!


AND....
It's finally time to announce the winner of the tukula giveaway!  Thank you for your patience with me, sweet friends!  And can I also thank you for sending love and prayers to this wonderful ministry!

Keep them in your hearts!

And the lovely lady that I will be sending a tukula bag to...

Danielle from Diamond Desire

"Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."  {1 John 3: 18}

watermelon fields

Out In The Fields With God

by Louise Imogen Guiney

The little cares that fretted me,

I lost them yesterday,

Among the fields above the sea,

Among the winds at play,

Among the lowing of the herds,

The rustling of the trees,

Among the singing of the birds,

The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what might pass,

I cast them all away,

Among the clover-scented grass,

Among the new-mown hay,

Among the hushing of the corn

Where drowsy poppies nod, 

Where ill thoughts die and good are born--

Out in the fields with God.

Across the street from our house, lies this shady green field.  It does it's best to shelter from the heat, but Louisiana summers are hotter than a hornet's nest.  The kids run and play, while I sit panting in the shade.  I'm forced to be still.  No folding laundry or cleaning the kitchen.  Just sitting and watching, and playing and dreaming.  I've learned to love our hot little picnics.  I don't miss the distractions.  I relish the simplicity.  There God does the talking and I do the listening.

apronista

I received the most wonderful gift in the mail last week!  I won this darling anthropologie apron and these white rosebud earrings from a Twig giveaway.  And they are exquisite.  I love Twig.  Janna, the cute little gal behind this delightfully creative blog that's brimming with vintage eye candy, is so much fun and so inventive.  I've always wanted an adorable apron to make cooking and cleaning seem just a little bit more glamorous (smile) and maybe even inspire me to bake homemade pies and luscious layered cakes (another smile).  Well, so far, it hasn't magically turned me into baking connoisseur, but I did whip up some mean pancakes with sprinkles this morning.  Does that count?

Can you tell I've enjoyed wearing it?  

Yep, I had a grand time modeling in my mod apron, thankful for any excuse to ignore my laundry load the size of Mount Rushmore.  Wait, didn't I mention laundry in my last post as well?  I must admit, I am having trouble forgiving Eve.  If not for her, we'd have no need for clothes.  And life would be so much easier!!

P.S.  I do have several little secrets to tell you that I am dying to spill, but I can't let the cat out of the bag just yet!  

P.S. #2  And no, I'm not expecting.  : )

P.S. #3  Do check out my tukula giveaway!  And for all of you who have, I think you're wonderful!

Snapshot Saturday

"Undercover Brothers"

You gotta love those faces!  Silly glasses, butterfly band-aids, globs of glitter, and all!  Ahhh....my boys. They're a rough bunch, my little rascals.  But they have a sweet side that melts my heart to molasses.

Speaking of molasses and other sticky (and often slow) subjects, I know I've been missing from blogland lately, but life (i.e. the laundry pile) has been demanding a lot of my attention.  Much has been happening (other than the laundry) that I can't wait to share and will share very soon!  

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Don't forget to enter my giveaway below!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

tukula give away

picture of Melissa Terranova and the child she took in temporarily

Here is where my heart (the new heart--the one that God is breaking) has been taking me of late...

Uganda, Africa.

Where Melissa and Joe Terranova are following Jesus one day at a time, one step at a time.
Where they are not just letting God break their hearts for the people of Uganda, but they're committed to doing something about it.

I think what struck me the most about this couple I have never met, but have grown to love is the simple way they present their story.  In Melissa's own words,

"I get asked very often what I do and why I am in Uganda.   My answer to question number one is: I own a business.  My answer to question number two is: I'm following Jesus.   

I am not in Uganda because I own a social business that works with young tailors - I am in Uganda because Jesus called me to be a disciple and I said yes...then he called me to leave everything again and I said "I'll go" - reluctantly but I said it. THAT is why I am in Uganda."

They created a small business called tukula (translated it means "we grow") to help assist tailors in Uganda.

 My heart nods in agreement with their vision:

"...to bring real and tangible solutions to the world of poverty and aid through different means than just “hand outs” but rather “hand ups”.  We work to help those in vulnerable conditions by using entrepreneurial principles and innovative projects to achieve sustainability. 

Our current focus is meeting basic needs (water and sanitation) of those in rural village communities through the excess profit we receive from our tailoring business.

Our ultimate focus is to serve God and others with grace, love and peace."

Not only have Melissa and Joe walked away from everything near and dear to them here in the States, but they've committed themselves to walking beside their brothers and sisters in Uganda, to giving them a "hand up" with flesh on it.

I want to give you a bag from tukula.  Your choice.

All you have to do is visit tukula and leave me a comment telling me which bag you would like.  That's it.  I'll randomly draw the winner in two weeks.  


Send prayers their way and let's spread the word!  

my mombasa carry-all from tukula

-------------------------------------

Lately, God has been shaking me to my core.  I've been staring into starving eyes from the comfort of my computer screen and falling apart.  Something just isn't right with our "prosperity" mentality.  And it's not that money is the entire issue.  It's our love for it.  Our belief that somehow we deserve it.  How quickly we forget that Jesus asked for it all; that it never really belonged to us in the first place.

I'm reminded again of another season in my life where God performed heart surgery.  I was so distraught because I didn't know how we were going to help the few persecuted Christians my husband had met on his trip to Saudi Arabia.  I reached for His Word, desperate for a "this is the way, walk in it" command from Him.  "What do we do, Jesus?" I whispered, distraught over our meager bank account and the desire to give what I knew we couldn't afford.  The first words I read through a haze of tears were "Feed my sheep"  (John 21: 15-19) Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him and after Peter's quick assertion, Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."  And then he asked a second time.  And then a third.  God couldn't have spoken any louder.  His words cut me to my quick.

Joye, do you truly love me more than these?

Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Feed my lambs.

Joye, do you truly love me?

Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Take care of my sheep.

Joye, do you love me?

Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.

Feed my sheep.

Yes, Lord, I'll do it.  Every day show me hungry people.  Don't let me turn a blind eye.  Don't allow my heart to become hardened or overwhelmed or my vision too narrow.